Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued both to United States military personnel and to military and political figures of foreign governments. The Legion of Merit is one of only two United States decorations to be issued as a neck order (the other being the Medal of Honor), and the only United States decoration to be issued in award degrees (much like an Order of Chivalry or an Order of Merit).

Degrees

Members of the United States military receive the Legion of Merit medal which is issued without degree. However, when bestowing the Legion of Merit upon members of foreign militaries or

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governments, the Legion of Merit is issued in the following degrees:

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• Chief Commander - Chief of State or Head of Government
• Commander - Equivalent of an U.S. military Chief of Staff or higher position but not to Chief of State.
• Officer - General or Flag Officer below the equivalent of a U.S. military Chief of Staff; also a Colonel or equivalent rank for service in assignments equivalent to those normally held by a General or Flag Officer in U.S. military service or Military Attaches.
• Legionnaire - All recipients not included above

The degrees and the design of the decoration were clearly influenced by the French Légion d'honneur.

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