The Reserve Force Decoration (postnominal RFD) is an Australian Military award given for long service by officers of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence Force Service Medal (DFSM, for all members of the permanent forces) and the

Reserve Force Medal The Reserve Force Medal (RFM) is an Australian Military award given for long service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence ...

(RFM, for non-commissioned members of the Reserve forces). However, the RFD is the only one of the three to carry a postnominal entitlement. All three medals were replaced with effect 20 April 1999 with a single medal, the

Defence Long Service Medal The Defence Long Service Medal is an Australian military award given for long service by permanent and reserve members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), irrespective of rank. It was introduced in 1998, and replaced the suite of ADF service ...

, which is now awarded to all permanent and reserve members irrespective of rank. Additional service clasps, each indicating a further 5 years after the initial 15 year qualifying service, can still be issued to persons awarded the RFD, RFM or DFSM. The first four clasps to the medal are indicated by rosettes. These are replaced by a single silver

Federation Star The Commonwealth Star (also known as the Federation Star, the Seven Point Star, or the Star of Federation) is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901. Six points of the Star represent ...

for the fifth clasp. Additional Federation Star emblems are added for subsequent clasps.

Description

* The RFD is an oval

cupro-nickel Cupronickel or copper-nickel (CuNi) is an alloy of copper that contains nickel and strengthening elements, such as iron and manganese. The copper content typically varies from 60 to 90 percent. ( Monel is a nickel-copper alloy that contains a ...

medal surrounded by a gilt wreath of

wattle Wattle or wattles may refer to: Plants *''Acacia sensu lato'', polyphyletic genus of plants commonly known as wattle, especially in Australia and South Africa **''Acacia'', large genus of shrubs and trees, native to Australasia **Black wattle, c ...

, ensigned with the

Crown of Saint Edward St Edward's Crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, versions of it have traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th cent ...

. The obverse has the Joint Service Emblem on a rayed background. * The reverse is inscribed "For Efficient Service in the Reserve Forces" in capital letters. * The 32mm-wide ribbon has three equal stripes of azure-blue and gold. The colours were the national colours of Australia at the time of introduction. * The RFD clasp is a gilt bar with the Royal Cypher flanked by sprigs of wattle in the centre. When the ribbon is worn alone a clasp is indicated by the addition of a cupro-nickel oval rosette or a silver miniature Federation Star.

Related medals

Other Australian long service awards include: * Defence Force Service Medal *

(currently awarded) * National Medal * Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal While the Australian Defence Medal is sometimes classified as a "long service medal", it is intended to recognise all those who completed an obligation to serve their country (whether voluntarily or conscripted), and is not awarded for "long service" per se.

References

External links

It's an Honour
– Australian Government website
ADF Honours and Awards
– military site {{Australian Honours System Military awards and decorations of Australia 1982 establishments in Australia Awards established in 1982 Long and Meritorious Service Medals of Britain and the Commonwealth

Description

Related medals

See also

References

External links