The Meritorious service medal for personnel of the Belgian Defence Forces and Foreign Armed Forces (Médaille du Mérite en faveur des membres du personnel de la défense et d’armées étrangères / Medaille van Verdienste ten gunste van de personeelsleden van defensie en van vreemde legers) is a military decoration of Belgium established on 23 February 2005.
The medal is awarded to members of the Belgian Armed Forces and civilians working for the Belgian Defence who show exemplary meritorious behavior in the completion of their duties or who have accomplished an exemplary meritorious act. It 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 is awarded by the King based on a proposal from the Secretary of Defence, the Chief of Defence or an officer with the authority of Corps Commander or above, for award to a person who:
- is more productive than most of their colleagues;
- tries to achieve perfection in their daily work;
- has on their own initiative achieved something to the benefit of the Belgian Armed Forces;
- has not had any previous penal or disciplinary sanctions;
- behaves in an exemplary manner; and
- takes into account human and social issues in their work.
The Meritorious Service Medal Design
The medal is circular and struck from bronze.
The obverse bears the Escutcheon-only version of the Coat of arms of Belgium. The plain reverse usually bears the engraved name of the recipient and date of the award.
The ribbon is light blue with four vertical white stripes. The original Medal for Military Merit had the same design and hung from the same ribbon as the new one, only the statute differs. The medal is suspended to the ribbon by a ring though the suspension loop.
