View source for Military awards and decorations

{{Short description|Award, usually a medal of some sort, mark of honor}}
{{Redirect|Military Order of Merit|the Persian order|Military Order of Merit (Iran)}}
{{Distinguish|Military order (religious society)}}
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[[File:Decorations-legion.jpg|thumb|Wall of Medals in the [[French Foreign Legion Museum]]]]
'''Military awards and decorations''' are distinctions given as a mark of honor for [[military]] [[heroism]], meritorious or outstanding service or achievement.<ref>[[United States Department of Defense|DoD]] Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3.</ref> A decoration is often a [[medal]] consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. 

[[Civil decoration]]s awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations, although some [[order of chivalry|orders of chivalry]] have civil and military divisions. Decorations received by [[police]] and [[fire brigade]] personnel may sometimes be considered alongside military decorations, on which they may be modelled, although they are strictly not military awards.

Military awards and decorations may take the form of [[medal ribbon]]s or miniature medals, which are mounted together on a bar known as a barrette.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal Regulations |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/canadian-honours/directory-honours/exemplary-service-medals/peace-officer/peace-officer-exemplary-service-medal-regulations |publisher=The Governor General of Canada |access-date=4 April 2025 |date=5 October 2017}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|List of military decorations|Civil decoration|State decoration|Neck decoration}}[[File:1st Mannerheim Cross.jpg|thumb|upright|The I class of the [[Mannerheim Cross]] of the Order of the Cross of Liberty from 1941]]
Decorations have been known since ancient times. The Egyptian [[Old Kingdom]] had the [[Order of the Golden Collar]] while the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]] awarded the [[Order of the Golden Fly]].<ref name=David>{{cite book |last=David |first=Rosalie |title=The Ancient Egyptians: Beliefs and Practices |year=1998 |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |isbn=1898723729 |page=101}}</ref> [[Celts]] and [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] wore a [[torc]] or received other [[Roman military decorations and punishments|military decorations]] such as the ''[[Hasta pura (military decoration)|hasta pura]]'', a spear without a tip. [[Dayak people|Dayaks]] wore and still wear [[tattoo]]s, etc. [[Necklace]]s and [[bracelet]]s were given during the early [[Middle Ages]], evolving into large, richly [[gemstone|jewelled]] necklaces, often with a [[pendant]] (commonly a [[medal]]) attached.

The oldest military decorations still in use is Sweden's ''[[För tapperhet i fält]]'' ('For Valour in the Field') and ''För tapperhet till sjöss'' ('For Valour at Sea') awarded to officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces who have—as the medal names suggest—shown valour in the field or at sea in wartime. The medal was instituted by Swedish king [[Gustav III]] on 28 May 1789, during his war against Russia. Whilst technically it is still active, it is for practical purposes inactive, not having been awarded since 1915. The next oldest is the Austro-Hungarian ''[[Medal for Bravery (Austria-Hungary)|Tapferkeits Medaille]]'' Honour Medal for Bravery 1789–1792. This medal was instituted on 19 July 1789, by the Emperor Joseph II.

Another of the oldest military decorations still in use is Poland's War Order of ''[[Virtuti Militari]]'' ({{lang for|la||For Military Valour}}). It was first awarded in 1792.

== Forgery ==
{{also|Military imposter|Medal inflation}}

Medals have been forged by many people to make the medal appear more valuable or to make one look like a more decorated soldier. Medal forgeries can include: adding [[Medal bar|bars]], engraving a famous soldier's name on it or creating a whole new medal. Medal forgery is illegal in most countries and can be punishable by imprisonment.

==Contemporary use==
Today military decorations include:
*[[Order of merit|Orders of merit]];
*Bravery awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon;
*Distinguished service awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon;
*[[Campaign medal]]s worn on a ribbon;
*[[Service medal]]s worn on a ribbon;
*Awards for entire units, in the form of [[battle honour]]s, [[campaign streamer]]s, [[fourragère]]s, or [[unit citation]]s.

In most NATO militaries, only the [[ribbon bar|service ribbons]] are normally worn on everyday occasions (as opposed to the actual medals).

=== Examples ===
[[List of highest military decorations by country]]

*[[Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations]]
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium]]
*[[Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces]]
*[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces]]
*[[Israeli military decorations]]
*[[Awards and decorations of the Russian Federation]]
*[[Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union]]
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of Spain]]
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Awards and decorations of the United States military]]

== See also ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Highest Awards for gallantry}}
{{Orders}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Awards And Decorations}}
[[Category:Military awards and decorations| ]]