The Commendation for Distinguished Service is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force

Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...

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

Australian Honours System

-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...

. Since its inception 283 have been awarded.

Description

• The insignia of the Commendation for Distinguished Service is a central Federation Star
  Commonwealth Star
  The Commonwealth Star is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901....
  
   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
  Australian Honours Order of Precedence
  - Order of wear :Order of precedence for the wearing of decorations and awards within the Australian Honours System.Articles marked with * are awards of the British Empire/United Kingdom and are now considered foreign....
  
  
• :Category:Recipients of the Commendation for Distinguished Service