Staff Sgt. Craig Charloux, 1st Cavalry Division, said he and his wife Bobbi Jo were told they met the criteria. The criteria are fairly exacting. It usually requires acts of heroism and or social service to the nation.

The staff sergeant qualified for a moment in the spotlight with the first lady. Charloux sat next to Laura Bush Monday, appearing with both houses of Congress during President George W. Bush’s State of the Union Address.

The Charlouxs had a quick tour of Fort Myer and Arlington Cemetery Monday morning.

The tradition of honoring a noteworthy service member or civilian began in 1982, when President Ronald Reagan recognized Lenny Skutnik for jumping into the Potomac to save lives after an Air Florida jet crashed into the 14th Street Bridge.

It has since become a tradition for presidents to remember such brave individuals during the annual January speech. The cavalry scout garnered the honor the old fashioned way; he earned it on the mean streets and in the tangled triple canopy palm groves of Iraq.

Charloux led a squad for 14 months in Iraq. He led an air assault team, which found 171 TOW missiles, 1091 RPG rounds and 1236 recoilless rifles rounds during Operation Turki Bowl II last January.

The squad leader rescued a Soldier from a submerged Bradley. He led a team in September on a dismounted raid into the town of Baloor. The troop was ambushed and Charloux endured two blasts form grenades and suffered injuries to his arm, face, eyes and leg, yet he maneuvered his team into a secure position and requested medevac for the wounded Soldiers and himself.

The raid captured a large amount of weapons and killed eight al Qaeda operatives. These and other actions are what earned the staff sergeant a moment in the limelight.

Bobbi Jo Charloux leads a family readiness group and is part of a care team for families who lost a Soldier. She will watch the address at a White House reception.

‘‘It’s amazing,” she said. Their boy Stephen, 9, stayed home at Fort Hood, Texas. ‘‘He thought it was pretty neat. He was a little disappointed he couldn’t come.”

The natives of Bangor, Me., were making their first trip to Washington.

‘‘We’re so honored,” Charloux said. ‘‘They said we met the criteria. It’s all sort of surreal. I’m sure a little bit of butterflies will set in.”