National Chief Jeff Herrmann announced the original OA Personal Involvement Award at the 1979 NOAC. The program was specifically created to give incentives to Arrowmen to provide cheerful service at the unit level, the primary responsibility of each member.

Those that received the award in the first year received an award patch dated 1980. As an incentive for Arrowmen to earn the award, or to earn the award again and continue to build on a successful program, a second patch was made dated 1981.