Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal is a prestigious award of the United States for extraordinary merits and was created by the United States Congress. The decoration was created for the United States Air Force to have a counterpart to the Army Distinguished Service Medal of the army.

The medal is awarded mostly from the rank of Major General, while crossing into retirement sometimes even at lower ranks.

This award is settled in the Pyramid of Honor as the Distinguished Service Medals of the Ministry of Defense of the United States (Defense Distinguished Service Medal ), and the individual branches of the armed forces ( Navy, Army, Coast Guard and Homeland Security ), but under the merit crosses ( Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross).

One level below the Air Force Service Medal ranked the Silver Star.