It is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger", not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British armed forces and to British civilians.
它的授予条件是“最伟大英雄主义的行为或在极端危险的情况下最显著的勇气”， 不在敌人面前，不在英国武装部队和英国平民面前。