National Defence Medal

The National Defence Medal (French: "Médaille de la Défense nationale") is a French military decoration. It was created by Charles Hernu, Minister of Defence and established by decree on April 21, 1982. It rewards particularly honourable service rendered by military personnel for their participation in operational activities. The medal has three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze.[1]

National Defence Medal
National Defence Medal, Gold grade (obverse)
TypeMedal with three classes (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
Awarded forParticularly honorable service rendered to the French military
Valor not involving combat with the enemy
Presented by France
EligibilityFrench citizens and foreign nationals
StatusCurrently awarded
Established21 April 1982
Precedence
Next (higher)Overseas Medal
Next (lower)Medal for voluntary military service

Eligibility

For military service

The award is made by decision of the military hierarchy, but the recipients must have achieved a personal minimum of:

  • For the Bronze level: 1 year of service and accumulated 90 points;
  • For the Silver level: 5 years of service (minimum 2 years in the Bronze level) and accumulated 600 points;
  • For the Gold level: 10 years of service (minimum 2 years in the Silver grade) and accumulated 800 points[1]

The yearly quota of Gold and Silver level awards are set by the minister of defence. Points are earned through participation in exercises, operations, proficiency, initiative, awards received, etc.[1] People who had been awarded the Légion d'honneur or the Ordre national du Mérite can not receive the National Defence Medal.

Exceptional circumstances

The medal can be awarded in any one of the three levels to:

  • Military personnel on active duty or in reserves and civilians killed or injured in the line of duty;
  • Active military or reservists which have distinguished themselves by the quality of their service;
  • French civilians and foreign military personnel or civilians who have rendered honourable services particularly important to the defence of France[1]

Mention in Dispatches

When an individual is mentioned in dispatches (citation dans les ordres) for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. He or she is awarded the Médaille de la Défense Nationale at the Gold level, adorned with a ribbon device (bronze, silver, silver gilt star or bronze palm) depending on the level (regiment, brigade, division, army) of the mention, in the same manner as for the Croix de Guerre.[1]

Award description

Medal and ribbon

The National Defence Medal is a 36 mm in diameter circular medal struck from bronze, the gold level is gilt, the silver award is silvered. The obverse bears the relief image of Rude's Marseillaise with the relief inscription along the upper circumference "FRENCH REPUBLIC" (French: RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE). The reverse bears the relief image of a Phrygian cap over a laurel branch and the inscription along the medal circumference in the upper half "ARMY" and "NATION", in the lower half "NATIONAL DEFENSE" (French: "ARMÉE" "NATION" "DÉFENSE NATIONALE"), the upper and lower inscriptions being separated by a relief five pointed star on each side[1]

The medal hangs from a ring through the medal's suspension loop. The bronze grade award's ribbon is a 36 mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with a 12 mm wide central blue stripe. The ribbon for the silver grade award is similar with the addition of 3 mm wide white edge stripes, the edge stripes are yellow for the gold grade award[1]

Gold grade
obverse & ribbon		 Silver grade
obverse & ribbon		 Bronze grade
obverse & ribbon		 Gold grade for
mentions in
dispatches
obverse & ribbon		 Gold grade
reverse & ribbon
With clasps:
AIR FORCE and
INTERSERVICES POST		 With clasps:
FRENCH NAVY and
SUBMARINES		 With clasp:
AIRBORNE TROOPS		 With palm for an
Army level citation		 Common reverse
for all grades

Clasps
General Bruno Dary, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal
Admiral Pierre-François Forissier, a recipient of the Silver grade of the National Defense Medal
Admiral Édouard Guillaud, a recipient of the Bronze grade of the National Defense Medal

Multiple specialty and geographical clasps are allowed for wear on the ribbon, each grade being allowed a single clasp up to a maximum of three[1]

Geographical clasps:

  • Corps européen (European Corps)
  • Force océanique stratégique (Strategic oceanic forces)
  • Missions d'opérations extérieures (Foreign operational missions)
  • Missions d'opérations intérieures (Domestic operational missions)
  • Mururoa-Hao
  • Terres australes et antarctiques (Southern and Antarctic lands)
  • Forces françaises stationnées en Allemagne (French forces in Germany)
  • Missions d'assistance extérieure (Foreign assistance missions)
  • Postes Interarmées (Interservices postal service)

Speciality clasps:

  • Infanterie (Infantry)
  • Troupes de marine (Army Marines)
  • Arme blindée et cavalerie (Cavalry)
  • Artillerie (Artillery)
  • Train (Transportation)
  • Génie (Engineering)
  • Transmissions (Communications)
  • Matériel (Maintenance)
  • Commissariat de l'armée de terre (Quartermaster service)
  • Troupes de montagne (Mountain troops)
  • Troupes aéroportées (Airborne troops)
  • Aviation légère (Light aviation)
  • Sapeurs-pompiers (Firefighters)
  • Sécurité civile (Civil defence)
  • Légion étrangère (Foreign Legion)
  • Bâtiments de combat (Warships)
  • Sous-marins (Submarines)
  • Aéronautique navale (Naval aviation)
  • Fusiliers marins (Naval infantry)
  • Nageurs de combat (Combat divers)
  • Plongeurs démineurs (Clearance divers)
  • Marins pompiers (Naval firefighters)
  • Force aérienne de combat (Combat air forces)
  • Force aérienne stratégique (Strategic air force)
  • Force aérienne de projection (Air expeditionary force)
  • Commandement air des systèmes de surveillance, d'information et de communication (Air force surveillance, information and communication systems command)
  • Défense aérienne (Air defence)
  • Fusiliers commandos de l'air (Air force commandos)
  • Génie de l'air (Air Force engineering)
  • Commandement des écoles de l'armée de l'air (Air force training command)
  • Armement (Weapons)
  • Service de santé (Medical service)
  • Services des essences (POL service)
  • Gendarmerie nationale (National gendarmerie)
  • Armée de terre (Army)
  • Marine nationale (Navy)
  • Armée de l'air (Air force)
  • Justice militaire (JAG)

Notable recipients (partial list)

Gold grade

Silver grade

Bronze grade

Exceptional circumstances
  • USA Major General Charles Hooper (Gold grade with clasp "INFANTERIE")[2]
  • USA Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Ritsick (Gold grade with clasp "INFANTERIE")[3]

Mentions in dispatches
  • USAF Captain John Mosier (Gold grade with bronze star)[4]
  • USAF Technical Sergeant Kristopher Burridge (Gold grade with bronze star)[4]
  • USAF Senior Airman Jackson Rogers (Gold grade with bronze star)[4]

See also

References
  1. Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 157–161. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.
  2. "MG Charles Hooper Award Ceremony".
  3. JILL WHALEN (2010-03-20). "McAdoo Guardsman receives French honor". Republican Herald. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  4. U.S.A.F. Staff Sgt. John Wright (2011-07-15). "French award National Defense Gold Medal to pararescue Airmen". U.S. Air Force Central. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2012.

Sources
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