R 191243Z SEP 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 476/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PA//
SUBJ/2013 USO LEADERSHIP AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT AND SOLICITATION//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/31 U.S.C. 1353/YMD:20120103//
REF/B/MSGID: DOC/SECDEF MEMO/YMD:20130516//
REF/C/MSGID: DOC/USECDEF(C) MEMO/YMD:20130523//
NARR/REF// A IS 31 U.S.C. 1353, "ACCEPTANCE OF TRAVEL AND TRAVEL RELATED EXPENSES FROM NON-FEDERAL SOURCES".   REF B IS SECDEF MEMO, "WAIVER OF APPLICATION OF THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT PROHIBITION ON ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL, E-6 AND BELOW, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF GIFT ACCEPTANCE FROM CHARITABLE AND VETERANS SERVICE TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION." REF C IS THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (COMPTROLLER) MEMO, "ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR HANDLING BUDGETARY UNCERTAINTY IN FISCAL YEAR 2013"/HQMC(PA) POC/CPL VERNAZA, T.C./TEL:(703)614-1034//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO ANNOUNCE AND SOLICIT NOMINATIONS FOR THE UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATION (USO) GEORGE VAN CLEAVE MILITARY LEADERSHIP AWARD.
2. THE GEORGE VAN CLEAVE MILITARY LEADERSHIP AWARD IS THE USO'S WAY OF PUBLICLY HONORING AND THANKING THE OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SHOWN EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION TO OUR COUNTRY. REFLECTING THE ENDURING LEGACY OF OUR MILITARY AND MISSION OF THE USO, THE AWARD WILL BE GIVEN TO ONE INDIVIDUAL IN EACH BRANCH OF SERVICE WHO, THROUGH SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO OUR COUNTRY, INSPIRES OTHERS AND UPLIFTS THE SPIRITS OF COMRADES, FAMILIES, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE AWARD WILL OFFICIALLY BE PRESENTED AT THE 52ND USO ARMED FORCES GALA AND GOLD MEDAL DINNER 11 DEC 2013 AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NY.
2.A. THE AWARD RECOGNIZES ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY WHO:
2.A.1. HAVE DEMONSTRATED BRAVERY AND LEADERSHIP IN THE COURSE OF THEIR SERVICE.
2.A.2. OFFER OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AND COMFORT TO THOSE WITH WHOM THEY SERVE.
2.A.3. ENHANCE MORALE AND PERSONAL WELFARE OF OTHERS.
2.A.4. THROUGH THEIR MENTORSHIP, INSPIRE OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS.
2.B. NOMINEES SHOULD BE E-6 AND BELOW OR JUNIOR OFFICERS O-3 AND BELOW AND BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK CITY 9-11 DEC 2013 TO RECEIVE THE AWARD AT THE USO ARMED FORCES GALA AND GOLD MEDAL DINNER.
2.C. NOMINATIONS SHOULD BE IN A PERSONAL LETTER FORMAT AND CONTAIN 500 WORDS OR LESS. NOMINATIONS SHOULD HIGHLIGHT ANY RECENT DEPLOYMENTS OR ACHIEVEMENTS AND HOW THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS BENEFITED THE MILITARY OR CIVILIAN COMMUNITY. SUBMISSIONS MUST INCLUDE A PHOTO OF THE SERVICE MEMBER IN UNIFORM AND A BIOGRAPHY DETAILING SERVICE TO DATE. SUBMIT NOMINATIONS ELECTRONICALLY TO RAY KENNEDY, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AT RKENNEDY(AT)USONYC.ORG.
2.D. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE GEORGE VAN CLEAVE MILITARY LEADERSHIP AWARD IS 11 OCT 13.
3. LOGISTICS AND EXPENDITURES. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REFERENCES, THE USO WILL PROVIDE LODGING AND MEALS AT THE EVENTS. TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE EVENTS MUST BE COVERED BY THE AWARD RECIPIENTS. ANY ADDITIONAL ACCOMPANYING GUESTS WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THE USO.  USING THIS MESSAGE AS A REFERENCE, COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ISSUE PTAD ORDERS SO AWARD RECIPIENTS MAY ATTEND THE CONVENTION. SPECIFIC COORDINATING DETAILS, TO INCLUDE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS, WILL BE SENT TO THE AWARD RECIPIENT BY THE USO FOLLOWING THE SELECTION PROCESS. UNITS OF MARINES RECEIVING AN AWARD AND SENDING THE AWARD RECIPIENT PTAD ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING WITH THEIR LOCAL SJA TO PROCESS THE TRAVEL BENEFITS GIFTED FROM THE USO TO THE U.S. MARINE CORPS AND THE INDIVIDUAL AWARD RECIPIENT. FOR ADDITIONAL LOGISTICS INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, CONTACT MR. RAY KENNEDY OF THE USO AT TEL: (212) 695-5590 EXTENSION 228 OR VIA EMAIL: RKENNEDY(AT)USONYC.ORG.
4. AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE REMINDED THAT IF THE VALUE OF THE TRAVEL BENEFITS RECEIVED FROM THE USO EXCEEDS 250 DOLLARS, AWARD RECIPIENTS MUST REPORT ACCEPTANCE UPON COMPLETION OF THE TRAVEL TO THEIR LOCAL SJA. THE LOCAL SJA MUST, IN TURN, REPORT THIS INFORMATION TO HQMC JUDGE ADVOCATE DIVISION'S CODE JAR FOR SEMI-ANNUAL DOD REPORTING PURPOSES. SF 326 IS AUTHORIZED FOR USE FOR THIS REPORT.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN (SEL) T. V. WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HQMC.//