Medal of Military Merit (Belgium) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Medal of Merit for personnel of the Belgian Defence Forces and Foreign Armed Forces is a military decoration of Belgium

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...

. It was established on 23 February 2005 as a more rewarding successor of an earlier Medal of Military Merit (created in 1988) and is awarded to members of the Belgian Armed Forces

Military of Belgium

The Belgian Army is the national military of Belgium. The Belgian Army was established after Belgium became independent in October 1830...

and civilians working for the Belgian Defence who show an exemplary meritorious behaviour in the completion of their duties or who have accomplished an exemplary meritorious act.

The Medal may also be awarded to foreign military and civilian members of a foreign Armed Force who have provided exceptional support to the Belgian Defence.

The Medal of Military Merit is awarded by Royal Decree.

History

The original Medal of Military Merit was created in 1988 by Ministerial Decree and awarded internally within the Ministry of Defence. However, it was felt that this limited the visibility and importance of the award, and a new Medal of Military Merit with a slightly different official name was created in its place, that was to be awarded by the King of Belgium. The original Medal of Military Merit is to be considered as equivalent to the new one.

Insignia

The medal is round, made of bronze, showing on the obverse a crest with the Belgian lion and at the reverse the name of the recipient and date of the award, and is suspended to the ribbon by a ring. The ribbon is light blue with four vertical white stripes. The original Medal of Military Merit had the same aspect as the new one, and both are virtually indistinguishable.

Award Conditions

The Medal of Military Merit is awarded by the King based on a proposal from the Directror of Human Resources of the Belgian Defence to persons who:

Are more productive than most of their colleagues;
Try to achieve perfection in their daily work;
Have on their own initiative achieved something to the benefit of the Belgian Defence;
Have not had any penal or disciplinary sanction;
Behave in an exemplary manner; and
Take into account human and social issues in their work.

The Medal may also be awarded to foreign military and civilian members of a foreign Armed Force who have provided exceptional support to the Belgian Defence.

One cannot be awarded the Medal of Military Merit if one has already been awarded the Civic Decoration

Civic Decoration (Belgium)

The Civic Decoration is a civil decoration of Belgium. It was created on 21 July 1867 to reward the services rendered to the country after a long and meritorious career in the administration, whether national, provincial or local, as well as for exceptional acts of bravery, devotion or humanity...

for the same acts.

The Medal is usually awarded once a year, and the award of the Medal is rare. Every year only four to eleven people have been awarded the Medal of Military Merit.

History

Insignia

Award Conditions

See also