Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)

U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal
Type	Distinguished service medal
Awarded for	Distinguished themself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility.
Presented by	United States Department of the Army[1]
Eligibility	United States Army soldiers
Status	Currently awarded
Established	January 2, 1918
First awarded	January 12, 1918
Service ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)	Department of Defense: Defense Distinguished Service Medal Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Equivalent	Naval Service: Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air and Space Forces: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard: Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Public Health Service: Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
Next (lower)	Silver Star Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)^[2] is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must be such as to merit recognition for service that is clearly exceptional. The exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify an award of this decoration.

The Army's Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Naval Service's Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Air and Space Forces' Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal. Prior to the creation of the Air Force's Distinguished Service Medal in 1960, United States Air Force airmen were awarded the Army's Distinguished Service Medal.