Médaille des services militaires volontaires

Médaille des services militaires volontaires
Awarded by  France
Type	Medal with 3 Classes (bronze, silver, gold)
Eligibility	Military
Awarded for	service in the military reserves
Status	Currently Awarded
Statistics
Established	13 March 1975
Precedence
Next (higher)	Médaille de la Défense nationale
Next (lower)	Médaille d'honneur du service de santé des armées
Bronze Silver Gold

The Médaille des services militaires volontaires (Medal of Voluntary Military Service) is a French military decoration which honors service in the reserves.

History

The first incarnation of this award came about after World War I. The reserves had served as an important part of the defense of France. To reward their volunteerism during periods of reserve training, a decree of 13 May 1934 created the Croix des Services Militaires Volontaires (Volunteer Military Service Cross) in gold, silver, and bronze.

The Croix des Services Militaires Volontaires was later superseded by an other award, the Ordre du Mérite militaire. It had come about upon the suggestion of the Union Nationale des Officiers de Réserve (National Union of Reserve Officers), and was created by decree on 22 March 1957. This award had three grades Knight, Officer, and Commander. The award was short lived as it was abolished by decree on 3 December 1963 when sixteen other orders were replaced by the creation of the Ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit).

The Médaille des services militaires volontaires was created by decree on 13 March 1975 amended on 2 January 2004. It is designed to reward the services performed in the "Réserve". The medal is awarded in three grades bronze, silver and gold.

See also

• Ribbons of the French military and civil awards

References

• http://www.france-phaleristique.com/santarm.htm