Distinguished Service Medal (Australia)

For other uses, see Distinguished Service Medal (disambiguation).

Distinguished Service Medal
Obverse of medal and ribbon
Awarded by Australia
Type	Medal
Eligibility	Members of the Australian Defence Force
Awarded for	Distinguished command and leadership in action
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	15 January 1991
First awarded	1993
Last awarded	26 January 2011
Total awarded	105
Distinct recipients	104
Precedence
Next (higher)	Bravery Medal
Next (lower)	Public Service Medal
Related	Distinguished Service Cross Commendation for Distinguished Service

The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action. The DSM was introduced in 1991 and is the second highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSM". Since its inception 105 have been awarded, which includes one Bar.^[1][2]

Government allowance

The Government of Australia may grant an allowance to veterans or serving members of the Australian Defence Force who have been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, or other awards for gallantry. At November 2007, this allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.^[3]

Description

• The Distinguished Service Medal is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward in nickel-silver. The obverse has a Federation star superimposed on a circle of flames.
• The medal has a nickel-silver suspender bar.
• The medal ribbon has alternating vertical stripes: four silver-blue and three ochre-red.

See also

• Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Distinguished Service Order (United Kingdom)
• Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)
• Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
• Australian Honours Order of Precedence

References

1. ^ "Its an Honour: Award Statistics". Commonwealth of Australia. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/statistics.cfm. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 
2. ^ "Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Special No. S5: Gallantry, Distinguished Service and Conspicuous Service Decorations". 26 January 2011. http://www.ag.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/D6D615B4B532D52ECA257823007EC133/$file/S%205.pdf. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 
3. ^ "Veteran's Entitlements Act 1986 - Sect 102". Commonwealth Consolidated Acts. Australasian Legal Information Institute. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/vea1986261/s102.html. Retrieved 2007-11-17. 

External links

• It's an Honour