The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Forc ...
personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years' service.
[ It was established on 20 March 2006; however, it recognises qualifying efficient service of current and former Australian Defence Force Regular and Reserve personnel, including ]National Servicemen
In the United Kingdom, military conscription has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1920, and the second from 1939 to 1960. The last conscripted soldiers left the service in 1963. It was legally designated as "Mi ...
, who have served since 3 September 1945.[ It is estimated that up to one million current and ex-serving personnel are eligible for the award.]
Criteria
The criteria also include those who could not serve the four-year qualifying period or complete an initial enlistment period for one or more of the following reasons:
* the death of a member during service.
* the discharge of the member as medically unfit due to compensable impairment.
* the discharge of the member due to a prevailing discriminatory Defence policy, as determined by the Chief of the Defence Force.[
]
Description
* The Australian Defence Medal is a circular medal of cupro-nickel. The obverse features a stylised version of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms (as used on the Australia Service Medal 1939–45
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
) with a sprig of wattle
Wattle or wattles may refer to:
Plants
*''Acacia sensu lato'', polyphyletic genus of plants commonly known as wattle, especially in Australia and South Africa
**''Acacia'', large genus of shrubs and trees, native to Australasia
**Black wattle, c ...
with the top outer edge inscribed with the words 'The Australian Defence Medal'.
* The reverse has the words 'For Service' below the Crown of St Edward, surrounded by a wreath of wattle.
* The ribbon colours include the black and red colour of the Flanders poppy and two white stripes to divide the red into three segments to denote the three services of the Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Forc ...
, and also represent the services contributing to the peace of Australia.[
]
See also
* Australian Honours System
* Australian Honours Order of Wearing
* Claude Choules
References
{{Australian Honours System
Military awards and decorations of Australia
2006 establishments in Australia
Awards established in 2006