R 311743Z OCT 25
MARADMIN 523/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PO WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2025 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/J.S. EDWARDS/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL: (703)-692-4289/
EMAIL: JOSHUA.S.EDWARDS@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.  
1.a. This MARADMIN announces the 2025 Sergeant Clyde A. 
Thomason Marine Special Operator of the Year selection 
board and solicits nominations 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 Marine Raider 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.
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 Marine Raider.
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 Marine Raiders seek to emulate.
2.a.8. Actions included in each nomination must have
occurred within the period of eligibility
(January-December 2025).
3. Execution. 
3.a. COMMARFORSOC will accept nominations from across the 
Service and Joint Force (where Marine Raiders 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 27 
February of 2026.  Nominations will consist of the 
following:
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. DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination packages.
The packages submitted will include the nominee's unit
address, point of contact, and phone number
(Comm and DSN). The packages shall be sent electronically
via unclassified email to the POCs indicated in this
message.
4.a.1. Nomination packages submitted via email must be
sent to all message POCs listed above.
4.a.1.a. Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure the entire
package is legible after scanning.
4.b. This MARADMIN does not apply 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.//