Defence Force Service Medal


Obverse of medal (with clasp)



Ribbon
TypeMedal
Awarded fora minimum of 15 years "qualifying service", including an assessment of good conduct
Presented byAustralia
EligibilityMembers of the Australian Defence Force
Claspsevery 5 years of additional service beyond the initial 15 years
StatusClosed, but additional service clasps can still be issued to existing awardees
Established20 April 1982
Total119,000[1]
– 20 years

– 25 years

– 30 years

– 35 years

– 40 years
Ribbon with Rosette(s) (top four),
Ribbon with Federation Star (bottom)
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Centenary Medal[2]
Next (lower)Reserve Force Decoration (RFD)[2]
RelatedDefence Long Service Medal

The Defence Force Service Medal (DFSM) is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Reserve Force Decoration (RFD, for officers of the Australian Defence Force Reserves) and the Reserve Force Medal (RFM, for non-commissioned members of the Reserve forces).

All three medals were replaced with effect 20 April 1999 with a single medal, the Defence Long Service Medal,[3][4][5] which is now awarded to all permanent and reserve members irrespective of rank.[6]

Additional service clasps are issued for each further 5 years after the initial 15 year qualifying service period. On the ribbon, a rosette indicates the award of each clasp, although a small Federation Star indicates the fifth and subsequent clasps. With the introduction of the Defence Long Service Medal, the DFSM is now a closed award with only clasps to existing awards continuing to be issued.

Description

  • The DFSM is a cupro-nickel circular chamfered medal. The obverse has the Joint Service Emblem.
  • The reverse is inscribed "For Efficient Service in the Permanent Forces" in capital letters around the circumference.
  • The ribbon has three equal stripes of gold and azure-blue edged with azure-blue. The colours were the national colours of Australia at the time of introduction.
  • The clasp is a cupro-nickel bar with the Royal Cypher flanked by sprigs of wattle in the centre. When the ribbon is worn alone a clasp is indicated by the addition of a cupro-nickel round rosette, or a silver miniature Federation Star.

Other Australian long service awards

Other Australian long service awards include:

Australian Defence Medal

While not awarded for "long service" per se, the Australian Defence Medal is sometimes classified as a "long service medal" – it is intended to recognise all those who completed an obligation to serve their country (whether voluntarily or conscripted).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Medal Yearbook 2013. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2013. p. 397. ISBN 978-1-908-828-00-2.
  2. 1 2 "The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). It's an Honour. Australian Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Defence Force Service Medal". Department of Defence. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Reserve Force Decoration". Department of Defence. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Reserve Force Medal". Department of Defence. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Defence Long Service Medal". Department of Defence. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
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