Editing Canadian Forces' Decoration (section)

{{short description|Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Armed Forces}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox military award
| name = Canadian Forces' Decoration
| image =
| image_size = 140px
| caption = 
| presenter = The [[Monarchy of Canada|Monarch of Canada]]
| type = Long service and good conduct medal
| eligibility = Members of the Canadian Forces
| awarded_for = 12 years service with the Regular or Reserve forces
| status = Currently awarded
| description = 
| clasps = Bars awarded for every 10 years thereafter
| post-nominals = CD
| established = 15 December 1949
| firstawarded = 7 June 1951
| lastawarded = 
| total_awarded = 
| total_awarded_posthumously = 
| total_recipients = 
| higher = {{ubl|[[Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal]] (Canada)|[[Special Constabulary Long Service Medal]] (UK)}}
| lower = {{ubl|[[Police Exemplary Service Medal]] (Canada)|[[Royal Observer Corps Medal]] (UK)}}
| individual = 
| same = 
| image2 = [[File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon.svg|90px]] – 12 years<br><br>
[[File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with one bar.svg|90px]] – 22 years<br><br>
[[File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with two bars.svg|90px]] – 32 years<br><br>
[[File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with three bars.svg|90px]] – 42 years<br><br>
[[File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with four bars.svg|90px]] – 52 years<br><br>
[[File:CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon with five bars.svg|90px]] – 62 years
| caption2 = [[Ribbon bar]]s and rosettes
}}

The '''Canadian Forces' Decoration''' ([[post-nominal letters]] "'''CD'''") is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions.<ref name=CFSite>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/chart-tableau-eng.asp?ref=CD|title=Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) – Canadian Honours Chart – Directorate of Honours and Recognition|publisher=Department of National Defence – Government of Canada|year=2008|access-date=24 June 2009|archive-date=21 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321011817/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/chc-tdh/chart-tableau-eng.asp?ref=CD|url-status=dead}}</ref> By convention, it is also given to the [[governor general of Canada]] upon their appointment, which includes the title of [[Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada]].<ref name=VACSite>{{cite web|url=http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group11/cfd|title=Efficiency and Long Service Decorations and Medals – Canadian Forces Decoration – CD|publisher=Veterans Affairs Canada|year=2001|access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref> The decoration is awarded to all ranks, who must have a good record of conduct during the final eight years of claimed service.<ref name=CFSite/>

The first governor general to receive the CD was [[Viscount Alexander of Tunis]] in 1951.<ref name=SystemBook>{{cite book|last=McCreery|first=Christopher|author-link=Christopher McCreery|title=The Canadian Honours System|publisher=[[Toronto]]: Dundurn Press|year=2005|isbn=9781550025545}}</ref> The medal was initially awarded to all members of the Royal Family who served in the Canadian Forces, even without completion of twelve years of service; this has, however, not been automatic since 1953.<ref name=SystemBook/>