Description of Cadet Awards



Superintendent's
Award for Excellence

 The insignia for the Superintendent's Award for Excellence is a gold star encircled by a gold wreath; it is presented to the top 5% of cadets in each class based on the Cadet Award Score*.


Superintendent's
Award for Achievement

 The insignia for the Superintendent's Award for Achievement is a gold wreath; it is presented to the next 15% of cadets in each class based on the Cadet Award Score*.


Distinguished
Cadet Award

 Distinguished Cadets are those cadets who demonstrate academic excellence by achieving a YQPA or CQPA greater than or equal to 3.67.  The insignia for a Distinguished Cadet is a gold star.  Distinguished Cadets must carry a full academic load (minimum of five academic courses per term), and have not received an F or NC grade (except for a NC in physical education for medical reasons) for courses taken during the Academy Year to which the award pertains.

Dean's List

 Cadets will be designated on the Dean.s List when their TQPA is greater than or equal to the standards approved by the Academic Board and published in the Redbook.  There is no insignia for Dean.s List cadets; however, an annotation of DEAN.S LIST is reflected on the academic transcript.


Commandant Award

 The Commandant.s Award is earned by cadets who demonstrate exceptionally outstanding performance in the Physical Program.  The Commandant.s Award, a rectangle with sword centered, will be worn only on the right leg of the Gym-Alpha shorts. 


Indoor Obstacle
Course Test Tab

 The Indoor Obstacle Course Test is designed to evaluate a cadet's muscular strength/endurance, agility, coordination, anaerobic power, dynamic balance, physical courage, and decision-making ability. The test is administered once annually to the upper three classes.  Plebes learn how to negotiate the test during PE 117 - Military Movement and must pass the IOCT as a course requirement.

The Indoor Obstacle Course includes 11 obstacles arranged in Hayes Gymnasium.  Cadets strive to complete all 11 obstacles in the shortest time possible and earn scale points based on their total time. To achieve a passing grade, each cadet must complete the course within a maximum period of time.  The test is graded (A - F) and a minimum grade of A- is required for a cadet to earn the tab.


Recondo Badge

 RECONDO Badge.  Competition for the RECONDO Badge occurs during Cadet Field Training (CFT).  The Commandant will set and publish the criteria for earning the award.  The badge is an upside-down, black and gold arrowhead with the letters USMA in black.  USCC will award the RECONDO badge during CFT.


USCC Patch

 The USCC patch is awarded to those individuals who prove themselves on
the fields of friendly strife.  Recipients of this award have excelled
and finished first in a brigade wide competition, whether individual,
team open, or intramurals."


Sandhurst Patch

 Awarded to cadets who are in the top 5 teams at the annual Sandhurst competition.
* NOTE:  The Superintendent's Award recognizes cadets who simultaneously achieve excellence in all programs (Academic, Military, and Physical).  It has two levels of recognition, both of which are based on demonstrated performance:  achievement and excellence.  Because high performance in each program is of equal value to earning the Superintendent.s Award, USMA applies equal weight to performance in the three programs.  Moreover, to ensure equal relevance of each program score, the Cadet Award Score is based on annual standardized program scores (μ = 2.8, σ = 0.4).  USMA uses the following formula, based on one.s performance in the previous Academy Year (AY) . 1 July thru 30 June . to identify recipients of the Superintendent.s Award:
 

Cadet Award Score (CAS) = .33(Y/APSSTD) + .33(Y/MPSSTD) + .33(Y/PPSSTD)

Eligibility for either level of the Superintendent.s Award requires the following additional criteria: 

  1. A cadet must rank in the top half of his or her class in the academic, military, and physical programs as measured by the Y/APS, Y/MPS, and Y/PPS.

  2. Academic Program: A cadet must carry a full academic load (minimum of five academic courses per term), and have not received a failure (F), or no-credit (NC) grade for courses taken during the Academy Year to which the award pertains.

  3. Military Program:  A cadet must not have received an F or NC on graded activities during the Academy Year to which the award pertains.

  4. Physical Program:  A cadet must not have received an F or NC on graded activities, e.g. Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT), or in the Athletic Participation (AP) score during the Academy Year to which the award pertains.  If on profile, a cadet must take a makeup APFT before the next scheduled For-Record APFT; moreover, a cadet on profile must make up a missed IOCT before the end of the Academy Year.

  5. General Disqualifying Criteria.  While a cadet must meet particular award standards to be eligible for the Superintendent.s Award, each must also meet a more general set of criteria.  A cadet is considered .flagged. and is ineligible for either level of the Superintendent.s Award, if he or she:

  •  has received a brigade-level or higher Article 10 disciplinary action during the Academic Year (1 July thru 30 June) for which the award is being presented,

  •  is found to have violated the Cadet Honor Code or is enrolled in the Honor Mentorship Program during the Academy Year for which the award is being presented,

  •  is found to have violated the principles of the Respect Program or is enrolled in the Respect Mentorship Program during the Academy Year for which the award is being presented,

  • is enrolled in the Cadet Body Composition Program at the time of presentation of the award,

  • is enrolled in the Commandant.s Physical Remediation Program at the time of presentation of the award; or

  • is  under a suspended separation at the time of presentation of the award.

Extracted from USMA Regulation 672-2

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