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    TacHel

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    Posts posted by TacHel

    1. The picture below is a great study of Interior Troops.

      This veteran officer displays an array or decorations that clearly identify him as a "reserve" officer of the Russian National Guard (Interior troops, also called troops of the Interior Ministry). The Russian abbreviation for Interior Troops (as marked on his breast badge for distinguished service first class) is BB MVD. Russian Federation soldiers are not allowed to wear medals of different ministries, when a soldier does wear medals from different ministries, he can only be a member of the reserves.

      The medals on his left chest:

      #1 Order of courage (2nd highest combat award)

      #2 Medal for bravery (combat award)

      #3 Medal for bravery (combat award)

      #4 Medal Of The Order Of Service To The Fatherland 2nd Class (without swords, so NOT bestowed for military duty)

      #5 Medal Of Zhukov (combat bravery award)

      #6 Medal for Valour in Silver of the Justice Ministry

      #7 Medal for the 200th Anniversary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (received for service in Interior Troops)

      #8 Medal for Service 3rd Class (10 years) of the Justice Ministry

      This amalgam of medals from different ministries is only possible in Interior Troops. #6 and #8 (and most probably also #4) clearly identify him as an employee of the Justice Ministry. #7 was earned as a soldier of the Interior Ministry. The others were earned in combat in the Caucasus.

      The medals on his right chest:

      #9 Breast Badge of Interior Troops "For Distinguished Service" 1st class (main theme of this thread)

      #10 Cross 1st Class for Service in the Caucasus 1994-2004

      #11 Unknown (possibly a sniper qualification badge)

      #12 Unknown

    2. Instituted on 27 January 1995 by decree of the Interior Minister. The Distinguished Service Badge (Cross) is awarded to soldiers of the Interior Ministry of Russia for initiative, diligence and distinction displayed in the discharge of official duties.

      This gilt example is the 1st class badge, the 2nd class is simply unfinished (bare metal). As is customary for Interior Ministry awards, the swords point down. This award is worn on the right chest.

    3. Were the stars on these made of solid gold as well?

      Yes. According to the medal specifications contained in the official presidential decree of 20 March 1992, they are composed of 21.5 grams of gold. The brooch and attachment loops are only gold plated though and their gold contents is not included in the 21.5 grams.

    4. The ONLY other official (governmental) award bestowed for the Caucasus is from the Ministry of the Interior in the form of the Medal for Combat Service in the North Caucasus 1994-2004.

      It comes in 2 variants. The early design had no date on the obverse, the post 2004 design has the years 1994-2004 on the obverse. Both have identical reverses consisting of "No" and a space to enter a number.

      Note: a bogus 10th anniversary medal is easily found on the market. It has an identical obverse as the dated version but has a reverse inscription mentioning the 10th anniversary of the end of the conflict (10 лет). This medal is completely bogus (unofficial), it hangs from the same ribbon which is flipped to reverse the national colours at its center.

    5. Instituted by order of the Defense Minister in August 2001. Awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for service in anti-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus. It is aimed at replacing the very many official, semi official and unit awards bestowed for military service in the Caucasus between 1994 and 2004.

      It comes in 2 classes, gold and silver, gold being the higher class. Gold class is for officers and warrant officers. Silver class is for other ranks.

      Even though the cross bears the logo of the Defense Ministry at its center, all troops from the Russian Federation regardless of ministerial affiliation are eligible for this award.

      Note: the crosses are also available for purchase in green or red. Supposedly, the green crosses are for border troops and the red crosses are for the legal branch. I have seen both colours advertised for sale from Russian medal makers on Russian web sites but have yet to find any official documentation supporting this. Nor have I found any pictures suggesting these were ever issued.

    6. Instituted in 2008 by decree of the Minister of the Interior. Awarded to recognize the citizens of the Russian Federation and foreign nationals who promote the work carried out by the armed forces of the Interior Ministry of Russia (National Guard) and assist in fulfilling the responsibilities and combat assignments entrusted to the service.

    7. Instituted on 27 July 2007 by decree of the Defense Minister. Awarded to members of the Armed Forces, civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Armed Forces who are in reserve or retired, as well as other citizens of the Russian Federation for great personal contribution to the establishment and development of nuclear weapons for the Russian Federation, for special merit in addressing the challenges facing the Ministry of Defense.

    8. Instituted on 18 December 2000 by the Minister for Emergency Situations (EMERCOM). Awarded to soldiers of the civil defense forces and civilian personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for perfect execution of their profession if earlier honored with government or departmental awards and that served in the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for at least 10 years.

    9. Instituted on 31 March 2003 by decree of the Defense Minister. Awarded to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation who stand out for courage and dedication in carrying out combat assignments or special operations in life threatening situations. For carrying out proactive and decisive action that contributed to the success of the mission, for successfully guiding the actions of subordinates in carrying out combat missions.

    10. Instituted on 22 December 1999 by decree of the Minister of Defense. Awarded to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for excellent performance in training, for special distinction while performing normal military or combat duties, military exercises and maneuvers; for courage, dedication and other merits as demonstrated in the performance of military duty. The 1st and 2nd classes are bestowed sequentially, 2nd class, then 1st class.

    11. Instituted on 24 January 2001 by decree of the Interior Minister. Awarded to soldiers of the troops of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation for excellent performance in training; for distinction in the performance of military duties; for merit in the protection of public order and public security; for courage, dedication and high achievements displayed during military service.

      The award document bears the stamp of the Interior Ministry (MVD Russia).

    12. Instituted on 26 February 2002 by the Defense Minister, it was also adopted by the Ministry for Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) on 18 July 2005. The obverses and ribbons are the same, only the reverse inscriptions differ.

      The Defense Ministry's version has the reverse inscription (#1 on the picture below): ?ЗА РАЗМИНИРОВАНИЕ? (For Clearance) ?МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБОРОНЫ? (Ministry of Defense) ?РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ? (Russian Federation).

      EMERCOM's has the reverse inscription (#2 on the picture below): ?ЗА РАЗМИНИРОВАНИЕ? (For Clearance) ?МЧС РОССИИ? (Ministry For Emergency Situations Russia).

      Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for their dedication, bravery, courage and professionalism in the tasks of detecting and clearing (eliminating) explosive objects on the ground; for participation in international programs, projects or operations involved in humanitarian demining; in organizing and directing mine clearance operations.

    13. BIO

      Komarovsky Alexander Nikolaevich, born 7 May 1906 in St. Petersburg. General of the Army (1972), Hero of Socialist Labor (1949), Ph.D. (1956). Member of the CPSU in 1939. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers (1928). In the 30s he held senior positions in the construction of the channel in Moscow, Kuibyshev hydropower and various other projects. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 he served in the South and South-Western Fronts as Head of the Department of Defense, as commander of the 5th demining army and deputy head of the People's Commissariat of Defense. Between 1945 and 1962, served in various leadership positions,in December 1963 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR for the construction and the quartering of troops. Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, 8th convocation. USSR State Prize (1951), Lenin Prize (1968). Awarded 7 orders of Lenin, 2 orders of the Red Banner, Order of the Patriotic War 1st class, 2 orders of Red Star, the Order of ?Honor? and medals, as well as several awards and medals from foreign countries. The author of the book ?Zapiski builder? (1972).

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