For more than forty years the Society has supported Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps units through its Military Awards Program. The War of 1812 Award of Merit, a certificate and a ribbon bar to wear on the uniform, is presented to a sophomore cadet or midshipman. The award is approved by all three United States military departments.

Who it is for

The cadet is chosen by the Unit Commander, personally. The recipient is the sophomore cadet or midshipman displaying the highest level of leadership and patriotism, with a demonstrated aptitude to successfully lead their peers and subordinates. The academic standard is a grade point average in the top 20% of their institution’s class ranking, and the top 10% of their ROTC academic studies.

Nominating a cadet

The unit asks, not the cadet. Tell us the institution, the service, the cadet’s name as it should be written, and the date of the awards ceremony, and the Society will arrange the certificate and the ribbon bar. A member of the Society will attend to make the presentation where that can be managed, and where it cannot, the award is sent to the unit.

Please ask as early as you can. Several weeks of notice gives us the best chance of having somebody there in person.

Cadets recognized

2026

5 cadets.

• Gavin Simurdiak Johns Hopkins University
• John Wolfe McDaniel College
• Benjamen Lubanga Hood College
• Francis Snyder Mount St. Mary's University
• Lukas Brandt University of Maryland