Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal ( DSSM ) is a senior American military decoration of the Department of Defense , awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who perform " superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility " . The decoration is most often presented to senior officers in the flag and general officer grades . The medal is presented in the name of the Secretary of Defense and was established by President Gerald R . Ford on February 6 , 1976 in . It is somewhat analogous to the Legion of Merit , albeit awarded for service in a " joint " duty capacity . Criteria . The Defense Superior Service Medal is awarded by the Secretary of Defense to members of the United States Armed Forces who have rendered superior meritorious service while serving in a position of great responsibility . This service must be as part of a joint activity . The award is generally for a period of time exceeding 12 months and encompassing an entire joint assignment . Service members assigned to or attached to a Joint Task Force as individuals , not members of a specific military service ' s unit , can be eligible for the DSSM . Members of service specific units are eligible for awards of personal decorations from their parent service . The Defense Superior Service Medal is specifically intended to recognize exceptionally superior service , and to honor an individual ’ s accomplishments over a sustained period . Joint or Department of Defense awards , including the Defense Superior Service Medal , may be awarded posthumously . Appearance . At the time of creation of the Defense Superior Service Medal it was decided that it would be obtained at the lowest possible cost and with as little effort as possible . For these reasons , and because it would rank just below the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for similar service , it was decided to use the same design as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal . The difference is that it is finished in silver rather than gold and the inscriptions on the reverse of the medal are appropriately modified . The medal is made of a silver colored metal with blue enamel , 1 7 / 8 inches ( 4 . 76 cm ) in height overall . The obverse depicts a silver American eagle superimposed over a medium blue pentagon . The eagle has outstretched wings , charged on its breast is the shield of the United States . In its talons are three crossed arrows in silver . The tips of the wings cover a surrounding arc of silver five - pointed stars encircling the top and sides of the pentagon , while the bottom is surrounded by a silver wreath encircling the base composed of a laurel branch on the left and an olive branch on the right . The reverse is plain except for the inscription at the top , " For Superior Service " . Below in the pentagon is the inscription " From The Secretary of Defense To " . The medal is suspended from a ribbon 1 3 / 8 inch ( 3 . 49 cm ) in width composed of the following vertical stripes : Golden Yellow 3 / 16 inch ( . 48 cm ) , Bluebird 1 / 4 inch ( . 64 cm ) , White 3 / 16 inch ( . 48 cm ) , Scarlet 1 / 8 inch ( . 32 cm ) , White 3 / 16 inch ( . 48 cm ) , Bluebird 1 / 4 inch ( . 64 cm ) Golden Yellow 3 / 16 inch ( . 48 cm ) . Subsequent awards of the Defense Superior Service Medal are denoted by oak leaf cluster s worn on the suspension and service ribbon s of the medal .