The Defense Superior Service Medal

Time Period: Post-WW2
Institution: 6 February 1976
Country: United States

The Defense Superior Service Medal (or DSSM) is a senior American military decoration of the Department of Defense established by President Gerald R. Ford on February 6, 1976 and awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who perform “superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility“.

The decoration is most often presented to senior officers in the flag and general officer grades. It is analogous to the Legion of Merit, but awarded for service in a “joint” duty capacity for a period of time exceeding 12 months. Service members assigned to or attached to a Joint Task Force as individuals, not members of a specific military service’s unit, can be eligible for the DSSM.

Joint or Department of Defense awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, may be awarded posthumously.

The Defense Superior Service Medal Design

When the Defense Superior Service Medal was created, it was decided that it should be done at the lowest possible cost and with as little involvement as possible. It’s because of this that it ranks just below the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for similar service, it was decided to use the same design as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal but finished in silver rather than gold and with a difference inscription on the back.

The medal has blue enamel and measures 1 7/8 inches (4.76 cm) in height overall. The obverse depicts a silver American eagle with outstretched wings superimposed over a medium blue pentagon. On its breast is the shield of the United States and in its talons are three crossed arrows in silver. The tips of the wings cover a surrounding arc of silver five-pointed stars encircling the top and sides of the pentagon, while the bottom is surrounded by a silver wreath encircling the base composed of a laurel branch on the left and an olive branch on the right.

The reverse is plain except for the inscription at the top, For Superior Service. Below in the pentagon is the inscription From The Secretary of Defense To.

The medal is suspended from a ribbon 1 3/8 inch (3.49 cm) in width composed of the following vertical stripes: Golden Yellow, Bluebird, White, Scarlet, White, Bluebird and Golden Yellow.