Badges of the Danish Military
Badges of the Danish Military are military decorations issued to soldiers who achieve a variety of qualifications and accomplishments while serving active or reserve duty in the Danish military. They are worn, on the service dress or barracks dress, either right above or on the breast pocket, depending on whether there are Danish Parachutist Brevets.[1] There is no limit to the number worn and there is no designated order for the badges.[2]
The badges were first created by the Danish Brigade in Exile,[3] in order to show proficiency.[4] It did however not see official and wide use until the 1950s, when standardized versions were introduced.
Proficiency badges
The proficiency badges are small circular badges 25mm in diameter showing a laurel wreath and the icon in the center. They are sown onto the uniform with a small circular piece of felt backing:
Army
The army has different colors depending on the service branch:[1]
- Infantry: Cardinal red (the two infantry regiments Royal Life Guards and Schleswig Foot Regiment)
- Jutland Dragoons: Crimson red
- Guard Hussars: White
- Artillery: Crimson red
- Engineer Regiment: Black
- Signal Regiment: Dark blue
- Train Regiment: Crimson red
- Intelligence Regiment: Grey
Navy
White
Air Force
White
Shooting badges
Military Proficiency Badge | Name (English/Danish) | Grades | Date of creation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pistol Badge Pistolmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features two crossed Wheellock pistols.[5] | |
Sub-machine Gun Badge Maskinpistolmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features the Maskinpistol M.44 Husquarna. Obsolete[6] | |
Rifle Badge Geværmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features two crossed Wheellock rifles.[7] | |
Light Machine Gun Badge Maskingevær mærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1955 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features the Madsen machine gun.[8] | |
Marksmanship Badge Feltskyttemærke |
Bronze | 18 June 1992 | Features the scope from M/75.[9] | |
Marksmanship Emblem Feltskyttemblem |
Silver, gold | ? | Features the Krag–Jørgensen surrounded by wreath in oak leaves.[10] |
Skill badges
Military Proficiency Badge | Name (English/Danish) | Grades | Date of creation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
First Aid Skill Badge Sanitetsmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features a Greek Cross. | |
Dog Handler Skill Badge Hundeførermærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1968 for bronze, silver and gold | Features the head of a German Shepherd. | |
Motorcycle courier Skill Badge Motorordonansmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features a Nimbus motorcycle.[11] Obsolete | |
Patrol Rider Skill Badge Patruljeryttermærke |
Bronze | 1956 | Features the head of a horse. Obsolete | |
Orienteering Skill Badge Terrænsportsmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features the Orienteering flag and a compass needle. | |
Combat Swimming Skill Badge Kampsvømmer mærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features a sword and waves. | |
Signal Skill Badge Signalmærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1956 for bronze and silver, 1961 for gold | Features a sword and lightning. | |
Rider Emblem Rytteremblem |
Silver (with or without arrow) |
2018 | Features a horseshoe and two crossed swords surrounded wreath in laurel leaves.[12] |
Recognition badges
Military Proficiency Badge | Name (English/Danish) | Grades | Date of creation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plane Recognition Badge Flykendnings mærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 22 October 1975 for bronze, silver and gold | Features a plane. | |
Tank Recognition Badge Panserkendings mærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 1975 for bronze, silver and gold | Features a Sherman tank. | |
Ship Recognition Badge Skibskendnings mærke |
Bronze, Silver, Gold | 22 July 1975 for bronze, silver and gold | Features a Viking longship. |
Tabs
Similar in design to British and American tabs, they are worn on the right shoulder, on either service dress, barracks dress or combat uniform.[13]
Tab | Name (English/Danish) | Notes |
---|---|---|
Ranger Jæger |
Awarded after completing Jægerkorpset basic training and one year of satisfactory service at Corps.[13] | |
Patrol (Instructor) Patrulje (Instruktør) |
Awarded after completing a number of related courses, with Instructor being awarded after reaching level of Instructor.[14] | |
Military Police MP |
Awarded after completing MP basic training and 3 months of satisfactory service.[15] | |
Explosive Ordnance Disposal EOD |
Awarded after completing a number of related courses.[15] | |
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear CBRN |
Awarded after completing a number of related courses.[14] | |
Legal Adviser MJUR |
Awarded after given permanent or designated title as Military Legal Adviser.[15] | |
Tactical Air Control Party TACP |
Awarded after completing Tactical Air Control Party basic training and one year of satisfactory service.[14] | |
Movement Controller MOVCON |
Awarded after completing Movement controller basic training and 6 months of satisfactory service.[16] Obsolete |
Parachute badge
The Danish parachutist badge, can only be acquired by Danish officers, high ranking NCOs and members of the Royal Danish Air Force, they are therefore relatively rare compared to other countries parachute badges.[17] The parachutist badge is worn above the right breast pocket on the service dress or barracks dress, with the ability to wear a foreign brevet, on the pocket flap.[18]
Parachutist Brevet | Name (English/Danish) | Notes |
---|---|---|
Parachutist Badge Faldskærmsmærke |
||
Freefall Parachutist Badge Fritfaldsmærke |
Only available for Jægerkorpset and officers, who have completed the Jægerkorps basic training.[17] |
Auncienty
Military Proficiency Badge | Name (English/Danish) | Grades | Date of creation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Service Emblem - Army NCO School Tjenestemærke, Hærens Sergentskole |
1 | ? | Features 3 sergeant chevrons with laurel leaves.[19]
-two year of service |
References
- Army Operational Command 2012, p. 907.
- "Forsvarets udmærkelsestegn". Corysan (in Danish).
- Finsted, Per. "Den danske Brigade i Sverige 1943-1945" (PDF). chakoten.dk. p. 7. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- "Maskinpistolmærke 1944". Arma-Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "Pistolmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- "Maskinpistolmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- "Geværmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- "Maskingevær mærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- "Feltskyttemærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- Hærchefsergent (July 2018). Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform Regulations for the Army - July 2018] (PDF) (in Danish). p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- "Motorordonansmærke". arma-dania.dk. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- Hærchefsergent (July 2018). Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform Regulations for the Army - July 2018] (PDF) (in Danish). p. 42. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- Army Operational Command 2012, p. 901.
- Army Operational Command 2012, p. 903.
- Army Operational Command 2012, p. 902.
- Army Operational Command 2012, p. J-1.
- "Når Kadetter får Vinger" (in Danish).
- Army Operational Command 2012, p. 905.
- Hærchefsergent (July 2018). Uniformsbestemmelser for hæren (UBH) Jul 2018 [Uniform Regulations for the Army - July 2018] (PDF) (in Danish). p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
Bibliography
- "Uniform Regulations for the Army" (PDF). Army Operational Command (in Danish). DK: parawings.com. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.