The award was presented with certificates and payment by the Deputy Minister of National Defense and the Chief of the Border Troops of the GDR.

Around 13% of the recipients were graduates of the Stasi's University of the Ministry of State Security (German: Hochschule des Ministeriums für Staatssicherheit (MfS)).

There are known examples of this medal being presented to Stasi members in February (MfS anniversary) and June before the official July 1954 DGB ceremony.

In the center is a raised embossed three-line inscription: (German: “Für Vorbildlichen Grenzdienst”) For Exemplary Border Service.

The medal was worn on the left upper chest suspended from a woven 36 x 39 mm wide pentagonal shaped ribbon.

The design was changed, on the obverse in the center of the medal is a 1950s border guard holding binoculars in his hands and a machine gun slung across his chest.

Near the top rim is a semicircular inscription: (German: “Für Vorbildlichen Grenzdienst”) “For Exemplary Border Service”.

He felt the subject of the medal was a symbol which provided a historical link to progressive traditions at the time of the foundation of the Border Guards.