Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Type	Distinguished service medal
Awarded for	Distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility.
Presented by	United States Department of Homeland Security
Eligibility	United States Coast Guardsmen
Status	Currently awarded
Established	4 August 1949
First awarded	1961
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)	Department of Defense: Defense Distinguished Service Medal Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Equivalent	Army: Distinguished Service Medal Naval Service: Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air and Space Forces: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)	Silver Star Medal

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal (CGDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Coast Guard that was established 4 August 1949 and is presented to coast guardsmen for "Exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility."^[1][2] Prior to this date, members of the Coast Guard were eligible to receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. The Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, which replaced the Transportation Distinguished Service Medal in 2002, is another higher precedence Distinguished Service Medal that may be awarded to Coast Guardsmen.^[3] The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Army's Army Distinguished Service Medal, Naval Service's Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air and Space Forces' Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.