Firefighters' Medal of Honor
Verified 10 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You are fire brigade and you want to know if you can claim a medal of honor ? We provide you with the necessary information.
The Firefighters' Medal of Honor is intended to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to their profession.
There are 2 medals of honor which themselves have several levels:
- The seniority award shall be awarded to a person who has shown a constant dedication to the performance of his duties
- The medal with rosette for exceptional services shall be awarded to a person who has particularly distinguished himself in the performance of his duties.
Seniority Medal
The seniority award is awarded to professional or volunteer firefighters who have consistently demonstrated dedication in the performance of their duties.
It includes 4 steps. They are based on the length of service you have performed.
Age of services | Type of medal |
---|---|
10 years | Bronze medal |
20 years | Silver medal |
30 years | Gold Medal |
40 years | Grand Gold Medal |
Seniority calculation
The services covered are as follows:
- Services performed as a professional or volunteer firefighter, military firefighter (Paris and Marseille) and military civil security
- Services performed in active national service or civic service
- Military services performed while serving in the armed forces during wartime
As such:
- Maternity and adoption leave shall be considered as actual services.
- Part-time services shall be taken into account in proportion to the length of service completed.
- The national certificate for young firefighters provides an additional 1 year of service.
- Services performed simultaneously shall not be taken into account cumulatively.
Exclusions
You cannot have the seniority medal if you are in one of the following situations:
- You have been convicted of a crime or sentenced to prison without charge reprieve 1 year or more
- You have been disciplined on your individual file.
Non-cumulation
A member of the Legion of Honor or the National Order of Merit or a person who has the military medal may not be awarded the seniority medal within 3 years of his appointment, promotion or elevation in those orders.
Time limit not to be exceeded
The seniority medal may not be awarded more than 5 years after the permanent cessation of your duties as a firefighter.
The award of the seniority medal shall be decided by the prefect of department, on the proposal of your hierarchical authority.
The decree of the prefectural authorities for the award of the seniority medal is published in the Official Bulletin of Decorations, Medals and Awards of the French Republic.
The presentation of the medal takes place on July 14 and December 4. It may, exceptionally, take place at another time of the year.
When you receive the medal, you also get a diploma recalling the services for which you are rewarded.
The seniority medal can be withdrawn if you are in one of the following cases:
- You are convicted of a crime or sentenced to prison without charge reprieve 1 year or more
- You are subject to a disciplinary sanction resulting in the cancelation of the executives or the termination of the commitment
- You have breached the honor resulting in a conviction or disciplinary sanction
Medal with rosette
The medal with rosette for exceptional services may be attributed to a professional or volunteer firefighter who has particularly distinguished himself in the performance of his duties.
It includes 3 steps :
Medal | Beneficiary |
---|---|
Silver medal | A firefighter who has distinguished himself in the performance of his duties |
Medal of vermeil | Firefighter who has had the silver medal with rosette for at least 5 years |
Gold Medal |
|
The medal with rosette for exceptional services may not be awarded to you in any of the following cases:
- You have been convicted of a crime or sentenced to prison without charge reprieve equal to or greater than 1 year
- You have been disciplined on your individual file
The award of the medal shall be decided by the Minister of the Interior, on the proposal of your hierarchical authority.
The ministerial decree for awarding the medal is published in the Official Bulletin of Decorations, Medals and Awards of the French Republic.
The award of the medal takes place on July 14 and December 4. It may, exceptionally, take place at another time of the year.
When you receive the rosette medal for outstanding service, you also get a diploma recalling the services for which you were rewarded.
The medal can be taken away in one of the following cases:
- You are sentenced for a crime or to a prison sentence without reprieve 1 year or more
- You are subject to a disciplinary sanction leading to cancelation of the executives or termination of the commitment
- You have breached the honor resulting in a conviction or disciplinary sanction