The French commemorative medal (or “Médaille commémorative française” in French) is a French decoration intended to recognize civilians and soldiers who took part in specific missions ordered by the French government carried out outside of French national territory after March 1, 1991.
It was established by decree 95-1098 on 9 October 1995 on the initiative of the then Defence Minister, François Léotard. The Minister of Defense decides by individual decree each theatre of operations in which the medal may be earned, the start and end dates for award eligibility, and the minimal time in theatre required to earn the award.
The medal may be awarded to foreign military and civilians having served under French command, subject to approval by their own governments.
The medal is always worn with at least one clasp. Each operational mission clasp can only be earned once.
The French Commemorative Medal Design
The French commemorative medal is a 30mm in diameter circular gilded medal struck from bronze.
The obverse bears the effigy of the republic three quarters facing and wearing a Phrygian cap surrounded by the relief inscription along the medal circumference “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”). The reverse is arranged akin a stylized globe, at the center, the relief image of a vertical sword pointing up within an olive wreath, the inscription “MÉDAILLE COMMÉMORATIVE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL”) superimposed over it in relief.
The medal hangs from a ribbon through a ring passing through the medal’s ball shaped suspension loop. The 38mm wide silk moiré ribbon is divided into four red and three blue alternating 5mm wide stripes and is edged with 1,5mm green stripes.
To date, ten operational mission clasps have been approved for wear on the ribbon:
- EX-YOUGOSLAVIE 1991
- HAÏTI 1993, 2004, 2010
- ALBANIE 1997 – 2001
- TIMOR-ORIENTAL 1999 – 2000
- AFGHANISTAN 2001
- ASIE DU SUD-EST 2004
- GÉORGIE 2008
- LIBYE 2011
- JORDANIE 2012
- GUINÉE 2015
