Pro Virtute Decoration
| Pro Virtute Decoration | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Awarded by the State President and, from 1994, the President | |
| Country |
  South Africa
|
| Type | Military decoration for bravery |
| Eligibility | Officers |
| Awarded for | Distinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership in the field |
| Campaign | 1966-1989 Border War |
| Status | Discontinued in 2003 |
| Post-nominals | PVD |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1987 |
| SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear | |
| Next (higher) |
SADF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
|
| Next (lower) |
SADF succession:
SANDF succession:
|
 Ribbon bar |
|
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The Pro Virtute Decoration, post-nominal letters PVD, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and exceptional leadership during combat operations in the field.
The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The Pro Virtute Decoration, post-nominal letters PVD, was instituted by the State President in 1987. The equivalent award for other ranks was the Pro Virtute Medal.
The decoration could be awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and exceptional leadership during combat operations in the field. A Bar, instituted in 1993, could be awarded for a further similar deed of leadership in combat.
The position of the Pro Virtute Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally with the institution of a new set of awards on 27 April 2003.
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