The Military Medal for Distinguished Services is a Portuguese military decoration awarded for outstanding and extraordinary military services or notable acts connected to the Navy, Army, or Air Force.
Originally established on October 2, 1863, by decree of the Secretary of State for War Affairs, the medal was initially named the Military Medal for Good Services. It was the second of three classes of the military medal at the time. Between 1863 and 1919, the Military Medal for Good Services (now Distinguished Services) was available in two classes: gold (MOBS / MOSD) and silver (MPBS / MPSD). By Decree No. 6093 of September 11, 1919, a bronze degree (MBBS / MBSD) was added to make the medal accessible to sergeants and enlisted men who were previously ineligible.
In 1946, through Decree No. 35667 of May 28, the medal was renamed the Military Medal for Distinguished Services and adopted the design it retains today.
The Distinguished Service Medal Grades
The Distinguished Service Medal is awarded in three degrees:
- Gold Grade (MOSD)
- Silver Grade (MPSD)
- Bronze Grade (MBSD)
The degree is granted based on the achievements and not the rank of the recipient.
When awarded for achievements in a military campaign, the Distinguished Service Medal is conferred with a palm:
- Gold with Palm (MOSD)
- Silver with Palm (MPSD)
- Bronze with Palm (MBSD)
The Distinguished Service Medal Design
The medal is circular and typically bears the national coat of arms on the obverse side, symbolizing the honor and service to the nation. Surrounding the emblem are inscriptions denoting the degree of the medal (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) and the purpose of the award. The reverse side may include the recipient’s name and the date of the award.
The medal is suspended from a ribbon whose color scheme may vary according to the degree. When awarded with a palm, the ribbon includes a palm leaf, indicating that the recipient’s actions were performed in the context of a military campaign. This addition highlights the exceptional nature of the recipient’s service in challenging and dangerous circumstances.
