Veteran badge
The Veterans badge of the army is a badge , which is given for the earlier active military service. It is intended to represent veterans in public in recognition of loyal service to society.
Emergence
The badge for veterans of the Bundeswehr, approved in 2013 by the then Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière and subsequently procured, was not awarded because the Defense Ministry, the Bundeswehr, the Bundeswehr Association and the Reservists Association could not agree on a uniform veteran definition. The badges and their case were then stored. Some badges have been issued as inspection copies.
With the order of the day on the concept of veterans on November 26, 2018, then Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced the (deliberately broad) concept of veterans, which is considered to be the award of the veteran badge.
layout
The veteran's badge is designed in the form of a small, silver-metallic iron cross (the national emblem of the Bundeswehr) with the federal eagle depicted in the center . The size is 17 × 17 mm. It is delivered with a black plastic case on which the badge and the inscription Veteranenabzeichen der Bundeswehr are shown in silver .
Awarding and wearing
The Bundeswehr veteran definition applies to the award: a Bundeswehr veteran is anyone who is a soldier in active service or who has left this service with honor, i.e. who has not lost their rank .
It was awarded for the first time on June 15, 2019 by the then Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on the day of the Bundeswehr at Faßberg Air Base.
Around ten million former soldiers of the Bundeswehr can apply for the veteran badge at the Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr . It must be applied for by former and active soldiers using the application form. It will be delivered by post. Active soldiers can already apply for their veteran badge during their service time via their central unit and receive it in writing by post.
The badge may only be worn on civilian clothes.
criticism
The Bundeswehr's definition of a veteran is not undisputed. The Bund Deutscher EinsatzVeteranen demanded that veterans should only be soldiers who have actually participated in foreign missions of the Bundeswehr . The Federal Armed Forces Association, on the other hand, demanded - ultimately successfully - that all active or former Bundeswehr soldiers be considered veterans. The reservists ' association wanted to put the former soldiers in the foreground and not to forget those who also served in the Bundeswehr before their missions abroad.
“Unfortunately, it is difficult to find the relevant application form in the online area of the Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr. One cannot help but get the impression that this has been deliberately “hidden” in anticipation of a flood of applications. But let's leave the speculation ... "
Reservists , who have already received the badge by post, expressed “clear criticism of the letter accompanying the sending of the pin, saying that it was too impersonal and not appropriate for the occasion. The corresponding cover letter is now more personal. "
See also
- List of German orders and decorations
- Law on titles, medals and decorations
- Badge of honor of the Bundeswehr
literature
- Peter Lichtblau: The Bundeswehr veteran badge. In: Orders and Medals. The magazine for friends of phaleristics , publisher: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde , issue 124, 21st year, Gäufelden 2019. ISSN 1438-3772.
Web links
- personal.bundeswehr.de: Those who serve Germany deserve recognition (information on the veteran's badge, June 18, 2019)
- Web link to apply for the veteran's badge
Individual evidence
- ↑ eyes straight ahead! - Commemoration of Bundeswehr veterans: In the basement (May 17, 2018)
- ↑ Federal Ministry of Defense - Order of the day on the concept of veterans (November 26, 2018)
- ↑ Michael Schmidt: Ten million Germans are now veterans , in Tagesspiegel of November 19, 2018.
- ↑ Julia Weigelt: Veterans definition - just a quibble? In: ndr.de. June 15, 2019, accessed January 1, 2019 .
- ↑ personal.bundeswehr.de: A question of form