TacHel

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently signed an order establishing 3 new ministerial medals, one of which will be named the "Mikhail Kalashnikov" medal. The "Kalashinokov medal" will be awarded to engineers, designers, military and civilian personnel of the army, for achievements in the development, manufacture and deployment of military equipment. (confirmed by news of the DefMin press office) A medal and a prize bearing the same name (Mikhail Kalashnikov) already exists in the (post Soviet) Republic of Udmurtia. It is a professional award aimed at encouraging and recognizing outstanding service by groups or individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of science and technology in the field of engineering. The award was established in 1999 by the Udmurt Republic's Union of Scientific and Engineering departments. This year, (oddly enough), the organizing committee decided to award the prize to President Vladimir Putin. Below is a photo of the (soon to disapear?) award, of the Udmunrt Republic.

You need to keep your generals "blingy"... Like we say in French "C'est la vie" (Such is life).

No time? They only had a few weeks to design and mint it after all... Gotta have your priorities straight!

Seriously bud, can you imagine also collecting public awards? I'd go nuts... It's enough to go coucou just finding official awards, especially from this side of the planet.

Note: I'll soon have better photos, I already have this medal (Def Min) in the mail on the way from Moscow.

Note: I'll soon have better photos, I already have this medal in the mail on the way from Moscow.

Press release following the initial award of the new medal. MOSCOW, March 21 - RIA Novosti. Several prominent Russian submariners were awarded the new award of the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defense, the Medal "For naval merit in the Arctic", said Navy Captain First Rank Igor Dygaloto of the press service of the information management department of the Defense Ministry to reporters on Friday. The award ceremony was held in St. Petersburg at the Dmitry Shostakovich State Philharmonic Academy. On the eve of March 19, Russia celebrated the 108th anniversary of its submarine fleet. The medal of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation "For naval merit in the Arctic" was awarded, amongst others, to the Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolev and the former commander of its submarine squadron, Vice-Admiral Anatoly Shevchenko. The latter is the only submariner in the World to have made three campaigns under the ice to the North pole" - said Dygalo . Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolev According to him, the medal was also presented to the Deputy Head of the Military Training and Research Center, Navy Rear Admiral Sergei Rachuk who became a Hero of Russia in 2006 after a long voyage with the crew of the submarine K- 117 "Bryansk". Given the importance and secrecy of the sub's mission, the text of the award decree only said "for courage and heroism in the line of duty." Navy Rear Admiral Sergei Rachuk (seen here being decorated by President Putin with the Gold Star of a Hero of Russia prior to promotion to his present rank) In addition, the medal was awarded to several officers , including Hero of Russia Vice-Admiral Mikhail Motsak, former Chief of Staff of the Northern Fleet who managed the recovery of the nuclear submarine "Kursk". Among the recipients were also Captain First Rank Sergei Sobolewski who, in 1971, first reached the North Pole in nuclear submarine K-411, and Hero of Socialist Labor Captain First Rank Valentin Rykov who in 1961, made ​​a campaign under the pack ice between the Franz Josef Land and the island of Spitsbergen to latitude 84 in a nuclear submarine. Hero of Russia Vice-Admiral Mikhail Motsak Hero of Socialist Labor Captain First Rank Valentin Rykov

Yeah... No premeditation at all...

Am I correct in assuming those are multiple wound stripes above his GUARDS' badge?

Yes Paul... 100% official Defense Ministry award. I was as surprised as the next guy to be honest with you...

Gunner, there are at least 4 others I'm zeroing in on... Like popcorn!

I still have to find the establishment order for this one but it has already been bestowed a few times.

The Russian Defense Ministry has issued a new medal related to the Crimean incident/events/crisis/transfer/takeover/invasion/revolt/secession/merger (circle your favourite one)... It has already been awarded to the pro-Russian governor of the Crimea, to Crimean Cossacks and to military personnel. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-3030-0-20525600-1397407001.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_04_2014/post-3030-0-37986400-1397407013.jpg (NOTE Let us all bite our lips and refrain from politically motivated comments on this one... Please)

In the face? You had to shoot the poor bugger in the face? Looks great as usual bud!

Timo, sorry if this is a bit A photo of the first batch in the first drawer... Clasps for the Colonial medal, for the Overseas medal, for the National Defense medals, for the French Commemorative medal... I traded 25+ older ones to a German dealer last year in exchange for Commander's neck badges of the Order of Agricultural Merit and Arts and Letters. Still, I know I have more spread here and there... And now, back to your regular scheduled programming.

I will... Give me a few days, they're spread out in multi drawers... (Box was a poor choice of words...)

Neither did I! I'm going to start checking my stock of such clasps, I easily have 50+ in a box...

Nope... Airborne could be the model... Could be the company name... Definitely a cub scout hat and badge... Sorry.

Definitely a cub scout beret...

WOW!

I have 10 or 11 different ones... Expect pics in the next few days.

Wow, highest quality example I've seen to date... Superb!

Adjudant-chef who earned himself a Commander's level of the LoH? An officer's level of the Ordre National du Mérite? The MM! 8 citations? WOW! Quite the hero!

A few, they were established in 1820 and saw many many changes... I'm aware of at least 7 different variants not taking into account the various levels (bronze, silver, gold etc).

As opposed to the random collector? I don't get it... Think something was lost in the translation.