Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal

The Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1992, for award to all ranks for service commended by the Chief of the Ciskei Defence Force.

The Ciskei Defence Force
The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established upon that country's independence on 4 December 1981. With a population of only one million, the Ciskei Defence Force consisted of about 1,000 members. It was initially organized into two infantry battalions with one armoured personnel carrier and an air wing with five light aircraft and four helicopters.

The Fount of Honour for all Ciskei's military decorations and medals was the President of Ciskei.

The Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Ciskei Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The seven constituent military forces were:
 * The South African Defence Force (SADF).
 * The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) of the Republic of Transkei.
 * The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda.
 * The Ciskei Defence Force.
 * Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress.
 * The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress.

Award criteria
The Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal was instituted by the President in 1992 and was awarded to all ranks for service commended by the Chief of the Ciskei Defence Force.

Order of precedence
Since the Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces that came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date. The position of the Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1994 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again with the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.


 * Ciskei Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official CDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Pro Merito Decoration (PMD).
 * Succeeded by the Ciskei Defence Medal.


 * Ciskei official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Prisons Service Commendation Medal.
 * Succeeded by the Police Medal for Maintenance of Law and Order.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Transkei Defence Force Medal of the Republic of Transkei.
 * Succeeded by the Korea Medal of the Union of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Transkei Defence Force Medal of the Republic of Transkei.
 * Succeeded by the Korea Medal of the Union of South Africa.


 * South African National Defence Force from April 1996:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Merit Medal in Bronze (MMB) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Korea Medal of the Union of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Merit Medal in Bronze (MMB) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Korea Medal of the Union of South Africa.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (PB) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Korea Medal of the Union of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (PB) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Korea Medal of the Union of South Africa.

Description
The Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal is a medallion struck in bronze, 38 millimetres in diameter, displaying the eagle emblem of the Ciskei Defence Force framed inside a double circle that is inscribed "CHIEF C.D.F." at the top and "COMMENDATION" below.
 * Obverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 5 millimetres wide green band, a 2 millimetres wide red band, a 5 millimetres wide yellow band and a 3 millimetres wide light blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide white band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.