Defence Long Service Medal

Australian military award

Award

Defence Long Service Medal

Obverse of medal (with bar) and ribbon

Type| Long Service Medal
Awarded for| a minimum of 15 years "qualifying service", including an assessment of good conduct[citation needed]
Presented by| Australia
Eligibility| Members of the Australian Defence Force, including reserves
Clasps| for each additional 5 years of service
Status| Currently awarded
Established| 1998
Total| 33,000[1]
– 15 years

– 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)| Reserve Force Medal[2]
Next (lower)| National Medal[2]
Related| Defence Force Service Medal
Reserve Force Decoration (RFD)

The Defence Long Service Medal is an Australian military award given for long service by permanent and reserve members of the Australian Defence Force (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 and the Reserve Force Decoration.[3]

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 for the fifth clasp. Additional Federation Star emblems are added for subsequent clasps.[3]

## Description[edit]

According to the Australian Department of Defence, the medal is described as:[3]

* The DLSM is a cupro-nickel medal. The obverse has the Joint Service Emblem surrounded by two sprays of wattle 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[edit]

Other Australian long service awards include:

* Defence Force Service Medal
* Reserve Force Medal
* 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.[citation needed]

## See also[edit]

* Australian Honours System
* Australian Honours Order of Precedence

## References[edit]

1. ^ Medal Yearbook 2013. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2013. p. 398\. ISBN 978-1-908-828-00-2.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ a b c "Defence Long Service Medal". Department of Defence. Retrieved 13 March 2022.

## External links[edit]

* ADF Honours and Awards – military site
* It's an Honour – Australian Government site

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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|

* Public Service Medal (PSM)
* Australian Police Medal (APM)
* Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
* Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)
* Emergency Services Medal (ESM)
* Australian Corrections Medal (ACM)
* Australian Intelligence Medal (AIM)
* Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM)
* Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)

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)

Special service|

* Police Overseas Service Medal
* Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
* National Emergency Medal
* Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
* National Police Service Medal
* Australian Sports Medal (2000, 2021–present)

Commemorative

* King Edward VII Coronation Medal (1902)
* King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
* Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
* 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal (1999)
* Centenary Medal (2001)
* Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
* Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)
* King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)

Long service|

* Defence Force Service Medal (1982–1998)
* Reserve Force Decoration (1982–1998) (RFD)
* Reserve Force Medal (1982–1998)
* Defence Long Service Medal (1998–)
* National Medal
* Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
* Service Medal of the Order of St John

Other defence awards|

* Australian Defence Medal
* Champion Shots Medal
* Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal
* / Unit Citation for Gallantry
* / Meritorious Unit Citation

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