Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit

Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit (Swedish: Försvarsmaktens förtjänstmedalj, FMGM and FMSM[1]) is a Swedish reward medal established by the Swedish Armed Forces and is awarded for action during combat or during war-like situations.[2] The decision to award the medal is taken by the Supreme Commander and can be awarded to both Swedish and foreign personnel.

Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit
In gold with sword.
TypeMilitary medal (Decoration)
Awarded forActions during combat or during war-like situations
CountrySweden
Presented bySweden
EligibilitySwedish and foreign personnel
Motto"FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES"
StatusCurrently awarded
Established8 February 2008
Total awarded posthumously3


Ribbon bars

History

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The medal was established through a merger between the Swedish Armed Forces International Service Medal of Reward [in silver or gold with blue ribbon coated with a sword in silver] (Försvarsmaktens belöningsmedalj för internationella insatser [i silver eller guld med blått band belagt med svärd i silver]) and the Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit ("for commendable efforts") [in silver or gold with yellow ribbon (in some cases coated with a sword in each denomination)] (Försvarsmaktens förtjänstmedalj ("för berömliga insatser") [i silver eller guld med gult band (i vissa fall belagt med svärd i respektive valör]). These two medals are no longer awarded.[3]

The Medal of Merit established in 2008 can be awarded regardless of the circumstances prevailing at the time of the operation; national, international operations, actions during war-like circumstances or other personal effort or activity. The medal criteria are also applicable if Sweden is at war (armed conflict). The Medal of Merit will be awarded to anyone, whether he belongs to or operates in the Swedish Armed Forces or not and irrespective of his nationality.[3]

Appearance

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The medal is divided into two classes, gold medal and silver medal. The medal is made from gilded hallmarked silver and hallmarked silver with 31 mm diameter. The obverse side shows the Swedish Armed Forces heraldic arms and around the outer edge the text "FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES" (FÖR FÖRTJÄNSTFULLA INSATSER). The reverse shows around the outer edge a laurel wreath and is otherwise smooth and can be equipped with the holder's name, year of awarding and, if appropriate, country. The medal is also made in miniature. There is also a diploma that comes with the medal.[2]

The medal is worn with a blue ribbon with a broad yellow stripe in the middle and one narrow on each side. On the ribbon there is an erect sword in gold or silver if the medal is awarded for actions in combat or during war-like situations. Instead of the medal, the service ribbon can be worn. It's provided with a horizontal sword of gold or silver if the medal awarded for actions in combat or during war-like situations.[2]

Presenting

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Supreme Commander General Sverker Göranson awards the Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit to Swedish UN soldiers at the 2012 National Day of Sweden.
 
The Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit in gold and silver without swords together with the Swedish Armed Forces Medal for Wounded in Battle (top in black and red).

In each class, the medal can be awarded either for actions in battle or during war-like situations or for personal efforts in other circumstances. The medal may be awarded to Swedish and foreign citizens for meritorious services that benefited the Swedish Armed Forces and its operations. The decision to award the medal is taken by the Supreme Commander, usually following a proposal by the Supreme Commander's medal evaluation. The medal may be awarded posthumously and in that case, the medal is presented to the closest relative.[2]

The medal shall normally be awarded by the Supreme Commander during ceremoniously events, e.g. on the National Day of Sweden or other appropriate ceremoniously events. The decision to award the medal to a member of the Swedish Armed Forces shall be introduced in the Swedish Armed Forces' personnel records. The Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters also has a register of all medals awarded, and any reasons for this.[2]

Criteria

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The medal with certificate is awarded to individuals according to the following guidelines:[2]

Medal with swords Can be awarded for actions in combat or during war-like situations Medal Ribbon bar
Gold medal - Great personal courage by risking their own lives
- Very meritorious leadership of units under difficult circumstances
- Very meritorious effort under difficult circumstances
- On killed during service
   
Silver medal - Great personal courage
- Meritorious efforts under difficult circumstances
   
Medal without sword Can be awarded for other situations Medal Ribbon bar
Gold medal - Great personal courage by risking their own lives
- Very meritorious efforts that benefited the Swedish Armed Forces
- Meritorious efforts that benefited the Swedish Armed Forces
- On killed during service
   
Silver medal - Great personal courage
- Meritorious efforts that benefited the Swedish Armed Forces
   

Recipients

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  This with the   indicates that the Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit was awarded posthumously

Name Home town Rank Place of action Date of action Date of awarding Medal type Notes
Johan Palmlöv  Sundbyberg Kapten Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan 7 February 2010 10 February 2010 Gold with sword [4]
Gunnar Andersson  Stockholm Löjtnant Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan 7 February 2010 10 February 2010 Gold with sword [4]
Kenneth Wallin  Stockholm Sergeant Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan 16 October 2010 19 October 2010 Gold with sword [5]
Dan Värdling
Fänrik Afghanistan 10 October 2009 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For great personal courage and risking his own life having made efforts under very difficult circumstances in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Patrik Broman
Private Afghanistan 8 September 2010 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Axel Salomonsson
Korpral Afghanistan 8 September and
16 October 2010
29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Jimmy Ericsson
Private Afghanistan 16 October 2010 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Viktor Schwenk
1st Sergeant Afghanistan 18 October 2010 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Anton Öhlund
Private Afghanistan 18 October 2010 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Erik Landquist
Fänrik Afghanistan 2010 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life as well as very meritorious service and pioneering skills under difficult conditions in connection with actions during his service in Afghanistan.[6]
Stefan Linder
Kapten Afghanistan 2010 29 May 2012 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, very meritorious leadership and meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions during his service in Afghanistan.[6]
Martin Rusner
1st Sergeant Afghanistan 10 June 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, very meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Fredrik Lönn
Kapten Afghanistan 25 July 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life as well for pioneering skills and very meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions during actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Daniel Johansson
Kapten Afghanistan 8 August 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life as well as for very meritorious effort under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Peter Hellström
Vicekorpral Afghanistan 22 August and
16 October 2010
29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Anders Johnsson
Private Afghanistan 16 September 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life as well as for meritorious effort under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Linus Skaring
Private Afghanistan 17 September 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life as well as for meritorious effort under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Tobias Englund
Korpral Afghanistan 8 October 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, very meritorious leadership and meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions in Afghanistan.[6]
Jonas Brobakken
Löjtnant Afghanistan 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For very meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions during his service in Afghanistan.[6]
Fredrik Dundeberg
Löjtnant Afghanistan 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, very meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions during his service in Afghanistan.[6]
Henrik Eriksson
Löjtnant Afghanistan 2010 29 May 2012 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, very meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious service under difficult conditions in connection with actions during his service in Afghanistan.[6]
Marcus Dyrvold
Kapten Afghanistan 2010 29 May 2012 Silver without sword For meritorious efforts and very meritorious leadership of the technical service under difficult conditions during his service in Afghanistan.[6]
Kristian Sandahl Veberöd Kapten Afghanistan 2011 29 May 2013 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, with very meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan in the spring of 2011.[7]
Johan Zelander Malmö 1st Sergeant Afghanistan 2011 29 May 2013 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, with very meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan in the spring of 2011.[7]
Mattias Otterström Boden Kapten Afghanistan 3 September 2012 29 May 2013 Gold with sword For having acted with great personal courage, and highly meritorious leadership, pioneering skills and meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 3 September 2012.[7]
Jesper Söderström Täby Private first class Afghanistan 22 January 2011 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious effort under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 22 January 2011.[7]
Callis Amid Hässelby Private first class Afghanistan 22 January 2011 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious effort under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 22 January 2011.[7]
Johan Lindell Malmö Kapten Afghanistan 2011 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life, for meritorious leadership and meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan in the spring of 2011.[7]
Anders Johansson Eksjö 1st Sergeant Afghanistan 23 March 2012 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 23 March 2012.[7]
Erik Eklund Höllviken Sergeant Afghanistan 23 March 2012 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 23 March 2012.[7]
Oskar Ekstrand Halmstad Korpral Afghanistan 23 March 2012 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 23 March 2012.[7]
Marcus Klang Uppsala Korpral Afghanistan 2012 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan in 2012.[7]
Dennis Medford Västerås Private Afghanistan 3 September 2012 29 May 2013 Silver with sword For having acted with great personal courage and risking his own life and for meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in connection with the action in Afghanistan on 3 September 2012.[7]
Ramin Egbalsson Stockholm Korpral Afghanistan 2011 29 May 2013 Silver without sword For meritorious efforts under difficult conditions and a long-standing and exemplary mentoring before and during a number of operations in Afghanistan, including in 2011.[7]
Gustaf Klefbom Göteborg Löjtnant Afghanistan 2011 29 May 2013 Silver without sword For having acted with great personal courage and for very meritorious services during his service in Afghanistan in 2011.[7]
Erik Henjered Stockholm Private first class Afghanistan 2011 29 May 2013 Silver without sword For a particularly meritorious and exemplary contribution as a cook under difficult conditions and meritorious efforts as a soldier during his service in Afghanistan in 2011.[7]
Johan Andersen Skövde 1st Sergeant Uganda 30 July 2012 29 May 2013 Silver without sword For having acted with great personal courage, and risking his own life, and for a very meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in Uganda on 30 July 2012.[7]
Mikael Ljungwald Stockholm 1st Sergeant Uganda 30 July 2012 29 May 2013 Silver without sword For having acted with great personal courage, and risking his own life, and for a very meritorious efforts under difficult conditions in Uganda on 30 July 2012.[7]
Fredrik Lindskog Åkarp Löjtnant Afghanistan/Sweden 2013 29 May 2014 Silver without sword For exemplary efforts for several years in his service branch with the goal of creating a high combat value, sound resource management and positive attitude to the equipment service in the unit. Particularly proven during service in Afghanistan in 2013.[8]
Lars Widegren Lund Löjtnant Afghanistan/Sweden 2013 29 May 2014 Silver without sword For exemplary efforts for several years in his service branch with the goal of creating a high combat value, sound resource management and positive attitude to the technical service within the unit. Particularly proven during service in Afghanistan in 2013.[8]
Lars Lervik Rena, Norway Lieutenant colonel Afghanistan 2013 29 May 2014 Silver without sword For particularly good leadership, very high professionalism and unselfish work to support Sweden for successful results in a multinational context in Afghanistan in 2013.[8]
Kent Jonsson Linköping Förvaltare Sala, Sweden 2014 29 May 2015 Gold without sword For having under extreme conditions, with excellent leadership and great skill and with great courage and risk of his own live, rescued five civilians from a probable death in connection with forest fire in Sala, Västmanland, Sweden in 2014.[9]
Jöran Forsman Nykil Förvaltare Sala, Sweden 2014 29 May 2015 Gold without sword For having under extreme conditions, demonstrated a very high level of professionalism as well risking his own life, rescued five civilians from a probable death in connection with forest fire in Sala, Västmanland, Sweden in 2014.[9]
Klas Johansson Sturefors Löjtnant Sala, Sweden 2014 29 May 2015 Gold without sword For having under extreme conditions, with great professionalism, improvisational ability, initiative and with great courage and risking his own life, rescued five civilians from a probable death in connection with forest fire in Sala, Västmanland, Sweden in 2014.[9]
Ivar Sveninge Linköping Fanjunkare Sala, Sweden 2014 29 May 2015 Gold without sword For having under extreme conditions, with great professionalism, improvisational ability, initiative and with great courage and risking his own life, rescued five civilians from a probable death in connection with forest fire in Sala, Västmanland, Sweden in 2014.[9]
Mikael Smedin Strängnäs Överstelöjtnant Afghanistan 2013 29 May 2015 Silver without sword For having, during his service in Afghanistan, demonstrated exemplary behavior, high levels of action, pioneering skills, integrity and responsibility under difficult conditions in a multinational context that benefited the relationship with the Afghan Army.[9]
Folke Borgh Strängnäs Military lawyer (civilian) Sweden 2014 29 May 2015 Silver without sword With insightfulness, very good judgment and tact, as a military lawyer with environmental law as specialty, having for many years done meritorious efforts for the benefit of the Swedish Armed Forces.[9]
Rose-Marie Johansson Halmstad Logistical manager (civilian) Sweden 2014 29 May 2015 Silver without sword For considerable initiative and personal commitment in the development and implementation of new working methods and strengthening the Swedish Armed Forces Logistics' (FMLOG) brand, both internally and externally, as well as meritorious efforts which benefited the Swedish Armed Forces.[9]
Classified individual
Unknown
2016 Gold with sword [10]
Classified individual
Unknown
2016 Gold with sword [10]
Classified individual
Unknown
2016 Silver without sword [10]
Mats Svensson Hörby Fanjunkare Karlskrona, Sweden 2016 29 May 2017 Gold without sword For resourceful and skilled intervention with great presence of mind under pressured conditions and with great personal courage and danger for one's own lives, having prevented a major explosion which could have posed a major danger to personnel in the area and caused major material damage in connection with the accident at DNC, in Karlskrona.[11]
Staffan Bartholdson Borensberg Kapten Sveg, Sweden 2017 29 May 2017 Silver without sword For resourceful intervention and with excellent professionalism, during chaotic conditions with great presence of mind and force of action, having landed a helicopter after an air collision, thereby saving both lives and material in connection with the accident in Sveg, Sweden.[11]
Classified individual
Unknown 2010 2017 Silver with sword For actions during 2010.[11]
Per-Olof Nordin Solna Överstelöjtnant Bamako, Mali 18 June 2017 29 May 2018 Silver with sword For great personal courage under difficult conditions and ongoing battle performed meritorious services and assisted the civilians to reach safety during the terrorist attack on a hotel in Bamako, Mali.[12]
Erik Holst Norgren Lund Sergeant Timbuktu, Mali 3 May 2017 29 May 2018 Silver with sword For great personal courage and meritorious service, quickly and resourceful carried out life-saving measures on a Liberian colleague and fought and limited a fire during an ongoing shooting against the international camp in Timbuktu, Mali.[12]
Fredrik Andersson Arvidsjaur Major Timbuktu, Mali 14 August 2017 29 May 2018 Silver with sword For his meritorious leadership under difficult conditions during the period May–November 2017. Particularly highlighted is major Andersson's excellent leadership of the unit, exercised with great security, keeping his cool and high acuteness, despite limited intelligence and high threat from terrorist attack against the UN's sector headquarters in Timbuktu, Mali.[12]
Anders Schääf Myggenäs Sergeant Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 29 May 2018 Gold without sword For great personal courage and risking his own life having struggled in the icy water for thirty minutes in the common effort to try to save lives in the armoured recovery vehicle accident in Alån, Boden.[12]
Jonathan Renman Lycksele Sergeant Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 2018 Gold without sword For great personal courage and risking his own life having struggled in the icy water for thirty minutes in the common effort to try to save lives in the armoured recovery vehicle accident in Alån, Boden.[12]
Nils Olsson Boden Löjtnant Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 29 May 2018 Silver without sword For great personal courage and without hesitation having struggled in the icy water for thirty minutes in the common effort to try to save lives in the armoured recovery vehicle accident in Alån, Boden.[12]
John Jutback Gothenburg Private Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 29 May 2018 Silver without sword For great personal courage and without hesitation having struggled in the icy water for thirty minutes in the common effort to try to save lives in the armoured recovery vehicle accident in Alån, Boden.[12]
Ulf Forsberg Boden Löjtnant Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 29 May 2018 Silver without sword For great personal courage and without hesitation having struggled in the icy water for thirty minutes in the common effort to try to save lives in the armoured recovery vehicle accident in Alån, Boden.[12]
Tom Wikström Falun
Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 29 May 2018 Silver without sword For great presence of mind having taken a leading responsibility in coordinating the care of staff with hypothermia in the common effort to try to save lives in the armoured recovery vehicle accident in Alån, Boden.[12]
Johan Solberg Gothenburg Vice korpral Alån, Boden, Sweden 26 March 2017 Unknown Gold without sword Killed during service.[12]
Olof Glans Skärblacka Kapten Bihanga, Uganda 30 July 2012 29 May 2018 Silver without sword For great personal courage and risking his own life and for the very meritorious effort under difficult circumstances in connection with the riot at the camp in Bihanga, Uganda.[12]
Emil Bukowiecki Malmö Sergeant Timbuktu, Mali 2 April 2017 29 May 2018 Silver without sword For great personal courage and meritorious services quickly and resourceful helped save lives as well as material in connection with the fire in the Nigerian field hospital in the international camp in Timbuktu, Mali.[12]
Gabriel Donati Stockholm Löjtnant Mogadishu, Somalia 1 January 2016 29 May 2019 Silver with sword For great personal courage and meritorious services, having rescued a vulnerable colleague during ongoing shelling against the International Campus in Mogadishu, Somalia[13]
Robin Rönnholm Storuman Sergeant Timbuktu, Mali 14 August 2017 29 May 2019 Silver with sword For great personal courage at a high pace and with a high degree of presence of mind, carried out meritorious efforts during the terrorist attack against the UN's sector headquarters in Timbuktu, Mali.[13]
Erik Röckner Arvidsjaur Vicekorpral Timbuktu, Mali 14 August 2017 29 May 2019 Silver with sword For great personal courage, retained coolness in a dangerous situation and with a high degree of presence of mind, made meritorious efforts during the terrorist attack against the UN's sector headquarters in Timbuktu, Mali.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Laestadius, Patrik, ed. (2015). Reglemente: uniformsbestämmelser 2015 : Unibest FM 2015 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Swedish Armed Forces. p. 604. SELIBR 19513428.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sverige. Veteranutredningen (2008). En svensk veteranpolitik. D. 2, Ansvaret för personalen före, under och efter internationella militära insatser : slutbetänkande från Veteransoldatutredningen. Statens offentliga utredningar, 0375-250X ; 2008:91 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritze. pp. 431–432. ISBN 9789138230701. SELIBR 11185770.
  3. ^ a b Sverige. Veteranutredningen (2008). En svensk veteranpolitik. D. 2, Ansvaret för personalen före, under och efter internationella militära insatser : slutbetänkande från Veteransoldatutredningen. Statens offentliga utredningar, 0375-250X ; 2008:91 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritze. pp. 283–284. ISBN 9789138230701. SELIBR 11185770.
  4. ^ a b "De stupade hedrades på Ärna flygplats" [The fallen were honored at Ärna Airport] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Kenneth Wallin hedrades på Ärna flygplats" [Kenneth Wallin was honored at Ärna Airport] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Prins Carl Philip närvarade vid Veterandagen" (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Langlet, Eva (2013). "Invigning och medaljer på årets veterandag" [Inauguration and medals on this year's veterans day] (PDF). Officerstidningen (in Swedish) (4). Stockholm: Officerarnas riksförbund: 10–11. SELIBR 3614713. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-27.
  8. ^ a b c "Medaljer vid veterandagen" [Medals during the veterans day] (PDF). Officerstidningen (in Swedish) (5). Stockholm: Officerarnas riksförbund: 11. 2014. SELIBR 3614713.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Veterandagen - Medaljörer - 29 maj 2015" [Veterans Day - Medalists 29 May 2015] (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  10. ^ a b c "Årets veterandagsmedaljörer utsedda" [This year's veterans day medalists appointed] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Medaljörer vid Veterandagen 2017" [Medalists at the Veterans Day 2017] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "MEDALJÖRER VID VETERANDAGEN 2018" [Medalists at the Veterans Day 2018] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Retrieved 28 May 2018.[permanent dead link] "Program Veterandagen 29 maj 2018" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "2019 års medaljörer utsedda" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
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