Order of Military Merit (Canada)

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Order of Military Merit
Commander's badge of the Order of Military Merit
Awarded by the Queen of Canada
TypeOrder
EstablishedJuly 1, 1972[1][2]
EligibilityStanding membership in the Canadian Forces.
Awarded forDedication and devotion beyond the call of duty.
StatusCurrently constituted
GradesCommander (C.M.M.), Officer (O.M.M.), Member (M.M.M.)
Statistics
Total inductees20
Precedence
Next (higher)Dependant on Grade
Next (lower)Dependant on Grade

Order of Military Merit Ribbon

The Order of Military Merit (French: Ordre du mérite militaire) is a military order of Canada that is accorded to members of the Canadian Forces who have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty.[1][2] Appointment to the order honours these individuals – whether regular or reserve personnel – for their commitment to Canada,[1][2] and recognizes achievement of conspicuous merit and exceptional military service.[3]

Classes

The Order of Military Merit has three levels or grades, with applicable post-nominal letters (the same in English and French) for recipients:

  • Commander (Fr.: Commandeur) (C.M.M.):[1] recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility.[1][2]
  • Officer (Fr.: Officier) (O.M.M.):[1] recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility.[1][2]
  • Member (Fr.: Membre) (M.M.M.):[1] recognizes exceptional service or performance of duty.[1][2]

Awarding

Governor General Michaëlle Jean wearing the commander's insignia as a brooch.

Only high ranking military members are eligible for the Order of Military Merit.[4] The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order and the Governor General is the Chancellor and Commander of the Order while the Chief of the Defense Staff is the Principal Commander. In Canada the Governor General awards the Order of Military Merit to recipients on behalf of the Queen.

Design

Badge

The badge of the Order is a blue enamelled[1][2] cross pattée, in gilt for Commanders and Officers, in silver for Members.[2] The central disc bears a maple leaf that is red enamelled leaf on golden background for Commanders, golden leaf on golden background for Officers, silver leaf on silver background for Members, which is surrounded by a red enamel ring bearing the words "Merit - Mérite - Canada", and topped by a crown.[1][2] Commanders wear the badge on a necklet, while Officers and Members wear their badges suspended by a gilt or silver bar decorated with a laurel motif, on a ribbon on the left chest.

Member

For the Member level, the badge is a blue-enamelled, straight-end cross pattée (four arms, narrow at the centre and expanding towards the ends).[2] The badge is edged in silver (MMM).[1][2] The maple leaf in the centre of the badge is red.[1][2] The annulus is red with lettering in silver (MMM),[1][2] and is surmounted by a St. Edward's Crown.[2]

Ribbon

The ribbon of the Order is blue with golden edges.[1][2] The Officer and Member awards are a single upright vertical sections of fabric, while the Commander awards are a double section of fabric that are crossed together and put so that the edges cross to hold the badge.[1][2]

Order of precedence

Within the order of preference for the Canadian honours system, each grade of the Order of Military Merit precedes a similar grade of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, with the Commander grade succeeding the Member grade of the Order of Canada:[5]

Above Grade Below
Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.) Commander of the Order of Military Merit (C.M.M.) Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (C.O.M.)
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) Officer of the Order of Military Merit (O.M.M.) Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (O.M.M.)
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O.) Member of the Order of Military Merit (M.M.M.) Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (M.O.M.)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Governor-General - Order of Military Merit". Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Veterans Affairs - Order of Military Merit". Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  3. ^ Canada, Finance and Corporate Services (FIN CS): Canadian Forces Administrative Order, CFAO 18-4 -- Recommendations for Canadian Orders, Decorations and Military Honours.
  4. ^ FIN CS: CFAO 18-14 -- Order of Military Merit.
  5. ^ "Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals - Governor-General". Retrieved 21 December 2008.
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