R 131406Z NOV 20
MARADMIN 680/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF CY 2020 SERGEANT CLYDE A. THOMASON MARINE SPECIAL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD//
REF/A/DOC/MCO 1650.60/YMD: 20180930//
REF/B/MSG/CMC/261405ZSEP13//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1650.60 MARINE CORPS GROUND AWARDS PROGRAM.
REF B IS MARADMIN 498/13, OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF) PHOTOGRAPH GUIDANCE.//
POC/J.L. SMITH/MAJ/UNIT: PPO PO-SOD/-/TEL: COMM (703)571-1057/EMAIL: JASON.SMITH(AT)USMC.MIL//
POC/A.J. GUISAO/MGYSGT/UNIT: PPO PO-SOD/-/TEL: COMM (571) 256-9830/EMAIL:ANTHONY.GUISAO@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation: This MARADMIN announces the 2020 Sergeant Clyde A. Thomason Marine Special Operator of the Year Award Selection Board and solicits nominations from within United States Marine 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 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 within 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 2020.  Actions included in each nomination must have occurred during CY 2020.
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 1 March of 2021.  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 point of contact indicated in this message. 
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 message.
5.b. Direct all questions regarding this MARADMIN to point of contact listed above.
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Peter D. Huntley, Director, Operations Division, PP&O.//