The National Defence Medal () is a French military decoration. It was created by Charles Hernu, Minister of Defence and established by decree on 21 April 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.

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 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. People who had been awarded the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

or the

Ordre national du Mérite The (; ) is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason for the order's establishment was twofold: to replace the large number of ...

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

Mention in Dispatches

When an individual is

mentioned in dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of t ...

(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 The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

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 The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...

bears the relief image of

Rude Rudeness (also called effrontery) is a display of actual or perceived disrespect by not complying with the social norms or etiquette expected within a relationship, social group, or culture. Social norms are established as the essential guidel ...

Marseillaise "La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. It was written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the declaration of war by the First French Republic against Austria, and was originally titled "". The French Nati ...

with the relief inscription along the upper circumference "FRENCH REPUBLIC" (). The reverse bears the relief image of a

Phrygian cap The Phrygian cap ( ), also known as Thracian cap and liberty cap, is a soft Pointed hat, conical Hat, cap with the apex bent over, associated in Classical antiquity, antiquity with several peoples in Eastern Europe, Anatolia, and Asia. The Phry ...

over a laurel branch and the inscription along the medal circumference in the upper half "ARMY" and "NATION", in the lower half "NATIONAL DEFENSE" (), the upper and lower inscriptions being separated by a relief five pointed star on each side 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

Clasps

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. As of 29 January 2021 the following clasps are awarded: ;Geographical clasps * Corps européen ( European Corps) * Force océanique stratégique ( Strategic Oceanic Force) * Missions d'opérations extérieures (Foreign operational missions) * Missions d'opérations intérieures (Domestic operational missions) * Mururoa-Hao (

Moruroa Moruroa (Mururoa, Mururura), also historically known as Aopuni, is an atoll which forms part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is located about southeast of Tahiti. Administratively Moruroa Atoll i ...

Hao Hao or HAO may refer to: People * Hao (surname) (Chinese: ) * Hao (given name) * Hao (video gamer), Chinese professional ''Dota 2'' player * Heather O'Reilly, Professional soccer player Places * Hao (city), or Haojing (), capital of the Wes ...

) * Terres australes et antarctiques ( Southern and Antarctic lands) * Essais Nucléaires (Nuclear Testing) ;Speciality clasps * Armée de l'air (

Air Force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...

) * Défense aérienne (Air defense) * Soutien des forces aériennes (Air Force support command) * Forces aériennes ( Air Forces Command) * Forces aériennes stratégiques (

Strategic Air Forces Command The Strategic Air Forces (FAS) () is a command of the French Air and Space Force. It was created on January 14, 1964, and directs France's nuclear bombardment force. The headquarters was formerly at Taverny Air Base, but has now moved to Véli ...

) * Génie de l'air (Air Force engineers) * Espace (

French Space Command The French Space Command (, CdE) is a formation of the French Air and Space Force, which deals with space issues. It supersedes the Joint Space Command, which was created in 2010. Mission A formation of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the JS ...

) * Service d'infrastructure de la défense ( Defence Infrastructure Service) * Interarmées (Joint forces) * Service du commissariat des armées (Armed Forces Commissariat Service) * Journée défense et citoyenneté ( Defence and Citizenship Day) * Armée de terre (

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

) * Arme blindée et cavalerie (

Armoured Cavalry Armoured cavalry are military units using armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) instead of horses. They began to replace horse cavalry in the heavy shock and the light reconnaissance, skirmishing and exploitation/pursuit roles in most armies com ...

) * Artillerie (Artillery) * Aviation légère ( Light Aviation) * Génie (Military engineers) * Infanterie (Infantry) * Légion étrangère ( Foreign Legion) * Troupes de marine ( Marine troops) * Matériel (

Matériel Materiel or matériel (; ) is supplies, equipment, and weapons in military supply-chain management, and typically supplies and equipment in a commercial supply chain context. Military In a military context, the term ''materiel'' refers eith ...

) * Sapeurs-pompiers (

Paris Fire Brigade The Paris Fire Brigade (, BSPP) is a French Army unit which serves as the primary fire and rescue service for Paris, the city's inner suburbs and certain sites of national strategic importance. The brigade's main area of responsibility is the ...

) * Sécurité civile (

Civil Defence Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from human-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, ...

) * Transmissions (

Signal Corps A signal corps is a military branch, responsible for military communications (''signals''). Many countries maintain a signal corps, which is typically subordinate to a country's army. Military communication usually consists of radio, telephone, ...

) * Train (Logistics and transportation) * Troupes aéroportées (Airborne troops) * Troupes de montagne (Mountain troops) * Armement (Weapons) * Industrie de défense (Defence Industry) * Défense * État-major (General staff) * Gendarmerie nationale (

National Gendarmerie The National Gendarmerie ( ) is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police (France), National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Minister ...

) * Écoles de gendarmerie (Gendarmerie schools) * Formations aériennes de la gendarmerie (National Gendarmerie air units) * Garde républicaine (

Republican Guard A republican guard, sometimes called a national guard, is a state organization of a country (often a republic, hence the name ''Republican'') which typically serves to protect the head of state and the government, and thus is often synonymous wit ...

) * Gendarmerie de la sécurité des armements nucléaires (Nuclear Weapons Security Gendarmerie) * Gendarmerie de l'air ( Air Gendarmerie) * Gendarmerie de l'armement ( Armement Gendarmerie) * Gendarmerie départementale (

Departmental Gendarmerie The Departmental Gendarmerie () is the territorial police branch of the French National Gendarmerie. The Departmental Gendarmerie has regular contact with the population and conducts local policing functions throughout the French territory. T ...

) * Gendarmerie des transports aériens ( Air Transport Gendarmerie) * Gendarmerie d'outre-mer (Overseas Gendarmerie) * Gendarmerie maritime (

Maritime Gendarmerie The Maritime Gendarmerie () is a component of the French National Gendarmerie under operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. It employs 1,157 personnel and operates around thirty patrol boats and high-speed motorboats distri ...

) * Gendarmerie mobile (

Mobile Gendarmerie The Mobile Gendarmerie () (GM) is a subdivision of the French National Gendarmerie whose main mission is to maintain public order (from crowd control to riot control) and general security. Contrary to the Departmental Gendarmerie, whose jurisdic ...

) * Justice militaire (Military justice) * Marine nationale (

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

) * Aéronautique navale (

Naval Aviation Naval aviation / Aeronaval is the application of Military aviation, military air power by Navy, navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. It often involves ''navalised aircraft'', specifically designed for naval use. Seab ...

) * Bâtiments de combat (Warships) * Fusiliers marins (

Naval Infantry Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included raiding ashore (often in supp ...

) * Marins pompiers (

Marseille Naval Fire Battalion The Marseille Naval Fire Battalion (, or ''BMPM''), is the fire and rescue service for the city of Marseille. The battalion is a branch of the French Navy (), and consists of fully military personnel, like the Paris Fire Brigade (a branch of the ...

) * Nageurs de combat ( Combat swimmer) * Plongeurs démineurs (

Clearance diver A clearance diver was originally a specialist naval underwater diving, diver who used explosives underwater to remove obstructions to make harbours and shipping channels safe to navigate, but the term "clearance diver" was later used to include ...

) * Sous-marins (Submarines) * Poste interarmées (Military postal service) * Service de santé ( Defence Health Service) * Service des essences ( Military Fuel Service) * Cyber (Cyber Defence Command) * Musique ;Obsolete clasps * Forces françaises stationnées en Allemagne * Missions d'assistance extérieure * Commissariat armée de terre * Force Aérienne Tactique * Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air * Transport Aérien * Intendance * Commandement air des systèmes de surveillance, d'information et de communications * Commandement des Écoles de l'Armée de l'Air * Force Aérienne de Combat * Force Aérienne de Projection * Forces de protection et de sécurité de l'armée de l'air

Notable recipients (partial list)

Gold grade

* Paris firefighter

master corporal Master corporal (MCpl) () is a military rank used by a number of countries. Canada In the Canadian Armed Forces the displayed rank of master corporal is an appointment that can be granted to Canadian Army, army and Royal Canadian Air Force, air ...

Christophe Dubois *Athlete Cyril Soyer *General Denis Mercier

Silver grade

* General Bruno Dary * Admiral Pierre-François Forissier *

Général de corps d'armée An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a general officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the General officer#French Revolutionary system, French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. Nor ...

Bruno Clément-Bollée * General Francis Pollet *Admiral

Bernard Rogel Bernard Rogel (born 5 January 1956) is a French admiral, Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic, and former Chief of Staff of the French Navy, a post which he took up on 12 September 2011 until 13 July 2016. Early life and c ...

Bronze grade

* Admiral Édouard Guilaud * General Benoît Puga * General Xavier Bout de Marnhac * Prince Jean, Duke of Vendome *

Prince Charles Philippe, Duke of Anjou A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The fema ...

Jean, Count of Paris Jean Carl Pierre Marie d'Orléans (born 19 May 1965) is the current head of the House of Orléans. Jean is the senior male descendant by primogeniture in the male-line of Louis-Philippe I, King of the French, and thus according to the Orléanis ...

*Police colonel Isabelle Guion de Méritens *Police major Bruno Beschizza *Naval reserve lieutenant commander Jean-Jacques Brot *Police brigadier general Thierry Orosco *General Antoine Lecerf * Gendarmerie nationale

général d'armée is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...

Denis Favier Denis Favier (born 18 May 1959) is a French officer known for commanding the mission to remove hijackers from Air France Flight 8969. From 2013 to 2016, he was the Chief of staff, General-Director of the French Gendarmerie. Favier was born on ...

*Sailor Bruno Sevaistre * US Army Lieutenant Colonel William Hogan (Bronze Grade with Armee de Terre clasp *US Army Captain Scott Curtis (Bronze Grade with Armee De Terre clasp *US Army Sergeant Kyle Hall (Bronze Grade with Armee De Terre clasp *USMC Captain Justin Hillebrand (Bronze Grade with Armee De Terre clasp) *Cyprus Air Force Sergeant Kyritsis Evangelos (with Armee De L'Air clasp) *Dr Frank Blazich, Smithsonian Institution (Bronze Grade with Armee De Terre and Légion étrangère clasps)

Exceptional circumstances

*USA Major General Charles Hooper (Gold grade with clasp "INFANTERIE") *USA Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Ritsick (Gold grade with clasp "INFANTERIE")

Mentions in dispatches

*USAF Captain John Mosier (Gold grade with bronze star) *USAF Technical Sergeant Kristopher Burridge (Gold grade with bronze star) *USAF Senior Airman Jackson Rogers (Gold grade with bronze star)

References

Sources

* http://www.france-phaleristique.com/accueil.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20110710193646/http://www.entente-combattants-herault.com/decorations.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Medaille De La Defense Nationale Defense nationale Defense nationale Awards established in 1982 1982 establishments in France

Eligibility

For military service

Exceptional circumstances

Mention in Dispatches

Award description

Medal and ribbon

Clasps

Notable recipients (partial list)

Gold grade

Silver grade

Bronze grade

Exceptional circumstances

Mentions in dispatches

See also

References

Sources