The order is awarded to members of the Brazilian Army for distinguished services to the nation, or to those who have distinguished themselves in the exercise of their profession. It is also awarded to members of the ground forces of foreign nations who enhance the respect of the Brazilian nation, particularly the Army. It may also be given to Brazilian or foreign citizens for distinguished services to the Army. The order can also be conferred on military units, to be displayed on the flags or standards.
The order consists of the five traditional grades: grand cross, grand officer, commander, officer and knight. Organizations are admitted to the order without grade.
The badge of the order (fig 4) consists of a cross modelled on the traditional cross of Aviz. It has four equal arms edged in silver or gold and enamelled in white. In the center is a disc upon which appears the head of the Republic, with the inscription "Merito Militar" in gold on a green enamelled ring. The reverse bears the inscription "Republica dos Estados Unidos do Brasil 1934" in gold, surrounding concentric circles of green, yellow and blue. The breast star of the grand cross is gold, while that of the grand officer is silver.
The sash and ribbons of the order are of green watered silk, with side and edge stripes of white.
Order of Aeronautical Merit
The Order of Aeronautical Merit was established by Decree- Law Number 5961 of 1 November 1943.
The order is awarded to military members of the Brazilian Air Force who have performed notable services to the nation or who have distinguished themselves in the exercise of their profession. It may also be awarded to military members of foreign air forces who have brought credit to the Brazilian nation, and particularly the Air Force. Brazilian or foreign civilians who have performed distinguished services to the Brazilian Air Force may also receive the order. It may also may
]0 be conferred on military units, whether Brazilian or foreign, for services that merit recognition by the Brazilian nation and, in particular, the Air Force.
The order is awarded in five grades. When the ribbon alone is worn, grades above knight are shown by rosettes. Officers wear plain rosettes, commanders wear rosettes with a bronze representation of the order, grand officers have a silver representation of the badge, and grand cross recipients wear a gold representation of the cross in the rosette. The sash and ribbon of the order is blue watered silk with five thin, evenly spaced white stripes.
The badge of the order (fig 5) is a cross potent, edged in silver or gold and enamelled white. In the center is a medallion set over a four-bladed propeller. The center of the medallion carries the winged sword emblem of the Air Force and is surrounded by a blue enamelled ring bearing the inscription "Merito Aeronautico". The medallion on the reverse of the badge carries the green, yellow and blue star of Brazil surrounded by the inscription "Republica dos Estados Unidos do Brasil"
Order of Rio Branco
The Order of Rio Branco was established by Law Number 51410 of 14 February 1962 and regulated by decree Number 834 of 3 April 1962. Decree Number 61295 of 6 September 1967 permitted the wear of this order on military uniforms.
The order is awarded to those who, for any reason, perform acts meriting recognition by the government, most often in the diplomatic arena. The order may be conferred on individuals or institutions, Brazilian or foreign, that, for their services or exceptional merit, deserve recognition.
The order has five grades: grand cross, grand officer, commander, officer, and knight, plus a silver merit medal of the order. This merit medal is inscribed "Medalha do Merito do Rio Branco". It can be awarded, by decree of the chancellor of the order and recommendation of the vice chancellor, to reward Figure 5. Commander’s badge of the Order of Aeronautical Merit
Figure 6. Commander’s badge of the Order of Rio Branco