The "Meritorious Service Award" is awarded for "outstanding achievement or meritorious service rendered specifically on behalf of CAP." The regulations are quite clear that the simply performing one's normal duties very well will not automatically qualify a member for this award. Instead, the award is meant for "achievements and services which are clearly outstanding and unmistakably exceptional," though not worthy of the Distinguished Service Medal or the Exceptional Service Award. When the award is made to individuals who are part of an exceptionally successful group of CAP members, the regulation states that the Meritorious Service Award should be presented only to those members whose efforts were clearly integral to the success of the program. All nominations for this award must be approved by the region commander. Like the Exceptional Service Award, this award does not come with a full-sized medal. It consists of a ribbon and a certificate that accompanies the decoration. A miniature medal is available for senior members to wear on their mess dress uniforms.