- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Year of Institution: 20 May 197
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR Medal (or Медаль «Ветеран Вооружённых Сил СССР», Medal «Veteran Vooruzhennyh Sil SSSR» in Russian) was established on 20 May 1976 and awarded on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for 25 years of impeccable military service to troops of the army, navy, of internal forces and of border troops.
The medal was awarded to soldiers of the Soviet Army, of the Soviet Navy, of Border Troops, and of Internal Troops, who impeccably served in the Armed Forces of the USSR for 25 years or more. The medal could also be awarded to persons already retired from the service prior to the issuance of the Decree establishing it, who impeccably served in the Armed Forces of the USSR for 25 years or more.
The medal’s statute was twice amended by further decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, first on July 18, 1980 and lastly on January 10, 1984.
The Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR Medal Design
The medal is circular and struck in silver-plated tombac, measuring 32 millimeters in diameter and with a raised rim.
The obverse was oxidized and bore at its upper section a ruby-red enameled five-pointed star superimposed on the relief image of the hammer and sickle, just below in the center, the relief inscription «СССР» (“USSR”) over a curled laurel branch; at the bottom along the medal circumference, a relief scroll with the inscription in prominent letters «ВЕТЕРАН ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ» (“VETERAN OF THE ARMED FORCES”). The reverse was plain with a matte finish.
The medal was secured to a standard Soviet pentagonal mount by a ring through the medal suspension loop. The mount was covered by a 24mm wide grey silk moiré ribbon with four orange and three black stripes alternating along its right edge and two red stripes along its left edge. The width of the orange and black stripes was 1mm except for the outermost orange stripe which was 2mm, the red stripes were respectively 3mm and 1mm with a spacing of 2mm.
