Military Decoration (Belgium)

The Military Decoration (, ) is a military award of the Kingdom of Belgium. It was established on December 23, 1873 and is awarded to non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the Belgian Armed Forces for loyal and uninterrupted service.
Early in the 20th century, 2 classes for the medal were created.
Award Criteria.
The Military Decoration is awarded in two classes.
Military personnel below the rank of Officer is awarded the second class after ten years of service.
Five years after the award, they are awarded the first class of the medal (unless, by then, the service member is promoted to a commissioned officer rank). 
Appearance.
The medal is a gilt cross pattée surmounted by the royal crown of Belgium with four rays between the cross arms. 
The obverse bears a circular central medallion with a Belgian lion and a circular relief inscription.
This inscription is the Belgian motto (Unity makes Strength) and used to be solely in France (surrounding the centered lion completely) but carries since July, 8, 1952 the motto both in Dutch (eendracht maakt macht) in the upper half and in French (l'union fait la force) in the lower half of the circle.
The reverse is identical except for the central medallion, which used to the royal monogram of the reigning monarch at time of the award surrounded by the relief inscription "ARMÉE * MÉRITE * ANCIENNETÉ" ("ARMY * MERIT * SENIORITY").
Since July, 8, 1952, only a Belgian lion is depicted, without surrounding text or reference to the reigning monarch.
The medal is suspended by a ring through the suspension loop to a silk moiré ribbon of seventeen alternating longitudinal stripes of red, yellow and black.
A gilt inverted metal chevron is affixed to the ribbon of the award first class.
Devices.
On the ribbon an inverted gilt chevron is affixed when the first class of the medal is awarded.