Medal for Military Merit

The MEDAL FOR MILITARY MERIT (Medalha de Mérito Militar) was created by Decree No. 35667 of May 28, 1946, designed to reward military personnel who showed exceptional qualities and military virtues, for which they should be specially appointed to respect and public consideration.

The Grand Cross of the Military Merit Medal can only be awarded to General Officers. The following award criterion applies to the award of the medal:

1st CLASS: general officer and navy captain or colonel
2nd CLASS: commander or lieutenant-colonel and lieutenant-commander or major
3rd CLASS: other officers and sergeant-in-chief
4th CLASS: other sergeants and enlisted.

DESIGN

Grand Cross' Band (consisting of band, lace and cross ensemble of military merit):
Band: waved silk with crimson background, cut lengthwise at 0.015 m from the edges of the tape, by two sets of three dark blue fillets 0.003m wide and spaced apart from each other by 0.003m and centered by three contiguous fillets of 0 , 0045m wide, the middle one being dark blue and the other white; width 0.10m; the length shall be such that, at the shoulder, the end of the upper arm of the cross is 0.10m below the waist.
Tie: the same ribbon and the model of the figure;
Cross of military merit: with equal obverse and reverse, it is a tall cross, florid, white, with the dimensions of the figure, and having superimposed a high, red cross; is surmounted by a tower of gold suspended from the loop by a cross of the same metal.

1946 model,

Grand Cross (to be used when not using the band):
Suspended ribbon: crimson-bottomed silk, cut longitudinally at 0,005m from the edges of the ribbon, by two sets of three dark blue fillets 0.001m wide and spaced apart from each other from 0.001m to the center by three contiguous fillets 0.0015m wide, the middle one being dark blue and the other white; width 0.30m; length necessary to be 0.09m from the top of the tape, to the lower edge of the decoration, in order to obtain the lower alignment of the different badges; to the center, the miniature of the cross of military merit, of height 0,010m, surrounded by two vergónteas of laurel.
Ring: gold;
Pendant: cross (enamel) and tower identical to the band, but with the dimensions of the figure.

1st Class: identical to the insignia of the Grand Cross with the following difference:
Suspension tape: to the center, a miniature cross of military merit measuring 0,016m (before 2002, it was 0,014m).

2nd Class, 1946 model (to 1971)

2nd Class: identical to the insignia of the Grand Cross with the following difference:
Suspension tape: to the center, a miniature of the cross of military merit measuring 0,014 m (before 2020, it was 0,012m).

3rd Class: identical to the insignia of the Grand Cross with the following difference:
Suspension tape: to the center, a miniature cross of military merit measuring 0,012 m (before 2002, it was 0,010m);
Pendant: the tower above the cross is silver.

4th Class: identical to the insignia of the Grand Cross with the following difference:
Ribbon of suspension: to the center, a miniature cross of military merit measuring 0,010m (before 2002, no clasp was used);
Pendant: the tower that crosses the top is silver as in the 3rd class.

RIBBON

SOURCES

- Decree-Law nr. 316/2002, 27th December - "Regulamento da Medalha Militar e das Medalhas Comemorativas das Forças Armadas".
- Wikimedia Commons

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PRECEDENCE

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Above: Distinguished Services medal

Below: Military Order of Sant'Iago da Espada (St. James of the Sword)