Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for militaryheroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement.[1] A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.
Civil decorations awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations, although some orders of chivalry have civil and military divisions. Decorations received by police and fire brigade personnel may sometimes be considered alongside military decorations, on which they may be modelled, although they are strictly not military awards.
The oldest military decorations still in use is Sweden's För tapperhet i fält ("For Valour in the Field") and För tapperhet till sjöss ("For Valour at Sea") awarded to officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces who have—as the medal names suggest—shown valour in the field or at sea in wartime. The medal was instituted by Swedish king Gustav III on 28 May 1789, during his war against Russia. Whilst technically it is still active, it is for practical purposes inactive, not having been awarded since 1915. The next oldest is the Austro-Hungarian Tapferkeits Medaille Honour Medal for Bravery 1789–1792. This medal was instituted on 19 July 1789, by the Emperor Joseph II. Another of the oldest military decorations still in use is Poland's War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin for "For Military Valour"). It was first awarded in 1792.
Medals have been forged by many people to make the medal appear more valuable or to make one look like a more decorated soldier. Medal forgeries can include: adding bars, engraving a famous soldier's name on it or creating a whole new medal. Medal forgery is illegal in most countries and can be punishable by imprisonment.
^David, Rosalie (1998). The Ancient Egyptians: Beliefs and Practices. Sussex Academic Press. p. 101. ISBN1898723729.
May 05, 2023
military, awards, decorations, military, order, merit, redirects, here, persian, order, military, order, merit, iran, confused, with, military, order, religious, society, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, pag. Military Order of Merit redirects here For the Persian order see Military Order of Merit Iran Not to be confused with Military order religious society This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Military awards and decorations news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed April 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism meritorious or outstanding service or achievement 1 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion Wall of Medals in the French Foreign Legion Museum Civil decorations awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations although some orders of chivalry have civil and military divisions Decorations received by police and fire brigade personnel may sometimes be considered alongside military decorations on which they may be modelled although they are strictly not military awards Contents 1 History 2 Forgery 3 Contemporary use 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory Edit The I class of the Mannerheim Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty from 1941 Decorations have been known since ancient times The Egyptian Old Kingdom had the Order of the Golden Collar while the New Kingdom awarded the Order of the Golden Fly 2 Celts and Romans wore a torc or received other military decorations such as the hasta pura a spear without a tip Dayaks wore and still wear tattoos etc Necklaces and bracelets were given during the early Middle Ages evolving into large richly jewelled necklaces often with a pendant commonly a medal attached The oldest military decorations still in use is Sweden s For tapperhet i falt For Valour in the Field and For tapperhet till sjoss For Valour at Sea awarded to officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces who have as the medal names suggest shown valour in the field or at sea in wartime The medal was instituted by Swedish king Gustav III on 28 May 1789 during his war against Russia Whilst technically it is still active it is for practical purposes inactive not having been awarded since 1915 The next oldest is the Austro Hungarian Tapferkeits Medaille Honour Medal for Bravery 1789 1792 This medal was instituted on 19 July 1789 by the Emperor Joseph II Another of the oldest military decorations still in use is Poland s War Order of Virtuti Militari Latin for For Military Valour It was first awarded in 1792 Forgery EditSee also Military imposter Medals have been forged by many people to make the medal appear more valuable or to make one look like a more decorated soldier Medal forgeries can include adding bars engraving a famous soldier s name on it or creating a whole new medal Medal forgery is illegal in most countries and can be punishable by imprisonment Contemporary use EditToday military decorations include Order of merit Bravery awards in the form of a cross star or medal on a ribbon Distinguished service awards in the form of a cross star or medal on a ribbon Campaign medals worn on a ribbon Service medals worn on a ribbon Awards for entire units in the form of Battle honours Campaign streamers Fourrageres or unit citations In most NATO militaries only the service ribbons are normally worn on everyday occasions as opposed to the actual medals See also EditList of military decorations List of highest military decorations Civil decoration State decoration Neck decoration Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations Awards and decorations of the United States military Awards and decorations of the Russian Federation Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union Israeli Military decorations Orders decorations and medals of Spain Orders decorations and medals of Belgium Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces Orders decorations and medals of the United Kingdom Medal inflationReferences Edit DoD Manual 1348 33 2010 Vol 3 David Rosalie 1998 The Ancient Egyptians Beliefs and Practices Sussex Academic Press p 101 ISBN 1898723729 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Military awards and decorations amp oldid 1148012930, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
