The prestigious Defence Long Service Medal is a symbol of honour for Australian Defence Force members who have shown unwavering dedication. This distinguished award is bestowed upon personnel who have served for a commendable 15 years. Read more..
The Defence Long Service Medal is an Australian military service medal established to recognize the long-term service and dedication of members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The medal honors those who have displayed a commitment to the defence of Australia and its interests over an extended period and acknowledges their loyalty and contribution to the nation's security.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Defence Long Service Medal, personnel must have completed a minimum of 15 years of service in the Australian Defence Force. The medal is awarded to members of the Australian Regular and Reserve forces, as well as to those who have served in both capacities. Additional clasps may be issued for each subsequent period of 5 years of service completed. The DLSM replaced the DFSM, RFM, and RFD, and therefore personnel are not entitled to have the previous medals alongside the DLSM.
Clasps
The DLSM shares the same design clasp as the DFSM and RFM. Clasps are issued for every additional 5 years of service after the initial award of the medal. The clasp is attached to the ribbon above the medal with the full size and miniatures, and represented by a rosette or Federation Star (replaces the rosettes on the fifth clasp) on the ribbon bar. If you would like to purchase a clasp for your medals please click here: DFSM/DLSM/RFM Medal Clasp. DFSM/DLSM Dot for Ribbon Bar.
Design
The Defence Long Service Medal is designed as a circular, cupro-nickel medallion featuring the Defence Joint Service emblem on the obverse, surrounded by two sprigs of wattle. The reverse features a central plaque, traditionally engraved with the recipients name and service number, surrounded by the words "FOR SERVICE IN THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE".
Ribbon
The ribbon of the Defence Long Service Medal has a base of blue, with four central stripes of yellow-gold, and yellow-gold edges. The colours and design reflect those of the awards the DLSM replaced.
If you order your medal unmounted, the medal and ribbon will be supplied as separate components. Miniature medals will be supplied with 15cm of ribbon and full size medals will be supplied with 30cm of ribbon.
The court mounting of medals involves securing medals to a stiff backing board, along with the placement of a brooch fitting on the board. This ensures that the medals remain firmly in place and do not shift or move about while being worn.
It is mandatory for active members of the Australian Defence Force to have their medals court mounted, as it is considered the appropriate method of presenting military honours in a professional and respectful manner. By doing so, the medals are given proper recognition and are displayed in a neat and organized fashion.The swing mounting of medals refers to the attachment of a medal to a ribbon that is allowed to hang freely from a brooch, which in turn is affixed to a uniform or clothing. This mounting style was commonly used for medals from the Boer War up to and including World War II, although there are no fixed guidelines or regulations regarding its use.
Miniature Court Mounted medals are mounted using the same method as Full size medals, yet they are typically worn to ceremonies were wearing full size medals would be impractical. These medals are commonly worn to all ceremonies that take place after 6 pm such as dinners.
Miniature Swing Mounted medals are mounted using the same method as Full size medals, yet they are typically worn to ceremonies were wearing full size medals would be impractical. These medals are commonly worn to all ceremonies that take place after 6 pm such as dinners.
A ribbon bar is a small, rectangular display of ribbons worn on military uniforms to represent various honours and awards earned by the wearer. These ribbons are arranged in a specific order and are attached to a backing, which is then attached to the uniform. Ribbon bars are a compact and convenient way for military personnel to display their achievements and are often used in situations where a full-sized medal or award would be impractical.
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