R 042107Z MAY 20
MARADMIN 273/20
MSGID/MARADMIN/CMC CD WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2020 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).//
POC/T.EDWARDS/SGT/COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE/TEL:703-614-1034/ EMAIL:TIFFANY.R.EDWARDS@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The purpose of this MARADMIN is to announce and solicit nominations for the 19th Annual American Legion Spirit of Service Award. Sponsored by the national headquarters of the American Legion, 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 Louisville, Kentucky 29 August to 3 September 2020.
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 (Attn: Communication Directorate) and 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 benefited from that service.  Volunteer service must be within calendar year 2019.  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 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.
5.  A sample nomination package is available via the Marine Corps website at:  https:/www.marines.mil/Community/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.  Due to COVID-19, photographs are not required in this year's nomination packages.
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) Friday, 28 August and depart Thursday, 3 September, 2020.
7.  Submissions. All nominations should be sent electronically via email to:  hqmc.comrel@usmc.mil using both portable document format with the following subject line:  '2020 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 1 Jun 2020.
9.  Logistics and expenditures. The American Legion will provide transportation to and from the national convention in Louisville, Kentucky 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 Mr. Nicholas Riffel of the American Legion via email:  nriffel@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 Colonel Ricardo Player, Director of Communication, HQMC.//