Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 and is presented to sailors and marines to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service to the United States while serving in a duty or position of great responsibility.
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| Type | Distinguished service medal |
| Awarded for | Exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility |
| Presented by | United States Department of the Navy |
| Eligibility | United States Navy sailors and United States marines |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 4 February 1919 |
| First awarded | 13 March 1919 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Department of Defense: Defense Distinguished Service Medal Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal |
| Equivalent | Army: Distinguished Service Medal Air and Space Forces: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard: Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal |
| Next (lower) | Silver Star Medal |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal is equivalent to the Army's Distinguished Service Medal, Air and Space Forces' Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal. The Navy Distinguished Service Medal was originally senior to the Navy Cross, until August 1942 when the precedence of the two decorations was reversed. Currently, it is worn after the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and before the Silver Star Medal.