Army uniform showing different ways to wear the badges

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]

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

  1. ^ a b Army Operational Command 2012, p. 907.
  2. ^ "Forsvarets udmærkelsestegn". Corysan (in Danish).[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Finsted, Per. "Den danske Brigade i Sverige 1943-1945" (PDF). chakoten.dk. p. 7. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Maskinpistolmærke 1944". Arma-Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Pistolmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Maskinpistolmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Geværmærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Maskingevær mærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Feltskyttemærke". Arma Dania (in Danish). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Motorordonansmærke". arma-dania.dk. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ a b Army Operational Command 2012, p. 901.
  14. ^ a b c Army Operational Command 2012, p. 903.
  15. ^ a b c Army Operational Command 2012, p. 902.
  16. ^ Army Operational Command 2012, p. J-1.
  17. ^ a b "Når Kadetter får Vinger" (in Danish).
  18. ^ Army Operational Command 2012, p. 905.
  19. ^ 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

External links

Danish Defence
Categories