The number of NOESA medals a council may present each calendar year is based upon the number of Eagle Scouts certified by the national office during the previous calendar year.

[2] The NOESA was introduced during BSA's 100th Anniversary year with the first awards being made by the National Eagle Scout Association upon the recommendation of local council NESA Committees.

NESA's website list indicates that 67 current local councils have not presented any NOESAs through the first seven years of the program.

[5] The first recipient of the NOESA (Serial #1) is Phil Smith, who received his Eagle rank in 1949 in Pennsylvania.

Additionally, Larry A. Dale is the first (and to date only) to receive both awards in the same year, 2015.