R 041441Z SEP 25
MARADMIN 418/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA RA//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2025 (FY25) RESERVE AFFAIRS ACTIVE RESERVE (AR)
CAREER COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR AWARD//
REF/A/MSGID:  DOC/CMC/YMD:  20200626//
REF/B/MSGID:  DOC/CMC/YMD:  20120614//
REF/C/MSGID:  DOC/CMC/YMD:  20160310//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 1040R.31, THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE ENLISTED
RETENTION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  REFERENCE B IS MCO
P1400.32D, MARINE CORPS PROMOTION MANUAL, VOLUME 2, ENLISTED
PROMOTIONS.  REFERENCE C IS THE MCATS APPROVAL FROM MMPR ESTABLISHING
A MERITORIOUS PROMOTION ALLOCATION FOR THE ACTIVE RESERVE CAREER
PLANNER OF THE YEAR.//
POC/J. C. WILLIAMS/MGYSGT/RESERVE AFFAIRS/TEL:  703-784-9669/EMAIL:
JAMES.C.WILLIAMS7@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This MARADMIN coordinates the
submission of nominations for the FY25 AR Career Counselor of the
Year Award.
2.  Background.  Reference (a) established the subject award to 
provide recognition for performance that reflects exceptional 
leadership, management and organization skills, devotion to duty, 
and initiative in support of maintaining a quality enlisted career 
force.  Marines nominated for the AR Career Counselor of the Year 
Award should have displayed a consistently high level of performance
that significantly and positively impacted mission accomplishment.
3.  Reserve Affairs (RA) will convene the FY25 AR Career Counselor of
the Year Board at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, on or about 13 
November 2025.  Applications must be submitted to CMC RA prior to
2359 Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 31 October 2025.  Applications
must be submitted via email to SMB_RA_Retention@usmc.mil.  
Applications submitted after the established deadline will not be 
considered by the board.  Selection results will be published via 
MARADMIN.
4.  Nominations.  Nominations must be endorsed by the first
Commanding General in the Marine's command.
5.  Eligibility criteria.
5.a.  Must not have been previously awarded CMC Career Counselor of
the Year.
5.b.  Must be the rank of Sergeant or Staff Sergeant.
5.c.  Must hold the primary military occupational specialty 4821
and have served in a valid Company/Battalion/Squadron level Career
Counselor billet during the previous fiscal year.
5.d.  Must have undergone a staff assist visit inspection from a
major subordinate command Career Counselor or a Commanding General
Readiness Inspection and received a mission capable rating within the
previous 12 months.
5.e.  Must meet all reenlistment pre-requisites per reference (a).
5.f.  Must have a first class Physical Fitness Test and Combat
Fitness Test.
5.g.  Must be PME complete for grade.
5.h.  Must not be selected for promotion to the next higher grade.
6.  Submission requirements:
6.a.  Nomination letter from the Marine's command.
6.b.  AR Career Counselor of the Year checklist.
6.c.  AR Career Counselor of the Year data sheet.
6.d.  One page autobiography.
6.e.  Copy of pages 11, 12, 13, and Unit Punishment Book if
applicable.
6.f.  Copy of completed functional area checklist or staff assist
visit documents per paragraph 5.d.
6.g.  Only one submission from each Major Subordinate Command
will be forwarded to HQMC for consideration. 
7.  Examples of required documents are available for download via the
Total Force Retention System.
8.  Per reference (b), the AR Career Counselor of the Year will be
meritoriously promoted.
9.  The Marine selected as the AR Career Counselor of the Year will
receive a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal from the CMC.
10.  Commands will generate a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
Medal recommendation in the Headquarters Marine Corps Improved Awards
Processing System.  The first sentence of the Summary of Action (SOA)
will read, "Recipient for the 2025 AR Career Counselor of the Year."  
A complete copy of the award recommendation (1650, SOA, and citation)
will be included in the nomination package.
11.  The date and location for the Manpower & Reserve Affairs 
Professional Awards Dinner will be announced via SEPCOR.
12.  This MARADMIN is only applicable to Career Counselors serving on
the AR Program.
13.  Release authorized by Major General John F. Kelliher III, 
Director, Reserve Affairs Division.//