Reserve Force Medal
The Reserve Force Medal (RFM) was an Australian Military award given for long service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces. It was 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 with effect 20 April 1999 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
- Name
- Reserve Force Medal
- Field
- Australian honours system · medal · military decoration
- Period
- 1982
- Region
- Australia
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Documentary summary
The Reserve Force Medal (RFM) was an Australian Military award given for long service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces. It was 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 with effect 20 April 1999 with a single medal, the Defence Long Service Medal, which is now awarded to all permanent and reserve members irrespective of rank.
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wikidata · Q7315245 · wikipedia · Reserve Force Medal
In this article
Overview
Overview
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.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Reserve Force Medal • Presenter — Australia • Type — Long Service Medal • Eligibility — Non-commissioned members of the Australian Defence Force Reserves • Awarded For — a minimum of 15 years "qualifying service", including an assessment of good conduct • Status — Not currently awarded, but additional service bars can still be issued to awardees • Clasps — for each additional 5 years of service • Established — 20 April 1982 • Total Awarded — 12,000 • Precedence Label — Order of Wear • Higher — Reserve Force Decoration (RFD) • Lower — Defence Long Service Medal • Image2 Size — 90px • Caption2 — Ribbon with rosette
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- Australia
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" in capital letters. • 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.
Primary material
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reference work
- “Reserve Force Medal”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7315245: Reserve Force Medal
General reference · Wikidata
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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