Air Force Distinguished Service Medal — Military Decorations

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal comes with a unique service ribbon, which is worn on the recipient's uniform in situations where the full medal is not worn. If you have earned this decoration, you can wear the service ribbon on your ribbon rack.
Design of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was designed by Frank Alston of the Institute of Heraldry. It is easily identifiable by its sunburst design. It is a radical departure from the designs used in the Distinguished Service Medals of the other services. The sunburst has thirteen gold rays separated by thirteen white enameled stars, with a semiprecious blue stone in the center. The reverse of the medal is simple and empty for engraving. The star is suspended from the ribbon by a wide slotted bar which consists of Air Force wings.

What is the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Decoration?

The ribbon has a wide 1/2-inch center stripe of white flanked on either side by a thin stripe of old gold, a wide stripe of ultramarine blue and a narrow stripe of old gold at the edges.

The United States military sorts decorations into categories called Classes and Types. The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal medal is classified as a Personal Decoration of the type Distinguished Service Medal.

How Do You Earn the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal?

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. It was intended to be awarded to higher ranking officers and airman in important enlisted leadership positions.

“The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any member of the United States Air Force who has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States Government in a duty of great responsibility. The interpretation of the phrase "great responsibility" means that this medal is generally awarded only to officers who hold at least the rank of Major General. However, as is customary for most military decorations, the requirements for the Distinguished Service Medal are interpreted more liberally when awarded upon retirement. As a result, it is the typical decoration for a retiring Brigadier General, and in recent years it has also been awarded to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force upon retirement.”

Displaying the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

The Order of Precedence of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal is 10, and this precedence is used when placing the associated service ribbon on your uniform ribbon rack. You can see a full list of decorations in the order of precedence on the Decorations homepage.

The award is the Air Force equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal. It is worn after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and before the Silver Star Medal.

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Associated Branches

Air Force

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Associated Branches

Air Force

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the Stolen Valor Act

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 is a federal law that makes it illegal for any person to falsely claim to be the recipient of certain military awards, "with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that he or she received the award".This decoration is covered by the Stolen Valor act. Fraudulently claiming to have received a Air Force Distinguished Service Medal can result in punishment including a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both


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