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Distinguished Service Medal (United States)

 

 
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Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
 
 
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The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States of America military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United States armed forces or other Uniformed services
Uniformed services of the United States

The United States has seven federal uniformed services that Officer officers as defined by Title 10 of the United States Code, and subsequently structured and organized by Title 10, Title 14 of the United States Code, Title 42 of the United States Code and Title 33 of the United States Code of the United States Code....
. There is also the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service
President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service

Established by President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower on 27 June 1957 by Executive Order 10717, the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service was created to allow the President to recognize civilian officers or employees of the Federal government of the United States who have made contributions "so outstandin...
 which is the highest medal that can be awarded to a career government employee.

The Distinguished Service Medal is issued both as a military decoration
Awards and decorations of the United States military

Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces....
 and civilian award
Civilian decorations of the United States

Civilian decorations of the United States are civil decorations of the United States of America which are bestowed by various agencies of the United States government for acts of accomplishment benefiting the government as a whole....
.






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The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States of America military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United States armed forces or other Uniformed services
Uniformed services of the United States

The United States has seven federal uniformed services that Officer officers as defined by Title 10 of the United States Code, and subsequently structured and organized by Title 10, Title 14 of the United States Code, Title 42 of the United States Code and Title 33 of the United States Code of the United States Code....
. There is also the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service
President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service

Established by President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower on 27 June 1957 by Executive Order 10717, the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service was created to allow the President to recognize civilian officers or employees of the Federal government of the United States who have made contributions "so outstandin...
 which is the highest medal that can be awarded to a career government employee.

The Distinguished Service Medal is issued both as a military decoration
Awards and decorations of the United States military

Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces....
 and civilian award
Civilian decorations of the United States

Civilian decorations of the United States are civil decorations of the United States of America which are bestowed by various agencies of the United States government for acts of accomplishment benefiting the government as a whole....
. The Army version of the Distinguished Service Medal is typically referred to simply as the "Distinguished Service Medal" while the other branches of service use the service name as a prefix. The following versions (awarded by the agency or department head) of the Distinguished Service Medal are currently issued by the United States government:

Military and national defense

  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal
    Defense Distinguished Service Medal

    The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States....
  • Army Distinguished Service Medal
    Distinguished Service Medal (Army)

    The Distinguished Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility....
  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal
    Navy Distinguished Service Medal

    The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919....
  • Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
    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. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel....
  • Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
    Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal

    The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Department of Homeland Security and is intended to serve as a replacement for the Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal for members of the United States Coast Guard....
  • Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
    Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

    The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress....


Civilian

For non-military or civilians, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award or Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is commonly the highest award and medal
Awards and decorations of the United States government

Awards and decorations of the United States government are Civilian decorations of the United States of the Federal government of the United States which are typically issued for sustained meritorious service, in a civilian capacity, while serving in the U.S....
 provided to civilian employees within agencies of the federal government of the United States
Federal government of the United States

The Federal Government of the United States is the central current reigning United States governmental body, established by the United States Constitution....
. In order of precedence, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award (DCSA) often precedes the agency's Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Meritorious Civilian Service Award

The Meritorious Civilian Service Award is commonly the second highest Awards and decorations of the United States government provided to civilian employees within agencies of the Federal government of the United States....
.

  • Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award
  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award
  • Navy Civilian Distinguished Service Award
  • Air Force Civilian Distinguished Service Medal
  • NASA Distinguished Service Medal
    NASA Distinguished Service Medal

    The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States....
  • National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal
    National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

    The National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal is the highest decoration awarded for service to the United States Intelligence Community....
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency Distinguished Service Medal
  • Defense Commissary Agency Distinguished Service Medal
  • ATF Distinguished Service Medal
  • Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal
    Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal

    The Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal is the highest decoration which may be bestowed by the United States Secretary of Transportation for exceptional service to the United States government in a position of great responsibility within the U.S....
  • Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal
    Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal

    The Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine . The decoration is the highest award which can be bestowed upon members of that service and is the service?s equivalent of the Medal of Honor; since mariners serving in the United State Merchant Marine are not employed by the United States D...
  • Department of Justice Distinguished Service Medal
  • Department of Interior Distinguished Service Medal


The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force use the term, Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service for its highest honorary award:

  • Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
  • Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service


Private Sector and Unofficial Versions

  • Civil Air Patrol Distinguished Service Medal


Legal

Any false verbal, written or physical claim to an award or decoration authorized for wear by authorized military members or veterans is a federal felony offense punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $5000 fine.

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