The New Zealand Defence Service Medal recognises 160,000 New Zealanders who have served in the Defence Force since World War 2.
Non-operational military service, compulsory military training and national service, have not been recognised with a medal before.
Jim Gillies (72), who did his six weeks' compulsory military training in 1957 and was on the active list between 1960 and 1966, ready to answer the call to duty, says the medals have been a long time coming.
"We signed allegiance to the Queen. We were ready to put our lives on the line for Queen and country."
Mr Gillies is among the first Otago ex-servicemen and women to receive the medal and says he is "very pleased".
Ministry of Defence officials said they could not tell how many other Otago people had already received a medal, but they had received more than 7000 applications from across the country since applications opened in March, and already dispatched 2000 medals.
Mr Gillies said his medal came in the post on Tuesday, May 31, but he will not wear it until he is officially presented with it, at a ceremony to be organised later this year, at Karitane or Waikouaiti.
Because 160,000 people are eligible for the medals, the ministry has staggered applications according to age.
Applications are currently open only to ex-servicemen or women who are over 70 or are terminally ill.
Officials expect it will take at least three years to work through all the applications they are expecting.
Mr Gillies said he and organiser, fellow veteran David Ellison, hoped to raise enough funds to hold a ceremony later this year, so those who had so far received the medal could be officially presented with it.
Younger veterans will have to wait a little longer before applying for the medal. Further calls for applications, from those aged 60 and over, will be made later this year.
The NZ Defence Service Medal is open to personnel who served at least three years in the Defence Force, more than 12 months in J Force or K Force, or shorter periods of time in deserving circumstances.
Family members of deceased servicemen or women who qualify can also apply for the medal.
