This award is presented annually to the most outstanding cadet within their respective ROTC program.

As with other Department of the Army decorations, the award consists of a medal, ribbon, and lapel button with case, accompanied by DA Form 1773 ("Citation for the Superior Cadet Decoration Award") signed by the regimental commander on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

[3] To be awarded this decoration, a cadet must: The medal consists of a lamp, a sword, and a book.

The lamp denotes the pursuit of knowledge, higher learning, and partnership of Army ROTC with American colleges and universities.

For the JROTC version, the only difference in appearance of the two awards is an inverse of the red and blue colors on the ribbon portion of the medal.