The Order of the Heroic Exemplar () was the second highest
military decoration
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.
Civil decorations award ...
, during 2011 and 2018, awarded by the
Government of the People's Republic of China
The government of the People's Republic of China is based on a system of people's congress within the parameters of a Unitary state, unitary communist state, in which the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) enacts its policies through people's ...
, only second to the
Order of August First
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* A socio-political or established or existing order, e.g. World order, Ancien Regime, Pax Britannica
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* H ...
, and was named Heroic Exemplar Medal () before 2011.
[ The person who gained the award is called Heroic Exemplar ().
According to the 2018 amendment of PLA Disciplinary Order, the First Class Order of Heroic Exemplar is renamed back to Heroic Exemplar Medal (), and the Second Class Order is abandoned.]
History
The Heroic Exemplar Medal, along with the Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include:
Singapore
*Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...
, was first created in April 1951 by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army
The People's Volunteer Army (PVA), officially the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV), was the armed expeditionary forces China in the Korean War, deployed by the History of the People's Republic of China (1949–1976), People's Republic of Chi ...
political director Du Ping in an effort to promote the unity of the Chinese armed forces during the Korean War
The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
.[.] The medal was conceived so that the common soldiers would follow the examples set by a few selected role models.[ When the medal was first created, it was composed of three categories — second, first and special class.][ The special class was later eliminated when the Chinese ]People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It consists of four Military branch, services—People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Ground Force, People's ...
's (PLA) medal system was formalized in 1988. In 2011, the name of the award changed into Order of Heroic Exemplar.
Criteria and selection process
According to the initial award criteria published in 1951, the medal of the Order was awarded to those "who have owned two medals of third or second class or one of the first grade eritorious Serviceaward, who are most outstanding at an army or army corps level, and whose remarkable contribution are also recognized by friendly units."[.]
A candidate for the order would normally be nominated by the deputy political officer of a company, while all squads within the company were required to meet once a month to list each soldier's accomplishments for the selection process.[.] Once nominated, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission
The Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission () is the chief political organ under the Central Military Commission (CMC). It was created in January 2016 following the military reforms under CMC chairman Xi Jinping. Its p ...
or the candidate's theater region political department would be responsible for approving the nomination to the order. Before 2018 the nomination process for a prospective inductee included what class of the order he or she will be appointed to.
Investiture and regulations for wear
Once the nomination is approved, the recipient would be treated with a grand formal ceremony of investiture that is intended to educate the entire PLA or the recipient's military theater command, wherein he or she is formally invested with the medal of the Order.[.] Besides the medal, the recipient also receives a ribbon bar
A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...
and a certificate from the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission. Until 2018 the certificate of honor indicated which class of the order in which he or she has been named to was to be stated.[ According to the 1988 regulation, the medal of the Order must be worn on the upper left side of the recipient's uniform. The regulation also decreed that the medal itself can only be worn during special meetings and celebrations, while the ribbon bars are allowed in daily functions.][
]
Recipient
First Class Order of Heroic Exemplar
From the renaming of the award in 2011, to the end of December 2016, a total of 14 people have received the First Class Medal of the Order of Heroic Exemplar, including 2 general officers, 7 field and junior grade officers, and 1 private. Of the 14 recipients, 4 of them are posthumously awarded.
Second Class Order of Heroic Exemplar
Not all individuals who received the Second Class Order of Heroic Exemplar were reported in the public media.
Notes
References
Citations
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hero's Medal
Awards established in 1951
Military awards and decorations of China
Military awards and decorations of the People's Liberation Army
People's Volunteer Army
1951 establishments in China
Hero (title)