Award
The badge of honour is awarded by the Federal Minister of Defence as a "visible commendation for loyal service and exemplary fulfillment of duties". The minister is usually represented by the commanding officer of the awarded soldier (ranked battalion commander or higher). Badges of honour awarded for outstanding achievements or heroic deeds, Honour Cross for Bravery (silver or golden), however may be handed over to the honoured soldier directly by the minister or even by the head of government. On July 6 for example, Chancellor Angela Merkel awarded the bravery grade of the Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr (Cross of Honour) to four troopers for "valor beyond the call of duty" performed in Afghanistan on October 20, 2008.
Receiving one grade of the award is no requirement for the next higher one. If earned, all grades of the award may be worn at the same time. The regular grades of the award for meritorious service may only be awarded after a certain time was served. In special cases they may be awarded prior to that.
Read more about this topic: Badge Of Honour Of The Bundeswehr
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“The award of a pure gold medal for poetry would flatter the recipient unduly: no poem ever attains such carat purity.”
—Robert Graves (1895–1985)