Distinguished Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) represented an honor bestowed upon both members of the Alliance Military and civilians. This honor recognized exceptional service of great merit to the Alliance to Restore the Republic while holding a position of significant responsibility. It held the same weight within the Alliance Army as the Distinguished Flying Medal did. Primarily, it served as a non-combat recognition, generally granted to civilians who offered aid and material assistance to the Rebel Alliance at considerable personal risk. It was also given to non-combatant military staff—clerks, analysts, cargo handlers, and supply personnel, among others—who furnished essential support to Alliance operations, even though they were not active in frontline combat.

The physical form of the Distinguished Service Medal was a small, circular medallion crafted from silver. This medallion prominently displayed the Rebel Alliance starbird, encircled on three sides by Aurebesh script reading "For Meritorious Service," with the date "0 BBY" inscribed at the base. The medallion hung from a rectangular silver ribbon, distinguished by a single wide blue stripe running vertically down its center. Typically, this award was only given to a person once.