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Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor formilitaryheroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement.[1] A decoration is often amedal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.
Civil decorations awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations, although someorders of chivalry have civil and military divisions. Decorations received bypolice andfire 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 ofmedal ribbons or miniature medals, which are mounted together on a bar known as a barrette.
Decorations have been known since ancient times. The EgyptianOld Kingdom had theOrder of the Golden Collar while theNew Kingdom awarded theOrder of the Golden Fly.[2]Celts andRomans wore atorc or received othermilitary decorations such as thehasta pura, a spear without a tip.Dayaks wore and still weartattoos, etc.Necklaces andbracelets were given during the earlyMiddle Ages, evolving into large, richlyjewelled necklaces, often with apendant (commonly amedal) attached.
The oldest military decorations still in use is Sweden'sFör tapperhet i fält ('For Valour in the Field') andFör 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 kingGustav 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-HungarianTapferkeits 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 ofVirtuti Militari (Latin for 'For Military Valour'). It was first awarded in 1792.
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: addingbars, 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.
Today military decorations include:
In most NATO militaries, only theservice ribbons are normally worn on everyday occasions (as opposed to the actual medals).
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