St. George's Cross Medal

Medalha da Cruz de São Jorge

The ST.GEORGE'S CROSS MEDAL, created December, 22nd, 2000, awards military and civilian personnel, national or foreign, who reveal, technically and professionally, high competence, extraordinary performance and relevant personal qualities, significantly contributing to the efficiency, prestige and fulfilment of the mission of the Estado Maior General das Forças Armadas (EMGFA) - (Armed Forces General Staff).

The following criteria apply for each of the classes:

1st CLASS: Generals/Admirals, Colonels/Captains

2nd CLASS: Commander/Lieutenant-Colonel or Lieutenant-Commander/Major

3rd CLASS: other officers and Sargent-Major

4th CLASS: other NCO and Enlisted

DESIGN

OBVERSE: a St. George's cross in red, embroidered in gold, and a FLYING sea lion, bearing a sword, and encircled by a chain of 14 ELOS, 7 seen in profile, and 7 on top, all in gold; 

REVERSE: plain.

RIBBONS

The distinction between classes is as it follows:

1st CLASS – gold; neck ribbon; or rosette over ribbon with 0,018 m;

2nd CLASS – silver; rosette over ribbon with 0,015 m;

3rd CLASS – silver; rosette over ribbon with 0,013 m;

4th CLASS – silver; no rosette.

NOTES

It was the penultimate of the 5 private medals to be created, to award services to the Armed Forces General Staff. It came after the 3 private medals to the 3 branches, and before the Ministry of National Defence’s private medal, created 2 years later.

SOURCES

- Decreto-Lei n.º 316/2002 de 27 de Dezembro - Regulamento da Medalha Militar e das Medalhas Comemorativas das Forças Armadas.
- Wikimedia Commons