ANNOUNCEMENT OF CY 2018 SERGEANT CLYDE A. THOMASON MARINE SPECIAL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Date Signed: 12/17/2018 | MARADMINS Number: 703/18
MARADMINS : 703/18
R 150715Z DEC 18
MARADMIN 703/18
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF CY 2018 SERGEANT CLYDE A. THOMASON MARINE SPECIAL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD//
REF/A/DOC/MCO 1650.54/YMD: 20101206//
REF/B/MSG/CMC/261405ZSEP13//
REF A IS MCO 1650.54 MARSOC CRITICAL SKILLS OPERATOR (CSO) OF THE YEAR AWARD.  REF B IS MARADMIN 498/13, OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF) PHOTOGRAPH GUIDANCE.//
POC/C.W. JOHNS/MAJ/UNIT: PPO PO-SOD/-/TEL: COMM (703)571-1057/EMAIL: COLE.JOHNS@USMC.MIL//
POC/J.I. DAVIES/MSGT/UNIT: PPO PO-SOD/-/TEL: COMM (571) 256-9830/EMAIL: JAMES.DAVIES@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation:  This MARADMIN announces the 2018 Sergeant Clyde A. Thomason Marine Special Operator of the year award selection board and solicits nominations from within United States Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command per ref a.  The Thomason award is an award presented annually in memory of sergeant Clyde A.Thomason, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action on Makin Island, 1942. The Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command will convene a board to recommend a nominee to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC).
2.  Mission:
2.a.  Per ref (a), commanders will use the following criteria to submit nominations:
2.a.1.  Nominees must be marines serving on active duty as a marsoc critical skills operator (CSO) during the period of eligibility.
2.a.2.  Previous recipients are ineligible to be re-nominated.  Marines previously nominated but not selected are eligible for subsequent nominations if they still meet all award criteria.
2.a.3.  Nominations may be submitted posthumously, provided the marine nominated would meet all eligibility and award criteria in para (3) of ref (a).
2.a.4.  Nominees should be recognized by seniors, contemporaries, and subordinates
As a marine who has made a significant contribution to the command during the past year and epitomized the quintessential cso.
2.a.5.  Nominees must clearly and dramatically demonstrate the ideals of courage ,resourcefulness, perseverance, and concern for the well-being of the special operations community, our corps, and their fellow marines.
2.a.6.  Nominees must exhibit qualities that have made an outstanding contribution to the development of esprit de corps, tactical and technical competence, and loyalty within the special operation forces community.
2.a.7.  Nominees, through personal example, must set the standards that all other csos seek to emulate.
2.a.8.  The award period covers cy 2018.  Actions included in each nomination must have occurred during cy 2018.
3.  Execution:  COMMARFORSOC will accept nominations from across the component and convene a board to select nominees using the eligibility and award criteria stated above, and specified in ref(a).  COMMARFORSOC will submit the names of all nominees chosen by the board, to include the recommended award recipient to DC, PP&O (PO-SOD) no later than 15 February 2019.  Nominations will consist of the Following:
3.a.  Official photograph iaw ref (b).
3.b.  Biographical information of the nominee.
3.c.  Summary of performance supporting the nominee's qualifications for the award.
4.  Administration and logistics:
4.a.  CMC will select the winner.  The packages submitted to CMC will include the nominee's unit address, point of contact, phone number (comm and dsn) and unclassified email address.  The packages shall be sent electronically via unclassified email to the pocs indicated in this message.  Faxed submissions will not be accepted.
4.b.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps reserve.
5.  Command and signal:
5.a.  Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this msg.
5.b.  Direct all questions regarding this MARADMIN to the pocs listed above.
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Stephen E. Liszewski, Director Of Operations, Plans, Policies, And Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.//