The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) was introduced in 1991 and is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. As with gallantry decorations, distinguished service decorations are not specific to rank, but because the DSC is for “command” in action, it is more likely that the DSC will be awarded to officers.
The DSC is a modified Maltese Cross of nickel-silver with the obverse having a central device of the Federation Star on a disc of flames. The reverse has a panel for recipient details.
The DSC ribbon has a central stripe of ochre-red flanked by silver-blue stripes.
A further award of the DSC is denoted by a nickel-silver bar with the Federation Star superimposed on a horizontal row of flames. When the ribbon is worn alone, the award of a bar is indicated by the addition of a ribbon bar emblem in the form of a nickel-silver Federation Star.
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross are entitled to the postnominal letters ‘DSC’. Recipients of a bar to the DSC add ‘and Bar’ to the postnominal.
The source document for the DSC is:
CAG S25 of 4 February 1991 (Letters Patent and Regulations).
The nomination procedure is detailed in Defence Instruction (General) PERS 31-3 Australian Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards.
The DSC is worn in the position notified by the Governor-General in The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
Web page last updated 13 December, 2011