Northwind Highlanders
 The Northwind Highlanders
CaptainLieutenant Colonel Kelvin "Grendol" MacRoger

Awards & Medals
Click on the image of each Medal for a description and requirement >>
Combat Mechwarrior Badge - Under 1 Years' Service

331st Division Commendation Medal
Campaign Ribbons
From left to right, top to bottom:
Wolverine Solutions, 3058 Max Tech League

Descriptions and Requirements of Awards & Medals


Star League Medal of Honor >

Awarded "For Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity at the Risk of Life, Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, in Action Involving Actual Conflict with an Opposing Armed Force."

Highest award given, presented by the First Lord, with the endowment and title "Keeper of the Star League's Honor". Cameron Star made of precious metals and jewels, worn from the neck on a blue, green, and white ribbon.


< Terran Hegemony Medal Of Glory

The Terran Hegemony Medal of Glory is the second highest honor an officer can achieve. The Royal Division's Commanding General himself bestows the medal, which is for those who have aided the Division in making significant gains. Recipients of the medal become knights in the Terran Hegemony.

The medal hangs about 17 centimeters from the recipient's neck on a ribbon coloured in complement to the Division's crest. In the center of the medal is the unit's insignia, surrounding the crest are six points tipped with a precious metal, and finally a wreath surrounding the award in a precious metal. For example, the 331st MOG is a red-and-black ribbon, a gold Division crest, red enameled points tipped in gold and a gold wreath; the Royal Black Watch Regiment includes a green-blue-and-black ribbon in Black Watch tartan, with brightly polished silver unit insignia and points tipped in royal blue enamel.


Star League Defense Forces' Medal of Valor >

For conspicuous valor and professionalism in the face of the enemy, presented by SLDF commander. Cameron Star in precious metals on a silver and black ribbon. Automatic on one rank up to Colonel, cash bonus, usually inducted into the Order of Sword on retirement.


Orders of Knighthood

Another order of knighthood awarded by the Royal Division's Commanding General, a senior member whose strategy and tactics win him a battle against imposing odds may become a Knight of the Star League.

This medal is of high-karat gold, and pinned on the centre of the officer's uniform World Sash or School Rag. Warriors may belong to more than one Order of Knighthood if the head of that Order accepts.

Order of the Heroes

Warriors that have been awarded the Order of the Heroes are automatically inducted into the Order as a Knight. The leader of each Knighthood is the most senior Officer holding that name. The Order of the Heroes is customarily awarded for displaying the primary trait of one of the major heroes of the Annihilation Campaign. It is preferred that the warrior is a descendant of that hero, on either side of the family, although occasionally the Knighthood may Adopt members into its Order.

In the center of the medal is the heraldry of the Hero for whom the award is named. The medal is enameled in a major colour of that Hero's coat of arms, or a complimentary colour and placed upon a polished solid gold shield. On dress uniforms, this award is placed on the MechWarrior's World Sash or School Rag. On combat uniforms such as the Mechwarrior's cooling suit, a representation of the award is placed on the left breast and at the discretion of the Commanding Officer of that unit, next to their Regiment crest on their neurohelmet. On Mechs and Fighters, the Knighthood crest may be placed on the shoulder or side torso of the Mech and below the cockpit of the Fighter:

Gordon
Grey
Irons
Jarrel
Konrad

Lager
Mandaka
Sharrette
Tor
Tseng
 
deVega
Winston
Zeke		  


< Order of the Star

Limited to 100 members, Knights of the Star receive money, land, and are advisors to the First Lord.


Order of the Sword >
To those soldiers whose careers exemplify the ideals of the SLDF. They receive the title Knight of the Sword. Large medallion on a sash and leader is the Commander of the SLDF.

< Gunslinger's Award

Awarded to the best duelist in a unit in a two man team (silver) and the best individual duelist (gold)
Gold or Silver medal that is Crossed Six Guns below a Cameron Star.


Terran Hegemony Gold Star >

The Terran Hegemony Gold Star is given to those officers who demonstrate great courage or leadership on the field of battle. This pin is a five-centimeter red circle embossed with a gold 5-pointed star, and may be awarded once only.


< Terran Hegemony Silver Star

The Company Commander up to Battalion Commander presents the Silver Star to the member in each Tribe Company who achieves the most confirmed kills in a given campaign.

This pin is a five-centimeter royal blue circle embossed with a silver 5-pointed star. Warriors may receive multiple Stars, denoted by smaller stars affixed to the ribbon, and will then often qualify for the Terran Hegemony Battle Cluster.


Terran Hegemony Battle Cluster >

Each year, the Terran Hegemony Battle Cluster is bestowed on the MechWarrior who has tallied up the most 'Mech kills. This award was first created by the Terran Hegemony's War Academy of Mars as a way to reward NCOs on the same level as the Medal of Glory, which was normally reserved for General Staff-level officers. With the creation of the Star League and the Royal Army's inclusion into the SLDF, and the need for a much larger Staff to coordinate all the new Divisions, Armies and even Army Groups, the installations of the War Academy of Mars were increasingly taken over as Strategy Headquarters buildings. The regiments formed in the Terran Hegemony, designated by the word "Royal" in their title and coat of arms, kept the Battle Cluster as a way to encourage initiative and aggressiveness on the field of battle but opened the award to all ranks.

Hanging from a ribbon created with the colours of the Star League's War Academy of Mars, this medal has a circle embossed with a representation of Mars' surface, topped by five 5-pointed stars, created entirely in metals of copper and iron tones. The issuing Division or Regiment's crest is displayed in copper and pinned to the centre of the ribbon.

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< Terran Hegemony Defense Ribbon

The Defense Ribbon used to be awarded to warriors who performed heroic actions in the defense of the Terran Hegemony homeworlds. Since the Exodus and the flight from the Clan Homeworlds, this is now awarded to warriors who perform above and beyond expectations in defense of the Exile worlds where the V Corps is now located.

The decoration consists of a unique gray-colored, multifaceted gemstone placed in a silver setting for members of the V Corps. The decoration is worn on the left breast, below all other service ribbons and medals.


Terran Hegemony Expert Marksman's Award >

The Expert Marksman's award is awarded to warriors who qualify in direct-fire weaponry with a high hit percentage.

The decoration is a pair of crossed muskets over a circle, below a rectangle bearing the name of the weapon class (Laser, Particle Cannon, Autocannon, etc.), all set in silver.


331st Division Arrowhead< 331st Royal Battlemech Division Arrow Head

Each year, one soldier serving in the 331st receives the Arrow Head in recognition of extraordinary courage and dedication to the principles of the Division - not the least of which is strict adherence to the traditions of honor. The decoration consists of a Black Arrow Head with a silver unit insignia embossed on the front of it, hanging from a green and gold ribbon. Recipients may also paint Green and gold bands on the arms of their BattleMechs or the wings of their fighters.


331st Division Achievement Medal 331st Royal Battlemech Division Achievement Medal
For exemplary performance for any training or battle situation, showing dedication and motivation while being in the 331st RBD, is a bronze metal hexagon shaped with a 331st RBD insignia, hanging from a Blood red and black ribbon can be awarded by company commander and above to all ranks. Second and third awards consist of bronze stars pinned to the ribbon.


331st Division Achievement Medal< 331st Royal Battlemech Division Commendation Medal

331st Royal Battlemech Division Commendation Medal is awarded for meritorious service in the performance of ones duties on and off the battle field, is a silver medal hexagon shaped with a 331st RBD insignia hanging 3 centimeters from a Blood red and Black ribbon. This can be awarded by company commander and above to all ranks. Second and third awards consist of silver stars pinned to the ribbon.


331st Division Tribal Bar
331st Royal Battlemech Division Tribal Bar >

A member of the Minnesota Tribe who demonstrates great skill or bravery against the enemy receives the Tribe's Bar. The Bar is a gold bladed Native American ceremonial tomohawk with a 331st RBD insignia embossed on the blade of the weapon and red-dyed wolf fur on the handgrip. Warriors hang items from the bottom edge of the Bar such as representations of eagle feathers or sometimes the scalp of an enemy.

< 331st Royal Battlemech Division Tribal Cord

The Company Commander awards the Tribal Cord to Private and above of the Division who perform beyond their expected limits. The decoration consists of a red braid attached just below the dress uniform's left epaulet, draped across the chest, looped around the right arm, and attaching at a point below the collar. Once promoted to Lieutenant, a recipient may no longer wear the decoration.


Combat Mech Warrior's Badge >

Awarded to those mech warriors that serve at least 14 days in a combat zone.
A Marauder mech surrounded by a laurel wreath. For every year the recipient serves in active combat duty, they gain one star located in the top center of the wreath.



< Campaign Ribbons

For service in a military campaign against any enemy of the Star League Defense Forces.
Ribbon color varies with the enemy that was fought.


Posthumous Decorations

< The Fallen Tribesman

Any great leader who falls in battle joins the ranks of the Fallen Tribesmen. In addition, the deceased's direct superior awards a black-and-red banner with the 331st RBD crest in gray to the deceased's next of kin.


Joke Awards

The Golden Oar >

Any warrior who can knock the enemy on its ass, hit people around obstacles and hills, and generally fuck people up in a very large way with missiles, can qualify for The Golden Oar. It consists of a 1 inch long golden canoe paddle on a pin, engraved with an LRM or SRM missile onto the paddle, surrounded by a bronze laurel wreath. The award is worn on informal dress shirts on the lefthand coat pocket, or as a very ugly tie tack.


< Kneebiter

The warrior who excels at (and frankly, prefers) cutting down mechs by aiming at feet and legs, as well as the rear of a mech, will be nominated as a Kneebiter. It consists of a pair of silver-plated dentures inside a clear acrylic cylinder, with a fragment of Battlemech armour plating clenched tightly between the teeth, preferrably with the insignia of an enemy. This award is meant to sit on the desk of the recipient as a knicknack or paperweight.

331st-Minnesota Tribe insignia illustration ©1996 by Christopher T. Merkel (e-mail)
Star League-Cameron Star insignia ©FASA Corporation, redrawn for web
display purposes by Christopher T. Merkel (e-mail)
all other images contained herein, unless otherwise specified, are ©1999 by Christopher T. Merkel (e-mail)