Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the grade of lieutenant commander or major and junior thereto, for service performed on or after 1 May 1961. The award may be authorized for meritorious service or achievement in a combat or non-combat situation, based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature, and shall be of such merit as to warrant more tangible recognition than is possible by a fitness report or performance evaluation, but which does not warrant a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.