R 042026Z JUN 17
MARADMIN 279/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC OUSMCC WASHINGTON DC //
SUBJ/2017 AMERICAN LEGION SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD NOMINATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/MCO P1070.12K/YMD: 20000714//
REF/B/MSGID: MSG/MARADMIN 0003-09/060930ZJAN2009//
NARR/REF A IS THE MARINE CORPS INDIVIDUAL RECORDS ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (IRAM). REF B IS MARADMIN 0003-09 TRANSMISSION AND FILING OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF).//
POC/L.HITT/SGT/CMC WASHINGTON DC OMCC/TEL: 703-614-1034/EMAIL: LAIQA.HITT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The purpose of this MARADMIN is to announce and solicit nominations for the 16th Annual American Legion Spirit of Service Award. This award is presented annually to an enlisted service member (E-5 and below) from each of the military services for outstanding volunteer service performed off duty in their local community. The awards are presented during the American Legion's national convention which will take place in Reno, Nevada 19 – 23 August 2017.
2.  Nomination criteria. Nominations must be fully substantiated and reflect a careful and conscientious evaluation of the nominee. Each nomination package shall:
    A. Include all appropriate endorsements, to include, at a minimum, an endorsement from the first officer in the nominee's chain of command.
    B. Be addressed from the nominating unit to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Office U.S. of Marine Corps Communication (OUSMCC) via the chain of command.
    C. Include a statement that, if selected, the nominee will be available to receive the award at the American Legion's national convention.
    D. Cite specific examples of volunteer community service performed off duty and show how the community benefitted from that service. Volunteer service must be within calendar year 2016. Nominations must also reflect outstanding military performance.
3.  Nomination format. The nomination must be in standard letter format and include the following information:
    A. Nominee's full name, rank, military occupation specialty (MOS), current duty station, unit address, work phone number, home of record, and a work email address.
    B. A nomination justification section in paragraph or bullet format.
    C. Name and address of the unit in which nominee was serving when volunteer service was made.
    D. Name of unit officer in charge and his/her contact phone number and email address.
4.  Additional enclosures. In addition to the nomination letter and photograph, each submission must include the following as separate enclosures:
    A. Nominee's professional biography.
    B. A proposed citation in standard paragraph format to be read at the awards presentation if selected.
    C.A full-length photo of the nominee. The photo must be of high resolution quality, at least 300 dots per inch.  The prescribed uniform is Service 'C' with trousers/slacks.  For deployed Marines who do not have the Service 'C' uniform, uniform is utilities with left shoulder forward.  This is an official photo, and must adhere to the guidelines established in references A and B. Only an electronic version of the photograph is acceptable. Digital photos must be sent as separate files from the nomination package, preferably as a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) file. Commands are encouraged to utilize local combat camera services for photo production.
5.  A sample nomination package is available via the Marine Corps website at: http:(slash)(slash)www.marines.mil/Community-Relations/Community-Relations-Links/. Select sample packets, then the American Legion Spirit of Service link. Submissions which do not follow the above guidelines or are received after the deadline specified in paragraph 8 will not be considered.
6.  Upon completion of the selection process, the command and selected awardee will be notified by the American Legion. Additionally, a MARADMIN announcing the Marine Corps’ award recipient will be released. The award recipient should plan on arriving at the convention no later than (NLT) Saturday, 19 August and depart Wednesday, 23 August, 2017.
7.  Submissions. All nominations should be sent electronically via email to: hqmc.comrel@usmc.mil using both portable document format and JPEG files with the following subject line: "2017 American Legion Spirit of Service Awards Program in case of rank/name." Hard copy nominations will not be accepted.
8.  Deadline. Nomination packages must be received NLT 9 June 2017.
9.  Logistics and expenditures. The American Legion will provide transportation to and from the national convention in Reno, Nevada, within the continental United States, as well as accommodations and meals for the award recipient. Any additional accompanying guests will not be covered by the American Legion. Using this message as a reference, commands are encouraged to issue temporary additional duty orders so the award recipient may attend the convention. Specific coordinating details, to include travel arrangements and uniform requirements, will be sent to the award recipient by the American Legion following the selection process. For additional logistical details about this program, contact Ms. Debra Murrell of the American Legion at (317) 630-1253 or via email: dmurrell@legion.org.
10.  A written and signed, statement of consent by the nominee, authorizing release of information contained in the nomination, per the Privacy Act of 1974. The following statement is a sample of written consent: "I, rank/full name, do hereby authorize the release of all information enclosed in this nomination package to those persons involved in the selection process."
11.  Award recipients are reminded that if the value of the travel benefits received from the American Legion exceeds 250 dollars, award recipients must report acceptance upon completion of the travel to their local Staff Judge Advocate. Local SJA, in turn, must report this information to HQMC JA Division’s Code JAR for semi-annual DOD reporting purposes. Standard Form 326 is authorized for use for this report.
12.  Release authorized by Brigadier General James F. Glynn, Director, Office of U.S. Marine Corps Communication, HQMC.//