The Defence Long Service Medal is an
Australian military award given for long service by permanent and reserve members 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 ...
(ADF), irrespective of rank. It was introduced in 1998, and replaced the suite of ADF service awards introduced in 1982, which comprised the
Defence Force Service Medal, the
Reserve Force Medal
The Reserve Force Medal (RFM) is an Australian Military award given for long service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence F ...
and the
Reserve Force Decoration.
It is awarded to personnel who complete 15 years of Regular or Reserve service, or combinations thereof, on or after 14 February 1975. Additional service clasps, each indicating a further 5 years after the initial 15 year qualifying service, are issued. The first four clasps to the medal are indicated by rosettes on the ribbon. These are replaced by a single silver
Federation Star
The Commonwealth Star (also known as the Federation Star, the Seven Point Star, or the Star of Federation) is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901.
Six points of the Star represen ...
for the fifth clasp. Additional Federation Star emblems are added for subsequent clasps.
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Description
According to the Australian Department of Defence, the medal is described as:[
* The DLSM is a cupro-nickel medal. The obverse has the Joint Service Emblem surrounded by two sprays 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 ...
leaves and blossom.
* The reverse has a central horizontal panel surrounded by the inscription "For Service in the Australian Defence Force" in capital letters.
* The ribbon has a central panel of seven alternating blue and gold stripes flanked by blue stripes gold edges. The colours and design reflect those of the replaced medals.
* 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.
Related medals
Other Australian long service awards include:
* Defence Force Service Medal
* Reserve Force Medal
The Reserve Force Medal (RFM) is an Australian Military award given for long service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence F ...
* Reserve Force Decoration
* National Medal (Australia)
* Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
While 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), and is not awarded for "long service" per se.
See also
* Australian Honours System
* Australian Honours Order of Precedence
References
External links
ADF Honours and Awards
– military site
It's an Honour
– Australian Government site
{{Australian Honours System
Military awards and decorations of Australia
1998 establishments in Australia
Awards established in 1998
Long service medals
Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth