Firefighters' Medal of Honor

Verified 10 November 2022 - 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 give you the necessary information.

The Fire Fighters Medal is designed to reward those who have distinguished themselves and are involved in 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.

Tableau - Increments by age

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 :

Tableau - Medal steps with rosette for exceptional services

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

  • Firefighter who has had the medal vermeil with rosette for at least 5 years
  • Firefighter who has died in the line of duty

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