Swedish Civil Protection Association Medal of Merit

The Swedish Civil Protection Association Medal of Merit^[b] (Swedish: Sveriges Civilförsvarsförbunds förtjänstmedalj, SCFGM/SM) is a Swedish medal awarded by the Swedish Civil Protection Association (Sveriges Civilförsvarsförbund, SCF) for meritorious service.

Swedish Civil Protection Association Medal of Merit
The medal in silver.
Type	Semi-official medal[a]
Awarded for	For meritorious service
Country	Sweden
Presented by	Swedish Civil Protection Association
Eligibility	Swedish personnel
Status	Currently awarded
Established	1941
Ribbon bar
Precedence
Next (lower)	Swedish Civil Protection Association Merit Badge

History

The medal was established on 25 August 1941^[4] as the Swedish National Federation for Civil Air Protection/National Air Protection Federation Medal of Merit (Swedish: Sveriges Riksförbund för civilt luftskydd/Riksluftskyddsförbundets förtjänstmedalj, RLSFM).^[5] On 17 July 1951,^[4] the medal change name to Swedish Civil Protection Association Medal of Merit (Swedish: Sveriges Civilförsvarsförbunds förtjänstmedalj).^[5]

Appearance

Medal

The medal is on the obverse fitted with the King's portrait and the inscription CARL XVI GUSTAF SVERIGES KONUNG ("CARL XVI GUSTAF KING OF SWEDEN")(^[c] (since 1973). On the reverse, its fitted is the association's emblem, a winged grenade with Three Crowns, and the inscription SVERIGES CIVILFÖRSVARSFÖRBUND ("SWEDISH CIVIL PROTECTION ASSOCIATION")^[d] as well as a plate for engraving the recipient's name and year of awarding. The medal is crowned with a royal crown.^[4]

• 
  Gold medal from 1947 with Gustaf V pictured
• 
  Silver medal from 1943 with Gustaf V pictured
• 
  Silver medal with Carl XVI Gustaf pictured

Ribbon

The medal is attached to a 35 mm wide dark blue ribbon with moiré pattern.^[4][5]

Criteria

Gold

The gold medal is usually awarded for at least 10 years of particularly meritorious service at national or district level and for exceptional contributions at association level. As a rule, the gold medal should only be awarded to those who have previously received the silver medal.^[4]

Silver

The silver medal is usually awarded for at least 5 years of meritorious service at national or district level and for exceptional contributions at association level. As a rule, the silver medal should not be awarded before the person in question has previously received the Swedish Civil Protection Association Merit Badge in gold.^[4]

Presenting

Awards are presented in solemn forms, usually at a district or association meeting or at another solemn occasion. The medal of merit is usually handed over at the Swedish Civil Protection Association's national assembly.^[6] As a rule, the quota of ten gold medals and thirty silver medals should not be exceeded at each meeting. If there are special reasons, the number may be exceeded following a decision by the national board and can also be awarded on other occasions than the national assembly. The right to propose the award of medals of merit belongs to a member of the national board, district board or association board. The national board decides on the awarding of medals of merit.^[4] Awards are accompanied by diplomas issued by the Swedish Civil Protection Association.^[6]

Wearing

Medals of merit and merit badges may be worn at the same time, but only the highest denomination within each award. Miniature medals for the medal of merit can be ordered through the national association's office.^[6]

See also

• Swedish Civil Protection Association Merit Badge

Footnotes

1. Category K of semi-official medals include, with His Majesty the King's permission established and with his approval, medals (badges) awarded by various organizations. The medals has often the king's image on the obverse.^[1]
2. Translated as the Swedish Civil Protection Association^[2] or the Swedish Civil Defence League.^[3][2]
3. Carl XVI Gustaf since 1973. Before him, Gustaf VI Adolf (1950–1973) and Gustaf V (1941–1950).
4. The current inscription was added on 17 July 1951.^[4]