Reserve Forces Medal

Australian Reseve Forces Medal (RFM): Established on 19 April 1982, the Reserve Forces Medal is awarded to other ranks of the Australian Reserve Forces who have completed fifteen years efficient service. Further periods of five years service result in the award of a clasp, and a rosette for the riband bar. These awards have been superceded for persons who had not qualified for them before 20 April 1994, by the Defence Force Long Service Medal, available on this site. Central to the design of the obverse of the medal is the Defence Force Joint (tri) Service Emblem, which comprises an anchor to signify the navy, swords to signify the army, and an eagle to signify the airforce. The boomerang symbolising Australia lies at the base of the Joint Services emblem supporting and unifying the three services emblems. The medal is suspended with the Crown of St Edward (often called the Queens' crown). The Reserve Forces Medal is an oval shaped medal in nickel-silver. The obverse (or front) depicts the Joint Services emblem sitting on a series of radiating flutes. The reverse (or back) of the medal is inscribed For Efficient Service In the Reserve Forces. Clasps for the Defence Force Service Medal and the Reserve Force Medal are made from nickel-silver.

The colours of blue and gold used on the riband is taken from the ribbon colours of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. For reasons of tradition, recipients of the long service award for Reserve officers (Reserve Force Decoration, available on this site) are entitled to use the postnominals RFD after their name. There are no postnominal entitlements for the Reserve Force Medal .