The primary governmental uniformed services of

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

have Long Service Medals that may be awarded after 25 years of service.
Besides the normal 25 year medals, the

Order of Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known as ''White Knights'' t ...

may also be awarded to high-ranking officers after 25 years service, or sometimes as a retirement-decoration.
After 40 years of public service the Medal of Merit may be awarded.

Armed Forces

Ribbon of the Long Service Medal for

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

, Airforce,

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

and

Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...

The Navy Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hæderstegnet for God Tjeneste ved Søetaten'') was instituted in 1801 by King Christian VII and may be awarded to any member of the Navy after 25 years of good service. After 40 years of service a gold oakleaf is added to the ribbon. The medal was instituted in order to keep the experienced personnel in the Navy, in order to be able to continue defending the trade fleet. Besides being awarded the medal, other benefits were also given; for example carpenters received the title "Royal Shipbuilders", and Master Carpenters received a rank of officer of the navy.
Until 1925 the medal was for privates, sergeants and non-commissioned officers only. On December 9, 1925, the statutes of the medal was changed, so that the recipient now is "Any man or woman". The Army Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hæderstegnet for God Tjeneste ved Hæren'') was instituted in 1945 by King

Christian X Christian X (; 26 September 1870 – 20 April 1947) was King of Denmark from 1912 until his death in 1947, and the only King of Iceland as Kristján X, holding the title as a result of the personal union between Denmark and independent Ice ...

and may be awarded to any member of the Army after 25 years of good service. After 40 years of service a gold oakleaf is added to the ribbon. The Air Force Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hæderstegnet for God Tjeneste ved Flyvevåbnet'') was instituted in 1953 by King Frederik IX and may be awarded to any member of the Air Force after 25 years of good service. After 40 years of service a gold oakleaf is added to the ribbon. The Department of Defense Force Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Forsvarets Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste'') was instituted in 1953 by King Frederik IX and may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces Central Services after 25 years of good service. After 40 years of service a gold oakleaf is added to the ribbon.
Ribbon of the Armed Forces Reserve Long Service Medal The Reserve Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Fortjensttegnet for God Tjeneste i Forsvarets Reserve'') was instituted in 1978 by Queen

Margrethe II Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark from 14 January 1972 until her abdication on 14 January 2024. Having reigned for exactly ...

and may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces Reserves after 25 years of good service. DEN HJV 25-years Ribbon

Home Guard Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense. The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting ...

25 years Long Service Medal ribbon
DEN HJV 40-years Ribbon

40 years Long Service Medal ribbon
DEN HJV 50-years Ribbon

50 years Long Service Medal ribbon
DEN HJV 60-years Ribbon

60 years Long Service Medal ribbon The Home Guard 25 Years Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hjemmeværnets 25-Årstegn'') was instituted in 1988 by Queen

and may be awarded to any member of the Home Guard after 25 years of good service.
After 40 years of service a silver oakleaf may be added to the ribbon, after 50 years a gold oakleaf may be added, and after 60 years two gold oakleaves may be added.

50th Anniversary Long Service Medal ribbon The Home Guard 50th Anniversary Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hjemmeværnets 50-års Jubilæumsmedalje'') was instituted in 1999 by Queen

and may be awarded to any member of the Home Guard who at the Home Guard 50th anniversary had been a member of the Home Guard for 50 years (i.e. from its creation).

75th Anniversary Long Service Medal ribbon The Home Guard 75th Anniversary Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hjemmeværnets 50-års Jubilæumsmedalje'') was instituted in 2024 by King

Frederik X Frederik X (Frederik André Henrik Christian, ; born 26 May 1968) is King of Denmark. He acceded to the throne following Abdication of Margrethe II, his mother's abdication in 2024. Frederik is the eldest son of Margrethe II and Prince Henri ...

and may be awarded to any member of the Home Guard who at the Home Guard 75th anniversary had been a member of the Home Guard for 75 years (i.e. from its creation).

Civil Defense

Civil Defense Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from human-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency management: Risk management, prevention, mitigation, prepara ...

Long Service Medal ribbon The Civil Defense Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hæderstegnet for 25 års god tjeneste i Civilforsvaret'') was instituted in 1963 by King Frederik IX and may be awarded to any member of the Civil Defense after 25 years of good service. It may also be awarded to foreigners who have done noteworthy deeds for the Civil Defense cause. The medal is awarded annually in the beginning of may. The award is given in the name of the Director on the Danish Emergency Management Agency, but most often it is the local fire chief or similar who physically gives the medal to the recipient. Originally the medal was intended for employees of the Civil Defense,Book: Lars Stevnsborg "Kongeriget Danmarks Medaljer, Ordner og Hæderstegn" but it is currently given to both volunteers and employees of the Danish Emergency Management Agency and to volunteer firefighters who are not eligible for the Fire Department Long Service Medal.
Municipal Fire Department Long Service Medal ribbon The Fire Department Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste i Brandvæsnet'') was instituted in 1973 by Queen

and may be awarded to any member of the municipal fire services after 25 years of good service. The picture in the infobox is of the old medal. The medal has been redesigned and the new obverse has the logo of the

municipal A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the gov ...

fire services (Helmet, axe and nozzle). Before 1973 the medal was divided into two parts, one for Copenhagen and Frederiksberg Fire Brigades, and one for municipal fire departments. They were put together into one medal in 1973. The original medals were instituted by King

Christian IX Christian IX (8 April 181829 January 1906) was King of Denmark from 15 November 1863 until his death in 1906. From 1863 to 1864, he was concurrently List of dukes of Schleswig, Duke of Schleswig, List of dukes of Holstein, Holstein and Saxe-Laue ...

on 29 July 1903

Police

Police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...

Long Service Medal ribbon The Police Long Service Medal (Danish: ''Hæderstegn for 25 års God Tjeneste i Politiet'') was instituted in 1959 by King Frederik IX and may be awarded to policemen, legal personnel and administrative personnel after 25 years of consecutive service in the

Danish police The Police of Denmark (, , ) is the Denmark, Danish National Police force, and the interior part of the Danish security forces (the Danish Defence, Danish military being the exterior) in the Kingdom (The Danish Realm: Denmark (proper), Green ...

, after their 21st birthday.ODM of Denmark: Police Good Service Medal
/ref>

Badges

Besides the medals for 25 years of service, the Civil Defense, Home Guard and Municipal Fire Departments also have Long Service Breast-badges (''Danish: Anciennitetstegn'') that are awarded after 10 and 20 years of service. Civil Defense Badges are worn on the left breast pocket Image:CF_anciennitet_10.jpg, Civil Defense 10 year badge Image:CF_anciennitet_20.JPG, Civil Defense 20 year badge Fire Department Badges are worn on the right breast pocket. The Fire Department badges is basically the same used for 10, 20 and 40 years, with the difference being a silver or gold back-plate being added. Image:Brand_anciennitet_10.JPG, Civil Defense 10 year badge Image:Brand_anciennitet_20.JPG, Civil Defense 20 year badge Image:Brand_anciennitet_40.JPG, Civil Defense 40 year badge Home Guard Badges are worn on the left breast pocket Image:Hjv_10_aar.jpg, Home Guard 10 year badge Image:Hjv_20_aar.jpg, Home 20 year badge

References

{{reflist Orders, decorations, and medals of Denmark Long service medals