▁military ▁forces ▁into ▁the ▁South ▁African ▁National ▁Def ence ▁Force ▁( S AN DF ). ▁ ▁Institution ▁The ▁Star ▁for ▁Cons pic uous ▁Le ad ership , ▁post - nom inal ▁letters ▁S CL , ▁was ▁instit uted ▁by ▁the ▁President ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁It ▁is ▁the ▁junior ▁award ▁of ▁a ▁set ▁of ▁three ▁decor ations ▁for ▁bra very , ▁along ▁with ▁the ▁Gold ▁Star ▁for ▁Bra very ▁and ▁the ▁Bra very ▁Star ▁in ▁Silver . ▁ ▁The ▁Az an ian ▁People ' s ▁Liber ation ▁Army ' s ▁military ▁decor ations ▁and ▁med als ▁were ▁mode led ▁on ▁those ▁of ▁the ▁Republic ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁and ▁these ▁three ▁decor ations ▁are ▁the ▁approximate ▁equival ents ▁of , ▁respectively , ▁the ▁Honor is ▁Cru x ▁Gold , ▁the ▁Honor is ▁Cru x ▁( 1 9 7 5 ) ▁and ▁the ▁Pro ▁V irt ute ▁Dec oration . ▁ ▁Award ▁criteria ▁The ▁decor ation ▁could ▁be ▁awarded ▁to ▁veter an ▁cad res ▁of ▁the ▁Az an ian ▁People ' s ▁Liber ation ▁Army ▁for ▁distinguished ▁conduct ▁and ▁exception al ▁combat ▁leadership ▁during ▁the ▁" stru gg le ". ▁ ▁Order ▁of ▁wear ▁ ▁The ▁position ▁of ▁the ▁Star ▁for ▁Cons pic uous ▁Le ad ership ▁in ▁the ▁official ▁military ▁and ▁national ▁orders ▁of ▁preced ence ▁was ▁re vised ▁upon ▁the ▁institution ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁set ▁of ▁hon ours ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁but ▁it ▁remained ▁un changed . ▁