Defensive memorial cordon

Defensive memorial cordon (Japanese: 防衛記念章, ) is the decoration for the　Self-Defense Officials in Japan Self-Defense Forces. The officials can wear it on their uniforms only in active service. There are only cordons like the Unit Awards and the Unit Citations of United States Armed Forces.

The appearance of the Defensive memorial cordon(DMC) is similar to ribbon bars of military decoration, but it is completely different from ribbons bars. DMC is just a "rectangular-shaped memorial souvenir" for service career, participation of training in overseas, and participation of international contribution. DMC is not even ribbons of Order, not Order, not Award.

History

Before establishment

After World War II, the standard for conferment of a decoration was changed and the Self-Defense Officials in active service were excluded from the standard. In addition, Japan Self-Defense Forces could not gain opportunity to participate battle because it is prohibited by Chapter 9 from the Japanese Constitutions.　

Just after Japan Self-Defense Forces was established in 1954, there were some officials who had military decorations and ribbon bars awarded by Imperial Japanese Army, so they wore in formal ceremony. Those people got retired as time goes on, and no one could wear the military decorations with entitlement. For this reason, the officers in Japan Self-Defense Forces in 1970s had to participate international meetings without any decorations.

Establishment

VADM Yoji Koda in Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force wearing the cordons on left chest.

On April 1, 1982, the system for Defensive memorial cordon was established to keep balance of looking between Japanese and foreign servicemen. When the system for Defensive memorial cordon was established, there were only 15 sorts of cordons.

Requirements

Following 　Self-Defense Officials in active service are allowed to wear DMC.

1. The Self-Defense Officials who are received an official commendation by Japan Self-Defense Forces.
2. The Self-Defense Officials who served duties about the concerned awarding at the awarded institutions (National Defense Academy, National Defense Medical College, National Institute for Defense Studies, Technical Research and Development Institute, Equipment Procurement and Construction Office, the military units, the military institutions, a branch offices of Equipment office)
3. The Self-Defense Officials who were the commanders of the units, or other managerial positions established by the Minister of Defense.
4. The Self-Defense Officials who served duties at the internal Subdivisions (Internal Subdivisions in Ministry of Defense, Section of the Joint Staffs, Defense Intelligence Headquarters, Ground Staff Office, Maritime Staff Office, Air Staff Office, Technical Research and Development Institute, Equipment Procurement and Construction Office, Inspector General's Office of Legal Compliance)
5. The Self-Defense Officials who served long period.(In this case, the officials who were awarded the prize of perfect attendance.
6. The Self-Defense Officials who worked at the diplomatic missions in overseas, or who were engaged duties about procurement by onerous assistance or other duties in overseas.
7. The Self-Defense Officials who participated training in oversea or work for transporting to the South Pole.
8. The Self-Defense Officials who participated the work for international contribution.
9. The Self-Defense Officials who engaged in the national events or cooperating work of sports competitions which are regulated in Self-Defense Forces Act Chapter126-12(Olympic Games, Asian Games, National Sports Festival, FIFA World Cup).

Sorts

There are 40 sorts now. When the system for Defensive memorial cordon was established, there were only 15 cordons. They must be worn by ascending order. Male officials wear 3 cordons for each line, and female officials wear 2 cordons for each line. If the foreign Orders were awarded, they must be put on the top line.

27th, 37th, 38th are precisely not abolished and they still exist, but it is impossible to meet requirements. For example, the targeted organizations was abolished, or missions was finished.

Appearance	English name	Japanese name	Wearer
	1st Defensive Memorial Cordon	第1号防衛記念章	The winners of Special Encomium.
	2nd Defensive Memorial Cordon	第2号防衛記念章	The winners of 1st Class Encomium.
	3rd Defensive Memorial Cordon	第3号防衛記念章	The winners of 2nd Class Encomium.
	4th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第4号防衛記念章	The winners of 3rd Class Encomium by being sent out for disaster Relief, defending nation, or maintaining security.
	5th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第5号防衛記念章	The winners of 3rd Class Encomium by driving the vehicles or aircraft for appointed hour and for appointed mileage without accidents.
	6th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第6号防衛記念章	The winners of 3rd Class Encomium by excellent invention or device　technically or distinguished service for unit management with service improvement.
	7th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第7号防衛記念章	The winners of 3rd Class Encomium by distinguished service during the ordinary training or maneuvers.
	8th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第8号防衛記念章	The winners of 4th Class Encomium by being sent out for disaster Relief, defending nation, or maintaining security.
	9th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第9号防衛記念章	The winners of 4th Class Encomium by driving the vehicles or aircraft for appointed hour and for appointed mileage without accidents.
	10th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第10号防衛記念章	The winners of 4th Class Encomium by excellent invention or device　technically or distinguished service for unit management with service improvement.
	11th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第11号防衛記念章	The winners of 4th Class Encomium by distinguished service during the ordinary training or maneuvers.
	12th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第12号防衛記念章	The winners of 5th Class Encomium by being sent out for disaster Relief, defending nation, or maintaining security.
	13th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第13号防衛記念章	The winners of 5th Class Encomium by driving the vehicles or aircraft for appointed hour and for appointed mileage without accidents.
	14th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第14号防衛記念章	The winners of 5th Class Encomium by excellent invention or device　technically or distinguished service for unit management with service improvement.
	15th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第15号防衛記念章	The winners of 5th Class Encomium by distinguished service during the ordinary training or maneuvers.
	16th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第16号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who were the members of the units which were awarded Security Meritorious Award or Disaster Prevention Meritorious Award, and served the concerned missions.
	17th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第17号防衛記念章	The JSDF members　who served missions related to Special Award.
	18th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第18号防衛記念章	The JSDF members　who served missions related to 1st Award.
	19th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第19号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who were the leaders(lieutenant general, vice admiral).
	20th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第20号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who were the leaders(major general, rear admiral).
	21st Defensive Memorial Cordon	第21号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who were the leaders(Colonel, Captain).
	22nd Defensive Memorial Cordon	第22号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who were the leaders(Lieutenant Colonel, Commander, Major, Lieutenant Commander).
	23rd Defensive Memorial Cordon	第23号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who had a experience of being the leaders(Company-grade officer).
	24th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第24号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the internal subdivisions of Ministry of Defense(Defense Agency).
	25th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第25号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Joint Staff Office and also were chosen by the Minister of Defense.(substitution of 27th cordon)
	26th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第26号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Ground Staff Office, Maritime Staff Office, or Air Staff Office.
	27th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第27号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Joint Staff Council and the Defense Intelligence Headquarters[1].
	28th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第28号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Defense Intelligence Headquarters after shifting to the joint operations posture, and who were chosen by the Minister of Defense.(substitution of 27th cordon)
	29th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第29号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Technical Research and Development Institute.
	30th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第30号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Equipment Procurement and Construction Office.
	31st Defensive Memorial Cordon	第31号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at the Inspector General's Office of Legal Compliance.
	32nd Defensive Memorial Cordon	第32号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served for 25 years.
	33rd Defensive Memorial Cordon	第33号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served for 10 years.
	34th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第34号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served at Diplomatic missions as Defense Attache and so on, or who were engaged duties about procurement by onerous assistance or other duties in overseas.
	35th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第35号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served for measures against Piracy in Somalia.
	36th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第36号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who participated the work for the international contribution.
	37th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第37号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who participated the work for activity in the Indian Sea
	38th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第38号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who participated the work for the Iraqi contribution.
	39th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第39号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who served for the national events.
	40th Defensive Memorial Cordon	第40号防衛記念章	The JSDF members who participated training in overseas.

Winning the same cordons

If the same cordons were awarded, the winners have to put gold or silver cherry blossoms on the cordons.

• 1 silver cherry blossom for 2 same cordons.
• 1 gold cherry blossom for 3 same cordons.
• 2 silver cherry blossoms for 4 same cordons.
• 2 gold cherry blossoms for more than 4 same cordons.

example:

• 

  1 silver cherry blossom on 12th cordon

• 

  2 silver cherry blossom on 12th cordon

References

1. ^ It is impossible now to be awarded 27th cordon because Joint Staff Council was abolished and reorganized to Joint Staff Office. For this reason, 25th and 28th cordons were established.