National Defence Medal

National Defence Medal
National Defence Medal, Gold grade (obverse)
Awarded by  France
Type	Medal with three classes (Gold, Silver and Bronze)
Eligibility	French citizens and foreign nationals
Awarded for	Particularly honorable service rendered to the French military Valor not involving combat with the enemy
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	21 April 1982
Precedence
Next (higher)	Overseas Medal
Next (lower)	Medal for voluntary military service

The National Defence Medal (French: "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 honourable 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:

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 medal can be awarded in any one of the three levels to:

When an individual is mentioned in despatches (citation dans les ordres) for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. He or she is awarded the Médaille de la Défense Nationale at the Gold level, adorned with a ribbon device (bronze, silver or silver gilt star or palm) depending on the level (regiment, brigade, division, army) of the mention, in the same manner as for the Croix de Guerre.

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" (French: 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" (French: "ARMÉE" "NATION" "DÉFENSE NATIONALE"), the upper and lower inscriptions being separated by a relief five pointed star on each side