Back Medalla del Servei Distingit als Guardacostes Catalan Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal German Medalla por Servicio Distinguido de los Guardacostas Spanish Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal French מדליית השירות המצוין של משמר החופים HE Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal NB Medal Straży Wybrzeża za Wybitną Służbę Polish
| 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 |
 | |
| 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.
- ^ Armed Forces Information Service (1992). Armed Forces Decorations and Awards (PDF). Department of Defense. p. 6.
- ^ 14 U.S.C. § 2736
- ^ United States Coast Guard (15 August 2016). "Coast Guard Military Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25E" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 10 June 2020.