‘Legion of Merit’ Award | UPSC

• The award is in recognition of the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership and vision for India’s emergence as a global power.
• The award confers an exemplary contribution made by him for the advancement of the India-United States strategic partnership and promoting global peace and prosperity.
• The Legion of Merit, in the highest degree of the Chief Commander, is a prestigious award conferred by the President of the United States.
• The award is given typically upon Heads of State or Heads of Government of other countries.

‘LEGION OF MERIT’ AWARD

SOURCES : WIKI COMMONS

• The Legion Of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces.

OBJECTIVE

AWARD

• The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.
• The Legion Of Merit (Commander degree) is one of only two United States military decorations to be issued as a neck order .

• The Legion Of Merit is seventh in the order of precedence of all U.S. military awards .

CRITERIA

It is based on the relative rank or position of the recipient as follows:

• CHIEF COMMANDER : This award is given to Head of state or government. 
• COMMANDER : Equivalent of a U.S. military chief of staff or higher position, but not to a head of state.
• OFFICER : General or flag officer below the equivalent of a U.S. military chief of staff; colonel or equivalent rank (e.g., Navy or Coast Guard captain).
• LEGIONNAIRE : All recipients not included above.

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ELIGIBILITY

• The performance must have been such as to merit recognition of key individuals for service rendered in a clearly exceptional manner.

• For service not related to actual war, the term “key individual” applies to a narrower range of positions than in time of war and requires evidence of significant achievement.
• In peacetime, service should be in the nature of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in an unprecedented and clearly exceptional manner.
• However, justification of the award may accrue by virtue of exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of important positions.