Mentioned in dispatches

To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.

In some countries, a service member's name must be mentioned in dispatches as a condition for receiving certain decorations.

Being mentioned in dispatches entitles a recipient to wear a small metallic device, but does not include an entitlement to post-nominals.