The ANAVETS Cadet Medal of Merit is presented annually to the cadet in each CLI course (total 31) in every Army Cadet Training Centre in Canada that is deemed to be the outstanding course cadet by a selection board at each ACTC. Nominees for the award are approved by NDHQ/Director Army Cadets and Dominion Command, ANAVETS. 

Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS), Canada's oldest Veterans Association, as a legacy to its desire to promote excellence and awareness of Canada's oldest youth movement, has established annual awards to be presented to outstanding Army Cadets.

The following criteria is used as a basis for selecting winners:

1. overall, outstanding achievement on his/her course;
2. leadership assessments; and
3. performance on physical fitness tests