Portuguese Military Medals

NATIONAL DEFENCE MEDAL
Created December, 27, 2002

HISTORY AND REGULATIONS

The NATIONAL DEFENCE MEDAL, created in December, 27th, 2002, awards military and civilian personnel, national or foreign, which reveal, technically and professionally, high competence, extraordinary performance and relevant personal qualities, significantly contributing to the efficiency, prestige and fulfilment of the mission of the Ministry of National Defence.

The following criteria apply for each of the classes:

1st CLASS	Generals/Admirals, Colonels/Captains
2nd CLASS	Commander/Lieutenant-Colonel or Lieutenant-Commander/Major
3rd CLASS	other officers and Sargent-Major
4th CLASS	other NCO and Enlisted

DESIGN

OBVERSE: the coat of arms of the Ministry of National Defence, toped by 2 oak VERGONTEAS;
REVERSE: plain.

The distinction between classes is as follows:

1st CLASS – gold; neck ribbon; or rosette over ribbon with 0,018 m;
2nd CLASS – silver; rosette over ribbon with 0,015 m;
3rd CLASS – silver; rosette over ribbon with 0,013 m;
4th CLASS – silver; no rosette.

NOTES

It is the last of the 5 private medals to have been created, to award meritorious services to the Ministry of National Defence. It came after the 3 private branch medals, created in 1985, and the private medal of EMGFA (General Staff of the Armed Forces), St. George’s Cross, 2 years before

SOURCES:

- Decreto-Lei n.º 316/2002 de 27 de Dezembro - Regulamento da Medalha Militar e das Medalhas Comemorativas das Forças Armadas.

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