Brass Shield

The Brass Shield is a military award that is commonly given to soldiers and allies of the Grand Alliance that perform "noteworthy action deserving of special recognition during a campaign." The Brass Shield is notable for its flexibility in eligibility as it includes both Grand Alliance military personnel and allied forces. Furthermore, although the award is only given for actions during a campaign, it may be awarded for a variety of achievements, including "combat, healing, reconnaissance, or diplomacy." As such, non-combat roles are eligible for the award.

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

General Information
To be considered for the Brass 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 Brass Shield, soldiers treat the award as they would any other under military regulations. The Brass 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 nominee must have displayed noteworthy skill, courage, or conducted themselves in such a way that warrants special recognition above the rest of their comrades.
 * The nominee must have participated in a military campaign for the Grand Alliance or its allies.
 * The nominee must have shown great expertise in executing their given role or duty, including combat and non-combat roles.

History
As with the Silver Shield, the Brass Shield was once a dwarven military award. With its adoption and redesign by the Grand Alliance, Alliance High Command found that they needed a more 'general' award that could be given to noteworthy Alliance soldiers. The Brass Shield, being the lowest grade in the award tiers, was chosen for this role. Though the Brass Shield was originally intended as a low-tier award for bravery and skill in the line of duty, Alliance High Command expanded its criteria to include Alliance and allied soldiery of varying roles.