R 121641Z FEB 26
MARADMIN 044/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC L LP WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/SOLICITATION FOR THE MARINE CORPS ENGINEER ASSOCIATION (MCEA)
AWARDS PROGRAM FOR 2026//
REF/A/MSGID/DOC/MCO 1650.61 ADMIN CH//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1650.61 ADMIN CH, MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS AND
LOGISTICS AWARDS PROGRAM (MCILAP)//
POC/MGYSGT ELGE, FORREST S./UNIT: I AND L, LPE/TEL: 571-256-7159/
EMAIL: FORREST.ELGE@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. IAW the reference, the purpose of this message
is to solicit nominees for the 2026 annual MCEA Awards. The MCEA
Awards Program was established in 1995 to recognize the outstanding
Engineer achievements of individual Marines and Marine Corps and
Navy Units. There are a total of 24 award categories encompassing
all aspects of the Engineers, Utilities, Fuels and Explosive
Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Military Occupational Fields. The categories
are as follows:
SAME Senior Engineer Officer (CWO3-4,O4) (Note 1)
SAME Senior Engineer SNCO (E8) (Note 1)
Combat Engineer Officer (O1-O3)
Combat Engineer SNCO (E6-E7)
Combat Engineer NCO (E4-E5)
Combat Engineer Marine (E1-E3)
Engineer Equipment Officer (WO-CWO5)
Engineer Equipment SNCO (E6-E7)
Engineer Equipment NCO (E4-E5)
Engineer Equipment Marine (E1-E3)
Utilities Officer (WO-CWO5)
Utilities SNCO (E6-E7)
Utilities NCO (E4-E5)
Utilities Marine (E1-E3)
Expeditionary Fuel Officer (WO-CWO5) (Note 2)
Expeditionary Fuel SNCO (E6-E7) (Note 2)
Expeditionary Fuel NCO (E4-E5) (Note 2)
Expeditionary Fuel Marine (E1-E3) (Note 2)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer (WO-Capt)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (E5-E7)
Combat Engineer Battalion
Engineer Support Battalion
Marine Wing Support Squadron, Engineer Company
Naval Construction Force (NCF) Unit, Limited to Battalion size or
smaller organizations.
Note 1: This award category is sponsored by the Society of American
Military Engineers (SAME) for outstanding contributions to military
engineering by senior Engineers, Utilities, or Expeditionary Fuels
officer and SNCO.
Note 2: Tactical units only.
2. Selection of recipients will be made by an awards board comprised
of members from HQMC. Recommendations from the board will be
forwarded to DC, I&L for approval. All individual and unit awards
will be presented at the annual MCEA awards banquet to be held
at The Double Tree Hilton Sacremento, CA on 18 Sept 2026.
3. Action
3.A. Commands with personnel and/or organizations which meet the
criteria contained in the reference are encouraged to submit
nominations via the endorsing chain of command, ending with
endorsement by the first General Officer or Flag Officer in the
chain of command. No additional chain of command endorsements are
required or desired.
3.B. Nominations must be received by the POC no later than 30 April
2026. The award covers the period 1 April 2025 - 31 March 2026. All
commands anticipating submissions will provide Officer/SNCO POC info
to POC NLT 11 April 2026. Negative reports via email are required
NLT 25 April 2026. Due to the volume of award recommendations
received, late or incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Commands are to email complete packages, with attachments, to the
POC. No mailed copies are required or desired.
3.C. Individual award nominations shall consist of one file per
nominee in PDF format in the following order:
3.C.1. Chain of command endorsements, to include first General
Officer in chain of command.
3.C.2. A summary of action (SOA) not to exceed two pages.
3.C.3. Proposed citation (no fewer than 20 lines and no more than 30
lines).
3.C.4. Career Biography.
3.C.5. Command Photograph, (Uniform for the photograph is the
Service Alphas or service equivalent).
3.C.6. Personal data form (IAW format on MCEA website, awards page)
www.marcorengasn.org/fyi/awards-program.
3.C.7. Unit POC to include phone number and email address.
3.D. Organization award nomination packages shall consist of one
file per unit in PDF format:
3.D.1. Chain of command endorsements, to include first General
Officer in chain of command.
3.D.2. Unit chronology of events for award period, not to exceed
three pages.
3.D.3. Proposed citation (no fewer than 20 lines and no more than 30
lines).
3.D.4. Supporting documentation, shall include a complete copy of
the appropriate statistical summary (text only, no photo).
3.D.5. Personal data forms for Commanding Officer or Company
Commander and Senior Enlisted Advisor.
3.D.6. Unit POC to include phone number and email address.
3.D.7. Unit logo and if feasible, a unit photo (electronic)
3.E. Acts of valor recognized by military awards can also be
recognized by one or more of the engineer awards.
3.F. Each Marine Corps Major Command (Marine Division, Marine
Logistics Group, Marine Air Wing) may submit only one nomination for
each award category. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) may
submit up to three nominations for the NCF unit award. Supporting
Establishments may also submit one nomination for each individual
award.
3.G. Samples of individual and unit award citations can be found in
Reference A, Enclosure (4).
4. Responsibilities
4.A. DC, IL (LPE) is responsible for coordinating Marine Corps and
NECC participation in all engineer award selections and those
ceremonies conducted by the MCEA.
4.B. Local commanders are encouraged to recognize individual and
unit award recipients at appropriate local ceremonies.
5. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force.
6. Release authorized by MajGen A. M. Niebel, Assistant Deputy
Commandant, Installations and Logistics (LP).//