R 071332Z JAN 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 007/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PA//
SUBJ/2012 USMC COMBAT CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION AND  DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS MERIT AWARDS COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT//
POC/ROBERT P. PIPER/GYSGT/UNIT:HQMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS/NAME:DIVPA PLANS /TEL:703-692-1879//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. BACKGROUND. THE ANNUAL U.S. MARINE CORPS COMBAT CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION AND DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS MERIT AWARDS PROGRAM, OPERATING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, RECOGNIZES MARINES AND OTHERS WHOSE PRINT AND BROADCAST JOURNALISM AND COMBAT CAMERA PRODUCTS PROMOTE THE MARINE CORPS AND DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN FURTHERING OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMMAND INFORMATION PROGRAM.
2. PURPOSE OF THIS MSG IS TO ANNOUNCE THE 2012 UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS COMBAT CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION AND DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS MERIT AWARDS PROGRAM.
3. THE INTENT OF THE COMPETITION IS TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC COMMUNICATORS WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMBAT CAMERA COMMUNITIES AND TO SELECT THE FIRST PLACE WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE DOD THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARDS PROGRAM, AT THE DEFENSE INFORMATION SCHOOL, FORT MEADE, MD.
4. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL ACTIVE DUTY MARINES, RESERVE MARINES ON ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE MARINES ATTENDING REGULAR DRILLS, AND MEMBERS OF MOBILIZATION TRAINING UNITS FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMBAT CAMERA. ALL ENTRANTS MUST BE OFFICIALLY ENGAGED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS FOR THE MARINE CORPS. SEE SOP GUIDELINES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ELIGIBILITY.
5. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO ARRIVE AT DIVPA IS 2359, 28 JANUARY 2013. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTEST GUIDELINES CONTAINED IN THE 2012 THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARDS PROGRAM SOP AND USMCCCA/DIVPA MERIT AWARD PROGRAM SOP LOCATED AT HTTPS:SLASHSLASHEHQMC.USMC.MIL/ORG/PA/MERIT/20AWARDS/MA2010.ASPX
6. ENTRANTS AND AUTHORITIES APPROVING ENTRIES SHALL VERIFY THE ABILITY TO LOG INTO HTTPS:SLASHSLASHEHQMC.USMC.MIL/ORG/PA/DEFAULT.ASPX AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO UPLOAD SUBMISSIONS.  THOSE FAILING TO VERIFY ACCOUNT ACCESS IN ADVANCE RISK DISQUALIFICATION. A WORKAROUND SOLUTION MAY BE APPROVED AS A LAST RESORT FOR FORWARD DEPLOYED UNITS WITH LIMITED ACCESS. USERS MUST LOG IN USING A COMMON ACCESS CARD AND MCEITS PROVIDED USER INFORMATION. ESTABLISHING A MCEITS ACCOUNT MAY TAKE UP TO 48 HOURS.  FOR ACCOUNT ASSISTANCE, E-MAIL ROBERT.PIPER AT USMC.MIL.
7. CONTACT POC FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION OF SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. IMPROPER SUBMISSIONS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED UNLESS FIXED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE DATE.
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN P.F. KENNEDY, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQMC.//