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 Defense Superior Service Medal

  The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is the second highest Defense/Joint peacetime award. The medal is most often awarded to senior officers in the general/flag officer grades. The services rendered are similar to those required for the award of the Legion of Merit. The DoD level DSSM is comparable to the Service-level Legion of Merit.

  Criteria: Awarded by the Secretary of Defense to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has rendered superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility while assigned to a joint activity and whose performance cannot be recognized properly by any other Defense/Joint decoration. Award for meritorious service is generally for a period of time greater than 12 months and encompassing an individual's entire joint assignment, including any extensions. Service members assigned and/or attached to a JTF as individuals (not as members of a Service unit) may also be eligible for the DSSM. Members of Service-unique units assigned and/or attached to a JTF retain eligibility for award of personal decorations from their parent Services. They may not be awarded Defense/Joint decorations.

  The DSSM may be awarded only to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, after February 6, 1976, rendered superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility. The DSSM is specifically intended to recognize exceptionally superior service, and to honor an individual's accomplishments over a sustained period. Only under the most unusual circumstances will the DSSM be awarded as an impact award for outstanding TDY (Temporary DutY) achievement.

  Defense/Joint awards including the DSSM may be awarded posthumously. When so awarded, they may be presented to an appropriate representative of the deceased, as determined by the awarding authority.

Description: The Medal is a silver color metal and enamel pendant 1 7/8 inches in height consisting of a medium blue pentagon point up superimposed by a silver eagle with outspread wings charged on its breast with the shield of the United States. Grasping in its talons are three crossed silver arrows (as depicted on the DoD seal), the wings projecting over and surmounting a silver arc encircling the top and sides of the pentagon and bearing nine conjoined silver stars above the wings and two on each side below the wings, terminating in a silver wreath encircling the base composed of a laurel branch on the left and an olive branch on the right. The wreath is surmounted by the extended ends of the arrows in base. At the top of the pendant is a group of five graduated silver rays extending above the stars.

Category of Award: Defense/Joint Personal Performance Award

Authorized: Executive Order 11904, February 6, 1976

Device(s): Bronze and/or Silver Oak Leaf Cluster (if applicable)

References:
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards... Pages 26 to 27 and Pages 99 and 100.
DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 1, Manual of Military Decorations and Award... Pages 40 to 42 and Page 63.
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, Page 1-22.
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards, Page 20 and Page 141.

Note: Medal image is Miniature Medal size.

Page updated April 28, 2017

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