Honour medal of Foreign Affairs military personnel for acts of courage in favour of the French in time of war. Although still bestowed in wartime for courage, the modern award is now aimed at rewarding civil servants of the ministry for Foreign Affairs. Currently, the Honour medal of Foreign Affairs is intended to reward honorable service by French diplomats and civil servants stationed outside of France. It can also be awarded to French nationals and foreigners for exceptional service to France or that have accomplished acts of courage in assistance to French nationals either in peace or wartime. Military awards are often bestowed on order
Legion of Honour Officer levels, as a recognition of "extraordinary careers" ("). In 2009, Simone Veil became the first person to enter the Order at Grand Officer level. Veil was a member of the , a former Health Minister and President of the European Parliament, as well as an Auschwitz survivor. She was promoted to Grand Cross in 2012. The acceptance of being awarded the Legion of Honour is not mandatory. The composers Maurice Ravel and Charles Koechlin, for example, declined the award when it was offered to them. While membership in the is technically restricted to French nationals, foreign nationals who have