The Cross of Honour for Military Service Abroad is a Belgian

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 military decoration which was awarded to Belgian servicemen who served for a long period of time in the Federal Republic of Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, Zaire

Zaire

The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...

 (now Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

), Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

 or Burundi

Burundi

Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...

. It was established on 16 June 1997 and has three classes.

Classes and Conditions of Award

The Cross of Honour is awarded in three classes based on the duration of service in the relevant territory, which do not have to be continuous:

• The First Class is awarded for 15 years of service
• The Second Class for 10 years of service
• The Third Class for 5 years of service

However, depending of the region where the services were performed, one year of actual service may count for more than one year for the purpose of awarding the Cross of Honour. One year of service in Congo, Rwanda or Burundi counts as five years, one year of service at the border between the former West Germany

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

 and the former East Germany counts for three years, and one year of service performed in the middle region of former West Germany

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

 counts for two years.

Insigna

The medal is a gold star with a red pearl at each tip. The star is suspended to the ribbon by a royal crown and a ring. The obverse centre medallion shows a golden lion on black enamel background surrounded by a circle of blue enamel with the motto Pro Patria. The reverse medallion shows a crown of laurels surrounding two crossed swords.

The ribbon is azure blue with a purple vertical border on each side and in the centre a vertical stripe the colour of which depends on the class: gold for first class, silver for second class, and red for third class.

See also

• Military Cross (Belgium)
  Military Cross (Belgium)
  The Military Cross is a military decoration of Belgium. It was established on 11 February 1885 and is awarded to commissioned officers in the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service. Officers of the military reserve can also be awarded this decoration, on the condition that they...
  
  
• Military Decoration (Belgium)
  Military Decoration (Belgium)
  The Military Decoration is a military decoration of Belgium. It was established on 22 December 1873 and is awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks in the Belgian Armed Forces for gallantry or loyal and uninterrupted service...
  
  
• Commemorative Medal for Armed Humanitarian Operations
  Commemorative Medal for Armed Humanitarian Operations
  The Commemorative Medal for Armed Humanitarian Operations is a military decoration of Belgium. It was established on 11 September 1987 and is awarded to military and civilian members of the Belgian Defence who participated in armed humanitarian operations....
  
  
• Commemorative Medal for Foreign Operation or Mission
  Commemorative Medal for Foreign Operation or Mission
  The Commemorative Medal for Foreign Operation or Mission is a military decoration of Belgium. It was established on 13 April 1993 and is awarded to military and civilian members of the Belgian Defence who participated in operations or missions outside of the territory of Belgium.- Insigna :The...
  
  
• Medal of Military Merit (Belgium)
  Medal of Military Merit (Belgium)
  The Medal of Merit for personnel of the Belgian Defence Forces and Foreign Armed Forces is a military decoration of Belgium. It was established on 23 February 2005 as a more rewarding successor of an earlier Medal of Military Merit and is awarded to members of the Belgian Armed Forces and...
  
  
• Commemorative Medals for Army Marches
  Commemorative Medals for Army Marches
  The Commemorative Medals for Army Marches are two distinct medals awarded for participating in the two marches organised yearly by the Belgian Army. They are not decorations, but they may be worn by members of the Belgian Armed Forces on their uniform during the year following the participation if...
  
  
• List of Belgian decorations
• List of Belgian military decorations

External links

• Cross Of Honour For Military Service Abroad