- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Year of Institution: 28 October 1974
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR (or Орден За службу Родине в Вооружённых Силах СССР in Russian) was was a Soviet military order created on October 28, 1974 and awarded in three classes for excellence to military personnel. It’s also known as the Order for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR.
The Order was awarded to soldiers of the Soviet Army, Navy, of Border or Internal Troops for achievements in combat and political training, for maintaining high combat readiness and developing new military equipment; for high performance in service; for the successful fulfillment of special command tasks; for courage and dedication displayed during the performance of military duties; for other services to the nation while serving in the Armed Forces.
The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR was divided into three classes, first, second and third, the first class being the highest.
Recipients of all classes had the right to priority in the choice of living quarters, yearly free round trip personal travel, free personal use of all types of urban passenger transport, free vouchers to a sanatorium or rest home and a 15% increase in pension.
The Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR Design
The Order consisted of two 58mm by 58mm four pointed stars crossed at a 90° angle, the top star having the vertical and horizontal points. The rear star was enameled light blue with gilt edges and two crossed convex oxidized silver rockets pointing towards the upper left and upper right. The rockets’ nose cones and tail sections were gilded.
The top star was made up of diverging rays, at its center, a circular medallion containing a convex five pointed star within an oak wreath on a blue background, surrounded by a white enameled ribbon with the inscription: “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” (За службу Родине в ВС СССР) on the sides and top, and the image of the hammer and sickle at the bottom. The central medallion was superimposed over an oxidized silver anchor and wings protruding from the top, bottom and both sides. The Order weighed 64,5 grams.
The three classes of the Order:
- 1st class – top four pointed star and central five pointed star were gilded;
- 2nd class – top four pointed star was silver and the central five pointed star was gilded;
- 3rd class – top four pointed star and central five pointed star were silver.
