[2] To qualify for this award, an individual must have demonstrated exceptional courage or made significant sacrifices involving heroism or bravery.

The award is reserved for acknowledging singular acts of heroism or bravery and is not conferred for participation in conflicts with an armed enemy.

The situation must have entailed personal risk or danger and a voluntary willingness to put one's life in jeopardy.

These are two of the four U.S. awards that are authorized a neck ribbon, the other ones being the commander-degree Legion of Merit and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

[1][4] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army.