The Good Service Medal, Silver, originally named the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Silver, is the middle member of a set of three military medals which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was initially awarded to members of all elements of the South African Defence Force for twenty years of exemplary service, but was restricted to Permanent Force personnel from 1993. The South African military The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Institution The Good Service Medal, Silver was instituted by the State President on 1 July 1975 and was named the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Silver, until 1993. The medal is the middle member of a set of three military medals for good service, along with the Good Service Medal, Gold for thirty years of good service and the Good Service Medal, Bronze for ten. Award criteria The medal was initially awarded to Permanent Force, Citizen Force and Commando members of the South African Defence Force for twenty years of good service, but was restricted to Permanent Force personnel from 1993 and renamed. Order of wear The position of the Good Service Medal, Silver in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force in 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted on 27 April 2003. Its position remained unchanged upon the latter two occasions. South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994 Official SADF order of precedence: Preceded by the Cadet Corps Medal. Succeeded by the Union Medal. Official national order of precedence: Preceded by the Cadet Corps Medal. Succeeded by the Police Star for Faithful Service. South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994 Official SANDF order of precedence: Preceded by the Cadet Corps Medal of the Republic of South Africa. Succeeded by the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver of the