Silver Shield

The Silver Shield is a military award given to soldiers of the Grand Alliance Army that demonstrate "significant skill and/or valor while on campaign." However, the award's requirements do state that these achievements need not be exclusively "against the enemy, but certainly contribute to the mission." As such, while only military personnel are eligible for the award, non-combat roles, such as medics or field messengers, are considered for the award as well. Regardless, the recipient must have shown that their expertise and courage were crucial to the execution of the mission.

The Silver Shield is part of a three-tiered system, with the Gold Lion above it and the Brass Shield beneath it.

General Information
To be considered for the Silver Shield, a soldier must be nominated by their commanding officers. This nomination is then assessed by Alliance High Command, using the following criteria: Upon receiving a Silver Shield, soldiers treat the award as they would any other under military regulations. The Silver Shield, along with other awards, may be worn if specifically called for, such as during formal events or parades. Instructions are usually provided on whether awards may be worn in uniform, in civilian dress, or by veterans of the armed forces. However, awards are not allowed while in combat dress.
 * The soldier must have shown significant and notable skill, valor, and gallantry while on military campaign with the Grand Alliance or its allies.
 * The soldier may have been involved in combat or in a non-combat role, including but not limited to: field medicine, reconnaissance, message delivery, etc. As such, the actions of the soldier may not have involved directly fighting the enemy of the Alliance.
 * The soldier's actions must have contributed greatly to the mission, to the extent that their contribution allowed for favorable outcomes including but not limited to victory.

History
The Silver Shield, like the Brass Shield, was originally based on dwarven military awards. The shields symbolized the protection of Khaz Modan, the dwarves' mountain home, and were awarded for bravery and exceptional skill in the defense of the dwarven homeland. When the Grand Alliance was formed after the Third War, Alliance High Command adopted the shields and re-purposed them as part of a tiered award system alongside the Gold Lion.