Commendation for Distinguished Service

Australian military decoration

Award

Commendation for Distinguished Service
Insignia and ribbon
Type	Medal
Awarded for	"the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations to members of the Australian Defence Force" [1]
Presented by	Australia
Eligibility	Members of the Australian Defence Force
Status	Currently awarded
Established	15 January 1991
First awarded	1993
Last awarded	2024 Special Honours
Total	523^[1]
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Commendation for Brave Conduct^[2]
Next (lower)	War medals, campaign medals, active service medals and service medals^[2]
Related	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal

The Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced its Imperial equivalent, Mention in Despatches. It is the third level of distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System.

Description

The insignia of the Commendation for Distinguished Service is a central Federation Star on a nickel-silver row of flames that taper at each end.
The insignia is attached to an ochre-red ribbon.

References

^ Medal Yearbook 2023. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2022. p. 467. ISBN 978-1-908828-63-7.
^ ^a ^b "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.

External links

It's an Honour

Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia

(order of wearing)

National orders

/ Order of Australia

Royal orders

Order of the Garter
Order of the Thistle
Order of Merit
Royal Victorian Order
Order of St John

Gallantry

Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)
Star of Gallantry (SG)
Medal for Gallantry (MG)
Commendation for Gallantry

Bravery

Cross of Valour (CV)
Star of Courage (SC)
Bravery Medal (BM)
Commendation for Brave Conduct
Group Bravery Citation

Distinguished service

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
Commendation for Distinguished Service

Conspicuous service

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Nursing service

Nursing Service Cross (NSC)

Meritorious service

Campaign medals
(service periods)

1939–1945	Australia Service Medal 1939–1945
1945–1975	Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 Australian General Service Medal for Korea (1953–1956) Vietnam Medal (1964–1973) Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal (1968–1973) Australian Service Medal 1945–1975
1975–2012	Australian Active Service Medal (1975–present) Rhodesia Medal (1979–1980) International Force East Timor Medal (1999–2000) Afghanistan Medal (2001–2014) Iraq Medal (2003–2013) Australian Service Medal (1975–present)
2012–present	Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection (2012–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – GMEO (2014–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations (2019–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery (2020–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa (2023–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian (2012–present)