| Medal for Voluntary Military Service | |
|---|---|
 Gold level medal for voluntary military service (obverse) | |
| Type | Medal with 3 Classes (bronze, silver, gold) |
| Awarded for | Service in the military reserves |
| Presented by |  France |
| Eligibility | Military personnel |
| Status | No longer awarded after 1 July 2019 |
| Established | 13 March 1975 |
 Bronze  Silver  Gold Ribbons of the three grades of the Medal for voluntary military service | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | National Defence Medal |
| Equivalent | Defence and Internal Security Volunteer Reservists Medal |
| Next (lower) | Médaille d'honneur du service de santé des armées |
The Medal for Voluntary Military Service (French: "Médaille des services militaires volontaires") is a French military decoration established on 13 March 1975 by decree 75-150.[1] It was established in three grades to recognize voluntary military service in the reserves.[2]
During World War I, the reserves served as an important part of the defence of France. Following the end of hostilities, in order to reward their volunteerism during training periods, a decree of 13 May 1934[3] created the "Cross for voluntary military service" (French: "Croix des services militaires volontaires") in three grades, bronze, silver and gold. This first incarnation of a truly reserve award was rather short lived being replaced on 22 March 1957 with the "Order of military merit" (French: "Ordre du mérite militaire") at the request of the "Union Nationale des Officiers de Réserve" (English: "National Union of Reserve Officers").[3] This award, like many other French orders, had three grades Knight, Officer, and Commander. Unfortunately, the Order of military merit was one of sixteen ministerial awards abolished in December 1963 in favour of an all encompassing new "National Order of Merit" (French: "Ordre National du Mérite").[2]
Between the abolition of the Order of military merit in 1963 and the creation of the Medal for voluntary military service in 1975, no award existed to adequately recognize reservists.[1] The medal was replaced by the Defence and Internal Security Volunteer Reservists Medal on 1 July 2019.[4]
- ^ a b "France Phaléristique web site" (in French). Marc Champenois. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
- ^ a b Demougin, Jacques (2003). Les Décorations françaises. Paris: Editions du Layeur. p. 95. ISBN 2-911468-99-6.
- ^ a b Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 209–212. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2.
- ^ "Décret n° 2019-688 du 1er juillet 2019 relatif à la médaille des réservistes volontaires de défense et de sécurité intérieure". Légifrance. Retrieved 5 November 2020.