The awardee is selected by, and the award is endowed by, a committee formed from the West Point Association of Graduates.
The reverse side carries the coat of arms of the Military Academy and the words "West Point" and "Duty, Honor, Country".
In addition to receiving the medal, the recipient's portrait and name are inscribed on a memorial in the Thayer Award Room in Taylor Hall,[1] the headquarters building of West Point.
Active-duty and retired American military servicemen or women are eligible for the award, but the majority are civilians who contributed to the US Government, the US Armed Forces, US national security or diplomacy, US civil rights or the enduring support of veterans in a positive way.
The recipient must be a US Citizen, must not be a United States Military Academy graduate, and must receive the award in person during a ceremony with the entire Corps of Cadets.