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 Force Service Medal (DFSM, for all members of the permanent forces) and the Reserve Force Decoration (RFD, for officers of the Reserve forces). All three medals were replaced in 2002 with a single medal, the Defence Long Service Medal, which is now awarded to all permanent and reserve members irrespective of rank.

Reserve Force Medal


Obverse of medal (with bar) and ribbon
TypeLong Service Medal
Awarded fora minimum of 15 years "qualifying service", including an assessment of good conduct
Presented byAustralia
EligibilityNon-commissioned members of the Australian Defence Force Reserves
Claspsfor each additional 5 years of service
StatusNot currently awarded, but additional service bars can still be issued to awardees
Established20 April 1982
Total12,000[1]
Ribbon with rosette
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Reserve Force Decoration (RFD)[2]
Next (lower)Defence Long Service Medal[2]

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

Other Australian Long Service Awards include:

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.

Description
  • The Reserve Force Medal is an oval cupro-nickel medal, ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward. The obverse has the Joint Service Emblem on a rayed background.
  • The reverse is inscribed 'FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE IN THE RESERVE FORCES'.
  • The ribbon is azure blue with gold edges. The colours were the national colours of Australia at the time of introduction.
  • The clasp is a cupro-nickel 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 Federation Star.

See also

References
  1. Medal Yearbook 2013. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2013. p. 398. ISBN 978-1-908-828-00-2.
  2. "The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
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