Star of Gallantry

Infobox Military Award
name= Star of Gallantry


caption=Medal and ribbon
awarded_by= Australia
type= Military decoration.
eligibility= Members of theAustralian Defence Force (ADF)and others deemed eligible by the Minister for Defence
for= "Acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril" [ cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/star_gallantry.cfm |title=Star of Gallantry |accessdate=2007-09-12 |date=13 April 2007 |work=It's an Honour |publisher=Government of Australia ]
campaign=
status= Currently awarded.
description= A gold-plated silver Federation Star. The ribbon has a design of chevrons of light orange alternating with chevrons of deep orange angled at 60 degrees.
clasps=
established= 15 January 1991
first_award= 26 November 2006
last_award= 26 November 2006
total= 1
posthumous=
recipients=
individual=
higher=Victoria Cross
same=
lower= Medal for Gallantry
related=


caption2=

The Star of Gallantry (SG) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other persons recognised by the Defence Minister. It is awarded for acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril. It is the highest of the Military gallantry awards in the Australian Honours System and the 2nd highest military award overall, only surpassed by the Victoria Cross for Australia (VC) [http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/organisation/info_on/Medals/gallantry.htm] .

The SG was introduced on 15 January1991 replacing the Imperial equivalents, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Air and Naval) as second level awards to Other Ranks and ratings. The SG also replaced the Distinguished Service Order, in its role as an award to officers for gallantry. The SG has no rank requirements and all service personnel are eligible. The UK equivalent is the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) and the US equivalents are the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross.

Recipients of the Star of Gallantry are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "SG". Recipients of the award would normally be announced in the [http://www.publications.gov.au/index.php?gazettes Commonwealth of Australia Gazette ] . The only known recipient is yet to have his award gazetted - due to security considerations surrounding his ongoing service in the ADF.

Government allowance

The Government of Australia may grant an allowance to veterans or serving members of the Australian Defence Force who have been awarded the Star of Gallantry, or other awards for gallantry. At November 2007, this allowance was AUD$2.10 per fortnight. [ cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/vea1986261/s102.html |title=Veteran's Entitlements Act 1986 - Sect 102 |accessdate=2007-11-17 |work=Commonwealth Consolidated Acts |publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute ]

Description

* The Star of Gallantry is a gold-plated silver Federation Star ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward. The obverse displays a smaller Federation Star, which is surrounded by stylised flames. This image represents action under fire.
* The reverse shows a horizontal panel superimposed on a stepped background.
* The medal is suspended from a 32 millimetre-wide ribbon by a narrow bar, which is engraved with the words ‘For Gallantry’. The ribbon has a design of chevrons of light orange alternating with chevrons of deep orange angled at 60 degrees.

Recipients

On 26 November2006 a soldier identified only as [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=6168"Commando Sergeant A"] from 4RAR became the first recipient of the Star of Gallantry. "Sergeant A" was awarded the medal for his actions whilst assisting with the extraction of threatened coalition forces in Orūzgān Province, Afghanistan. [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=6168] The medal was presented by Governor General Michael Jeffery [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20824027-1702,00.html] . Many government websites list no recipients for the Star of Gallantry as the award to Sergeant 'A' has not yet been gazetted.

References

External links

* [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/star_gallantry.cfm It's an Honour]
* [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=6168 ADF Media Release]
* [http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1158/topstories/story02.htm Army Newspaper Article]