The Chief Of Staff Medal of Appreciation (Hebrew: אות הערכה מטעם הרמטכ"ל) is an Israeli military decoration.[1]
| Medal of Appreciation of the Chief of Staff | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Order of Honour |
| Awarded for | exceptionally distinguished service or merit in senior command or staff positions |
| Presented by | Israeli Defense Force |
| Eligibility | Members of the Israeli Armed Forces and foreign military members |
| Status | Currently issued |
| Established | 1981 |
| Total awarded posthumously | 4 |
 Ribbon | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Chief of Staff Citation |
| Next (lower) | Medal of Appreciation of Officer Commanding Territorial Command (Major General) |
| Related | Medal for Service in Israel |
The medal was instituted in 1981. It is awarded to both civilians and military personnel who contribute to the strengthening of the IDF or the security of Israel; the medal could also be awarded to foreign civilians.
The medal's most well-known recipient is the Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was awarded the medal after his death during a mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
It has since been given 10 times; 4 posthumously, 2 group awards (Iron Dome and Patriot missile defense soldiers), and the rest to individuals (most of them American).
Design
editThe medal is round; on the front there is a Star of David with an olive branch and a sword rest on its left; the reverse is plain.
The medal is attached to a white ribbon with two blue strips on the edges, similar to those on the Israeli flag.
Notable recipients
editNotable recipients include:
- Colonel Ilan Ramon, IAF (posthumously)
- General Martin Dempsey, USA (Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- General Joseph Dunford, USMC (Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Members of the Kiryat Arba Emergency Response Team for 2002 Hebron ambush
- Yitzhak Buanish (posthumously)
- Alexander Zwitman (posthumously)
- Alexander Dohan (posthumously)
- Elijah Libman
- Operation Protective Edge units
- Iron Dome units
- Technological unit of the Military Intelligence Directorate
References
edit- ^ "Chief Of Staff Medal of Appreciation". Retrieved February 21, 2015.