Military Merit Medal (Philippines)
| Military Merit Medal | |
|---|---|
 A tray of three Military Merit Medals | |
| Type | Military decoration |
| Awarded for | Meritorious service during or in support of military action.[1] |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Presented by | the Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Eligibility | Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines[2] |
| Status | Currently Awarded |
| Established | 1946 |
 Military Merit Medal ribbon bar | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Bronze Cross Medal |
| Next (lower) | Silver Wing Medal |
The Military Merit Medal (MMM) is a military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The medal is awarded for heroic achievement or meritorious service during, or in support of military action against an enemy.[3]
Requirements
For a military service personnel member to be eligible for the MMM, they must have[3]:
- heroic or meritorious achievement for service not involving participation in combat, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the Philippines (the required achievement is less than that which is required for the awarding of the Distinguished Service Star)
- a single act of meritorious service either in a duty responsibility, or in direct support of military operations
The cited achievement or service is to be accomplished with distinction.[3]
It may also be awarded posthumously to members of the AFP who are killed in action by an enemy after having performed meritorious service to the AFP in any capacity.[3]
Interim Award of Lesser Category
The MMM is one of the two awards explicitly identified by the AFP as an "interim award of lesser category"[3] (the other being the Distinguished Service Star), which means that a recipient who is under review of being recommended for the conferment of the Gold Cross (or lower) shall be given an MMM ad interim and shall be cancelled once the higher award had been approved for conferment.
Description
Obverse
The MMM is composed of a downward pointing equilateral triangle, enameled in red, and bordered in silver; a gold star is attached to each vertex (i.e. point) of the triangle. At the center of the triangle is the sun found in the flag of the Philippines in gold with eight pointed rays. A green laurel wreath passes around and behind the triangle and is visible between each of the points.[2]
Reverse
In a golden ring opposite the wreath, the phrase "FOR MILITARY MERIT" is written in an arc.
Symbolism and Significance
Sun - the Philippines
Three stars - the three (3) major island groups of the Philippines
Wreath - the honor received for such display of acts and accomplishments warranting the MMM
Service Ribbon
The medal is suspended from a green ribbon with 3 central narrow red (i.e. crimson) stripes.[1]
Appurtenances
Every subsequent award of the MMM to an individual shall be appurtenant with an Anahaw Leaf (for meritorious service), or a Spearhead Device (for heroic achievement), and are awarded as follows:
- Bronze Anahaw Leaf/Spearhead Device - for the first, second, third, and fourth succeeding award
- Silver Anahaw Leaf/Spearhead Device - for every fifth succeeding Bronze Anahaw Leaf/Spearhead Device
- Gold Anahaw Leaf/Spearhead Device - for every fifth Silver Anahaw Leaf/Spearhead Device
These devices are to be worn on the MMM's ribbon bar in dress uniforms, with the tips of the leaf and/or spearhead pointed upward.
See also
References
Citations
- 1 2 "ODM of The Philippines: Military Merit Medal". Medals.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- 1 2 "Philippine Air Force :: Official Website". Paf.mil.ph. Archived from the original on 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Armed Forces of the Philippines Manual: Awards and Decorations. Quezon City: Armed Forces of the Philippines. June 26, 2014. pp. 270–273, 636, 637, 642, 643.
Bibliography
- Armed Forces of the Philippines Manual: Awards and Decorations. Quezon City: Armed Forces of the Philippines. June 26, 2014.