R 211533Z SEP 16
MARADMIN 498/16
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC C4//
SUBJ/SOLICITATION FOR THE MARINE CORPS COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS PROGRAM FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2016//
REF/A/MCO/CMC/20140115//
NARR/REF A IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 1650.50A, MARINE CORPS COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS PROGRAM (MCCAP).//
POC/NATHAN D. FAUGHT/MAJ/HQMC C4 CS/EMAIL: NATHAN.FAUGHT(AT)USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-693-8818//
POC/JERRY E. PEACOCK/MAJ/HQMC C4 CS/EMAIL: JERRY.E.PEACOCK(AT)USMC.MIL/TEL: 571-256-8825//
POC/JEAN B. PIJEAU/MSGT/HQMC C4 CS/EMAIL: JEAN.PIJEAU.HA(AT)USMC.MIL/TEL: 571-256-8839//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation.  This MARADMIN announces the convening of the 2016 Communications Awards selection boards and solicits nominations from throughout the Marine Corps.  The Marine Corps Communications Awards Program (MCCAP) is administered by the Director, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4), and consists of six individual awards and one unit/organization award for communications and communications-electronics maintenance excellence.  The Director, C4 will convene a board of senior field grade officers, senior enlisted Marines, and civilian Marines as appropriate on 21 February 2017 to review nominations for final selection and announcement of winners.
2.  Mission.  Commands listed in table 1 of the reference will accept nomination packages from their subordinate commands and conduct a board to select and forward the best qualified packages based on the quantities outlined for each award category.  Each nomination package will be endorsed by the commanding general of the MARFOR as listed in table 1 of the reference.  All units within the National Capital Region that are not listed in table 1 of the reference, or do not fall under MCICOM, may submit nominations directly to HQMC (C4) POCs listed in this MARADMIN.
3.  Execution.
3.A.  Award Categories and Prerequisites.  Nomination packages shall be submitted to HQMC (C4/CS) NLT 15 February 2017 for the following award categories:
3.A.1.  Alfred M. Gray Trophy.  The Gray Trophy honors a Marine Corps Captain for outstanding leadership within the communications field.  Nominees must be Marine Captains with the military occupational specialty (MOS) 0602 or serving in an 0602 billet.  Nominees must have been on active duty in the Operating Forces (OPFOR), Supporting Establishment (SE) or Marine Corps Reserve during calendar year (CY) 2016.  Activated Reservists from the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR), Active Reserve (AR) or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) are eligible for the award based upon the time period they were on active duty.
3.A.2.  James Hamilton Information Technology (IT) Management Civilian of the Year Award.  The Hamilton Award recognizes a civilian Marine who performed special acts of noteworthy leadership and technological innovation to support their command in the area of IT.  Nominees must have been serving in one of the following target Office of Personnel Management General Service (GS)occupational series:  0390, 0391, 0392, 0394, 0850, 0854, 0855, 1410, 1411, 1412, 1550, 2203, 2204, 2210 or 2501 during CY 2016.  Non-appropriated fund and pilot pay band employees are eligible.  Contractors are not eligible.
3.A.3.  PFC Herbert A. Littleton Enlisted Communications Awards.  The Littleton Awards were created by the CMC in 2004 to honor both a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) and a Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) for operational communications excellence, and both an NCO and SNCO for electronics maintenance excellence.  Commands may submit both an NCO and SNCO nominee for each award category (communications excellence and maintenance excellence).  Nominees for the communications excellence awards must be Marine SNCOs or NCOs with the MOS 06xx or serving in 06xx billets.  Nominees for the electronics maintenance excellence awards must be Marine SNCOs or NCOs with the MOS 28xx or serving in a 28xx billet.  All nominees must have been on active duty in the OPFOR, SE or Marine Corps Reserve during CY 2016.  Activated reservists from the SMCR, AR or IRR are eligible for the award based upon the time period they were on active duty.
3.A.4.  LtCol Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit Award.  The Shea Award recognizes a communications or IT  unit or organization within the OPFOR or SE that has distinguished itself by making outstanding contributions to the development or advancement of concepts, doctrine, technology, or procedures that improve Marine Corps C4.  Units must also demonstrate continual resourcefulness and responsiveness while supporting the warfighter in a tactical, operational, or strategic environment.  Nominated units or organizations can be any communications battalion, squadron, company, platoon, detachment, branch, etc., within the OPFOR or SE, active or reserve.  The primary duties of the unit or organization must be communications or IT and nominee’s actions must have taken place in CY 2016.
3.B.  Evaluation Criteria.
3.B.1.  Actions included in each nomination must have occurred within the period of eligibility (January through December 2016).
3.B.2.  With the exception of the LtCol Kevin M. Shea Award, previous award winners are ineligible for the same award, but previous nominees remain eligible.
3.B.3.  Individual Marine nominees submitted for the Gray Trophy and Littleton Awards will be evaluated using the following categories:  C2 experience, leadership, performance, and support of the C4 community.  Format of the nomination package can be found in the reference.
3.B.4.  Individual civilian Marine nominees submitted for the Hamilton Award will be evaluated using the following categories:  leadership, technological innovation and support of their command in the area of IT.  Format of the nomination package can be found in the reference.
3.B.5.  All units/organizations submitted for the Shea Award will be evaluated using the following categories:  significant operations/accomplishments, contributions to the Marine Corps C4 community, readiness, esprit de corps, and resourcefulness or responsiveness while supporting the warfighter.  Format of the nomination package can be found in reference A.
4.  Administration and Logistics.
4.A.  HQMC (C4/CS) will process the nomination packages.  Packages may be submitted by mail or by email.  However, email is the preferred method of nomination submission.  Nomination packages must be received by HQMC (C4/CS) NLT 15 February 2017 to be considered for selection.
4.A.1.  Mailing address for nomination packages is:  Commandant of the Marine Corps, HQMC (C4/CS), (Attn: C4 Awards Board), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 3000 Marine Corps Pentagon, Room 1D247, Washington, DC 20350-3000.
4.A.2.  Nomination packages submitted by email must be sent to all POCs identified in this MARADMIN.
4.A.2.A.  Submit package as a .pdf file.  Ensure entire package is legible after scanning.
4.A.2.B.  Quality official photos should be submitted as a separate .jpg file.
4.B.  Award winners will be notified via MARADMIN in late February 2017.  Awards will be presented at the C4 Awards Dinner to be held on 20 April 2017.
5.  Command and Signal.
5.A.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
5.B.  Ensure widest dissemination of this MARADMIN.
5.C.  Questions regarding this MARADMIN should be directed to POCs identified in this MARADMIN.
6.  Release authorized by BGen D. A. Crall, Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computers, Chief Information Officer of the Marine Corps.//