Defence Long Service Medal

Defence Long Service Medal
Obverse of medal (with bar) and ribbon
Awarded by Australia
Type	Long Service Medal
Eligibility	Members of the Australian Defence Force, including reserves
Awarded for	a minimum of 15 years "qualifying service", including an assessment of good conduct
Status	Currently awarded
Clasps	for each additional 5 years of service
Statistics
Established	1998
Total awarded	33,000[1]
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Reserve Force Medal[2]
Next (lower)	National Medal[2]
Related	Defence Force Service Medal Reserve Force Decoration (RFD)
- 15 years - 20 years - 25 years - 30 years - 35 years - 40 years Ribbon with Rosette(s) (top four), Ribbon with Federation Star (bottom)

The Defence Long Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent and reserve members of the Australian Defence Force, irrespective of rank. It was introduced in 1998, and replaced the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which comprised the Defence Force Service Medal, the Reserve Force Medal and the Reserve Force Decoration.

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.

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.

Description

• 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'.
• The ribbon has a central panel of 7 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.

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

Orders, Decorations, and Medals of Australia Australian Honours Order of Precedence
Order of Australia (General Division and Military Division)	Knight/Dame of the Order of Australia (AK/AD)  • / Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)  • / Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)  • / Member of the Order of Australia (AM)  • / Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Gallantry Decorations	Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)  • Star of Gallantry (SG)  • Medal for Gallantry (MG)  • Commendation for Gallantry
Distinguished Service Decorations	Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)  • Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)  • Commendation for Distinguished Service
Bravery Decorations	Cross of Valour (CV)  • Star of Courage (SC)  • Bravery Medal (BM)  • Commendation for Brave Conduct  • Group Bravery Citation
Conspicuous Service Decorations	Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)  • Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)
Nursing Service	Nursing Service Cross (NSC)
Meritorious Service Awards	Public Service Medal (PSM)  • Australian Police Medal (APM)  • Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)  • Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)  • Emergency Services Medal (ESM)  • Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM)
Operational Service (Campaign) Medals	Warlike Australia Service Medal (1939–45)  • Australian Active Service Medal (1945–75)  • Vietnam Medal (1964–73)  • Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal (1968–73)  • Australian Active Service Medal  • International Force East Timor Medal (1999–2000)  • Afghanistan Medal (2001–14)  • Iraq Medal (2003–13)  • Non-Warlike Australian General Service Medal Korea (1953–56)  • Australian Service Medal (1945–75)  • Australian Service Medal  • Rhodesia Medal (1979–80) Military Operations Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection  • Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian  • Australian Operational Service Medal – GMEO
Non-Operational Service Medals	Police Overseas Service Medal  • Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal  • National Emergency Medal  • Civilian Service Medal (1939–45)
Commemorative Medals	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)  • Australian Sports Medal (2000)  • Centenary Medal (2001)
Long Service Medals	Defence Force Service Medal (1982–98)  • Reserve Force Decoration (1982–98) (RFD)  • Reserve Force Medal (1982–98)  • Defence Long Service Medal (1998–)  • National Medal (1975–)  • Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal (1999–)  • National Police Service Medal (2010–)
Other Defence Medals	Australian Defence Medal  • Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal
Skill-At-Arms	Champion Shots Medal
Unit Citations	/ Unit Citation for Gallantry  • / Meritorious Unit Citation