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Commendation for Distinguished Service
Insignia and ribbon
Type	Medal
Awarded for	"the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations to members of the Australian Defence Force"
Presented by	Australia
Eligibility	Members of the Australian Defence Force
Status	Currently awarded
Established	15 January 1991
First awarded	1993
Last awarded	2024 Special Honours
Total	525
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Commendation for Brave Conduct
Next (lower)	War medals, campaign medals, active service medals and service medals
Related	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal

The Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force, it is awarded for the distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations. The Commendation for Distinguished Service was introduced in 1991 and replaced its Imperial equivalent, Mention in Despatches. It is the third level of distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System.

Description

• The insignia of the Commendation for Distinguished Service is a central Federation Star on a nickel-silver row of flames that taper at each end.
• The insignia is attached to an ochre-red ribbon.

See also

• Australian Honours Order of Precedence
• Category:Recipients of the Commendation for Distinguished Service

References

1. Governor-General Annual Report 2023-24 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
2. ^ "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.

External links

• It's an Honour

v t e 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

• Military awards and decorations of Australia
• 1991 establishments in Australia
• Awards established in 1991