The President's News Conference
03/12/1976
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
Excellence has its own reward, not only to those who strive for it but also to the free society which encourages it.
I urge them to continue their good work.
Funds appropriated to the President for carrying out the Act shall be deemed to be allocated to the Secretary of Defense...
Enlisted personnel received $1,104,328 in awards, which represents 82 percent of the total cash awards paid.