Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) Explained

Distinguished Service Cross
Presenter:	Australia
Type:	Medal
Eligibility:	Members of the Australian Defence Force
Awarded For:	Distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations
Status:	Currently awarded
Post-Nominals:	DSC
Established:	1991
Firstawarded:	1993
Lastawarded:	2023 Australia Day Honours
Total Awarded:	115^[1]
Access-Date:	12 December 2022-->
Total Recipients:	106
Precedence Label:	Order of Wear
Higher:	Star of Courage^[2]
Related:	Distinguished Service Medal Commendation for Distinguished Service

The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSC".^[3] Since its inception 115 awards have been made—which includes eight first bars and one second bar.

Government allowance

The Government of Australia may grant an allowance to veterans or serving members of the Australian Defence Force who have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, or other awards for gallantry. In November 2007, this allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.^[4]

Description

The Distinguished Service Cross is described as: "...a modified Maltese Cross of nickel silver ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse bears a Federation Star surmounted on a disc of flames. The medal has a nickel-silver suspender bar. The medal ribbon has a central ochre-red stripe surrounded by narrower silver-blue stripes."^[3]

Distinct recipients

Since its inception, eight bars have been awarded;

One bar

• Colonel V, DSC & Bar – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in action as a commanding officer on Operation Slipper in Afghanistan in June 2009.^[5]
• Lieutenant Colonel P, DSC & Bar – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in action.^[6]
• Major General Michael Peter Crane, DSC & Bar, AM – Citation: distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as the Commander of Joint Task Force 633 on Operation Slipper from October 2012 to September 2013.^[7]
• Lieutenant Colonel F, DSC & Bar – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations during Operation SLIPPER.^[8]
• Brigadier Daniel Fortune, DSC & Bar – Citation: for distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations on Operation Slipper.^[9]
• Brigadier John William Shanahan, DSC & Bar, AM, OBE – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Resolute Support Headquarters Chief of Operations and as Commanding General Train Advise Assist Command – South in Afghanistan from September 2017 to February 2019.

Two bars

• Lieutenant Colonel Ian Langford, DSC & Two Bars. Originally reported as "Lieutenant Colonel I" due to Special Forces protocols for name suppression. First citation: For distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as Commanding Officer of Special Operations Task Group on Operation Slipper.^[10] Second Citation: For distinguished leadership in warlike operations as part of a Special Operations Force on Operation OKRA from September 2014 to February 2015.^{[11] [12]}

Senate inquiry

On 3 July 2024, a senate inquiry was launched to investigate the award criteria for the Distinguished Service Cross including the 2011 change from “in action” to “in warlike operations”.^{[13] [14]}

See also

• Australian Honours Order of Precedence
• List of recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross

Notes and References

1. Book: Medal Yearbook 2023 . 2022 . . Honiton, Devon . 978-1-908828-63-7 . 460 .
2. Web site: The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards. Government House. 23 March 2014. 25 September 2007.
3. Web site: Distinguished Service Cross. Commonwealth of Australia. 23 February 2010.
4. Web site: Veteran's Entitlements Act 1986 – Sect 102 . 17 November 2007 . Commonwealth Consolidated Acts . Australasian Legal Information Institute .
5. http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2011/Media%20Notes%20DSC%20and%20Bar%20%28final%29.pdf COL V DSC & Bar
6. https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2012/Media%20Notes%20DSC%20and%20Bar%20%28final%29.pdf LTCOL P DSC & Bar
7. Web site: MAJGEN Michael Peter Crane DSC & Bar, AM . The Queen's Birthday 2014 Honours List – Gazette 3 Military . 9 June 2014 .
8. 1151508. 26 January 2015. Lieutenant Colonel F. Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross. 27 January 2016.
9. Web site: https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debate/?id=2016-11-21.32.1 Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016; Second Reading ]. 21 November 2016 .
10. https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1149512 LTCOL I DSC & Bar
11. Web site: Australia Day 2016 Honours List. 26 January 2016. Australian Government. 26 January 2016.
12. Web site: Accelerated Warfare, Presented by Brigadier Ian Langford, DSC and Bars. 4 March 2019.
13. Web site: Inquiry to probe integrity of military honours and awards amid claims of abuse . The Nightly . 8 July 2024.
14. Web site: Honours inquiry announcement . Instagram . Senator Malcolm Roberts . 8 July 2024.