The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was introduced in 1991 and is awarded for distinguished leadership in action.
Medal
The DSM is a nickel-silver medal with a Federation Star on a circle of flames on the obverse. The reverse has a panel for recipient detail over a design of fluted rays of varying lengths.
Ribbon
The DSM ribbon has alternating stripes of silver-blue and ochre-red.
Further Awards
A further award of the DSM is denoted by a nickel- silver bar with the Federation Star on a horizontal row of flames. When the ribbon is worn alone, the award of a bar is indicated by a ribbon bar emblem in the form of a Federation Star on a nickel-silver disc.
Postnominal
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to the postnominal letters ‘DSM’. Recipients of a bar to the DSM add ‘and Bar’ to the postnominal.
