R 192056Z NOV 24
MARADMIN 557/24
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PO WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2024 
SERGEANT CLYDE A. THOMASON MARINE 
SPECIAL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR SELECTION BOARD//
REF/A/DOC/MCO 1650.60/YMD: 20180930//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1650.60 MARINE CORPS GROUND AWARDS 
PROGRAM.//
POC/E.A. BENSON/CIV/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL: (703)-692-4303/ 
EMAIL: EUGENE.A.BENSON@USMC.MIL//
POC/M.T.BRIDE/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL: (703)-692-4289/
EMAIL: MATT.BRIDE@USMC.MIL//
POC/M.D. MAROTTA/MGYSGT/UNIT: PPO POF (SOF)/-/
TEL: 703-697-2959/EMAIL: MATTHEW.MAROTTA.MIL@USMC.MIL//
POC/R.D. CRYMES/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF (SOF)/-/
TEL: 703-692-4320/ EMAIL: RYAN.D.CRYMES.MIL@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation:  This MARADMIN announces 
the 2024 Sergeant Clyde A. Thomason Marine Special 
Operator of the Year selection board and solicits 
nominations from within the 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 
(COMMARFORSOC) will convene a board to recommend a 
nominee to The Commandant of The Marine Corps (CMC).
2.  Mission:
2.a.  IAW 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 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 Operations Forces community.
2.a.7.  Nominees, through personal example, must set the 
standards that all other CSOs seek to emulate. 
2.a.8.  Actions included in each nomination must have 
occurred within the period of eligibility 
(January-December 2024).
3.  Execution:  COMMARFORSOC will accept nominations from 
across the Service and Joint Force (where Marine Critical 
Skills Operators may be serving) 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, 
including the recommended award recipient to DC, PP&O  
(POF) no later than 28 February of 2025.  Nominations 
will consist of the following:
3.a.  Biographical information of the nominee.
3.b.  Summary of performance supporting the nominee's 
qualifications for the award.
4.  Administration and logistics:
4.a.  DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination 
packages.  The packages submitted 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 POC’s indicated in this message.  
4.a.1. Mailing address for nomination packages is: 
Commandant of the Marine Corps, HQMC PP&O (POF) 
(Room 4A480), (Attn: Mr. Gene Benson), 3000 Marine Corps 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20350-3000.
4.a.2.  Nomination packages submitted via email must be 
sent to all message POCS listed above. 
4.a.2.a.  Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure entire 
package is legible after scanning.  
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 
POC’s listed above.
6.  Release authorized by MajGen Jason L. Morris, 
Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and 
Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.//