Editing Legion of Merit (section)

===After World War II===
[[File:Canadian Armed Forces Award Ceremony (53806940540).jpg|thumb|Legion of Merit award certificates]]
After the establishment of the [[Bronze Star Medal]] (BSM) in February 1944, the Legion of Merit was awarded almost exclusively to senior officers in the rank of lieutenant colonel (Army, Marine Corps and Air Force) or commander (Navy and Coast Guard) (O-5), and above. Beginning in the 1980s, the Legion of Merit began to be awarded more frequently to senior-ranking warrant officers (W-4 and W-5), as well as to senior enlisted service members (E-8 and E-9), usually as a retirement award.  When not awarded as a retirement award, it is most commonly awarded to officers in pay grade O-6 and higher.

The [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (MSM) was established in 1969 as a "junior" version of the Legion of Merit and prior to 2003 was only awarded for non-combat service.   The MSM is awarded more frequently, and to more lower-ranking military personnel, than the Legion of Merit.  Recipients of the MSM are usually in pay grades E-7 through E-9, W-3 through W-5 (Army Only), and O-4 through O-6 for the Army, Air Force, and Space Force; for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard the MSM is usually presented to those in pay grades E-9, W-4, W-5, O-5 and O-6.