The medal is a crown of money laurel that surrounds a medallion of gold where face the effigy of Republic, surrounded with a blue enamel circle, where are registered the words: " Republic French ". To the reverse, the medal, door in the center of the medallion of gold, surrounded with a blue circle, the motto,: " Value and Discipline ". The leaves and buttons of laurel are bound of two latticed ribbons in top and below. The medal is suspended to a aries of money in the shape of trophy of weapons (motives: a breastplate put on an anchor of marine, two tubes of cannons, latticed, an ax, a saber...). The badge is suspended to a yellow ribbon edged of green of the two sides. The Military Medal carries itself after the Legion of honor (or possibly the order of the Liberation) and before the National order of the Merit. To the fall of the Second Empire, the eagle who surmounted the decoration made place to a trophy of weapons and Napoléon's effigy replaced by the one of the Republic (decree of November 8, 1870). The date of 1870 was registered on the inscription (and replaced by a motto by decree of November 8, 1951).
RECIPIENTS & CONDITIONS OF OBTAINING :
The Military Medal rewards the soldiers and assimilated non officers, in accordance with the R.136 article of the Code of the Legion of honor and the Military medal instituted by the decree of November 28, 1962. She/it can also be conceded (decree took in Council of the ministers) to the Marshals of France and to the general officers, Grand' Cross of the Legion, of honor, that in time of war exercised a command in chief the enemy or returned exceptional services to the National Defense (that last case dates a presidential decree of May 5, 1950). She/it can be assigned:
To those that count eight years of military drafts;To those that have been mentioned to the order of the army whatever is their seniority of service;To those that received one or several injuries while fighting before the enemy or in ordered service;To those that are signalled themselves by an act of courage or devotion deserving reward.