New Zealand Defence Service Medal
now available for those fifty and
over
18
October 2011
Ex-Service personnel aged 50 and over can
now apply for the
New Zealand Defence
Service Medal
(NZDSM).
Until recently the New Zealand Defence
Force’s Medals Office was accepting
applications for the NZDSM from ex-Service
personnel aged 60 or over. Since April, when
the first applications were called for, over
17,700 applications have been received by
the Medals Office and over 13,000 medals
have been issued.
Due to the large number of people eligible
for the NZDSM, the call for applications is
being managed in four stages, with priority
given to processing applications from older
living ex-Service personnel first.
The new medal means that a large number of
personnel who served New Zealand loyally and
well in a wide range of roles and contexts,
but not on operations, are now receiving
medallic recognition for their work.
“The medal recognises attested military
service in the Defence Force by New
Zealanders. Those who have served in the
military for three years or more since the
end of World War Two, and those who
completed their compulsory military training
or national military service obligations,
qualify,” Assistant Chief of Personnel
Commodore Kevin Keat said.
“Personnel with three years accumulated
service, for example, between Regular, K
Force, J Force and Territorial service
(including RNZNR and RNZNVR) are also
eligible for the medal.”
Ex-Service personnel are encouraged to apply
for the medal using the
online form
on the NZDF Medals webs
