The National Defence Medal (or “Médaille de la Défense nationale”) is a French military decoration. It was created by Charles Hernu, Minister of Defence and established by decree on April 21, 1982.
It rewards particularly honorable service rendered by military personnel for their participation in operational activities. The medal has three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
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 ordre de la Légion d’honneur or the ordre du mérite can not receive the Médaille for military service.
The National Defense Medal Design
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 bears the relief image of Rude’s Marseillaise with the relief inscription along the upper circumference “FRENCH REPUBLIC” (RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE). The reverse bears the relief image of a Phrygian cap over a laurel branch and the inscription along the medal circumference in the upper half “ARMY” and “NATION”, in the lower half “NATIONAL DEFENSE” (“ARMÉE” “NATION” “DÉFENSE NATIONALE”), 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.
