Distinguished Service Cross | |
---|---|
Type | Medal |
Awarded for | Distinguished command and leadership in action |
Presented by | Australia |
Eligibility | Members of the Australian Defence Force |
Post-nominals | DSC |
Status | Currently awarded |
Established | 1991 |
First awarded | 1993 |
Last awarded | 2023 Australia Day Honours |
Total | 115[1] |
Total recipients | 106 |
Order of Wear | |
Next (higher) | Star of Courage[2] |
Next (lower) | Member of the Order of Australia[2] |
Related | Distinguished Service Medal Commendation for Distinguished Service |
The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSC".[3] Since its inception 115 awards have been made—which includes eight first bars and one second bar.
The Government of Australia may grant an allowance to veterans or serving members of the Australian Defence Force who have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, or other awards for gallantry. In November 2007, this allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.[4]
The Distinguished Service Cross is described as: "...a modified Maltese Cross of nickel silver ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse bears a Federation Star surmounted on a disc of flames. The medal has a nickel-silver suspender bar. The medal ribbon has a central ochre-red stripe surrounded by narrower silver-blue stripes."[3]
Since its inception, eight bars have been awarded;