The Marine Corps Aviation Awards are presented annually to individuals and units that represent the best in Marine aviation during the awarding period.
Procedures for Award Submissions:
1. Determine criteria for each award by referring to MCO 1650.29H.
2. Review and comply with Submission Instructions found in MARADMIN 468/24.
3. Forward the award submission, with all enclosures, via the endorsing chain to the Deputy Commandant for Aviation (ACP) in accordance with the Submission Guidance found in MARADMIN 468/24.
Alfred A. Cunningham Award - Marine Aviator of the Year Robert Guy Robinson Award - Marine Naval Flight Officer of the Year James W. Frey Award - Marine Unmanned Aerial Systems Officer of the Year Earle Hattaway Award - Marine Aviation Ground Officer of the Year Robert F. Gibson Award - Marine Aviation Command and Control Officer of the Year Silver Hawk Award - Marine Aviator with earliest Designation Date Frank E. Petersen Award - Marine Flight Student of the Year Danny L. Radish Award - Marine Enlisted Aircrew of the Year Pioneer Award - Marine Enlisted Unmanned Aerial Systems Sensor Operator of the Year Willie D. Sproule Award - Aviation Maintenance Marine of the Year Kenneth W. Southcomb Award - Aviation Supply Marine of the Year Paul G. Vess Award - Avionics Marine of the Year Gaines B. Gilbert Award - Aviation Ordnance Marine of the Year Kenneth A. Innis Award - Aviation Command and Control Marine of the Year Jack W. Demmond Award - Aviation Ground Marine of the Year James E. Nicholson Award - Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Award James Maguire Award - Exceptional Achievement Michael A. Hough Acquisition Award - Acquisition Excellence in Marine Aviation Commandant Aviation Trophy for Superior Performance in Marine Aviation
01 January through 31 December 2024.
15 January 2025 at HQMC (ACP).
Documents
All award submissions (i.e. SOA, Bio, citation, unit history) shall be submitted in Courier New 12-point font, and standard sentence capitalization (NOT ALL CAPS).
No Adobe PDFs will be accepted except for the signed nomination letter and the signed endorsements that accompany a package.
Photographs – Due to follow on print publication requirements, photographs shall be submitted IAW the following guidelines.
Individual photographs shall be standard USMC command photo format (Service A with no border or text box).
All photographs shall be submitted as stand-alone high resolution digital “JPEG” files (NOT attached to a Word or PowerPoint file) and need to be a minimum size of 2400 pixels x 3000 pixels (portrait) or 3000 pixels by 2400 pixels (landscape).
Utilize very low compressed JPEG setting on camera (i.e. highest camera JPEG quality setting).
Do not resize or compress photographs for emailing purposes.
Recommend utilizing local COMMSTRAT IOT meet the above requirements.
*Photos for individual award nominations are a requirement for submissions to HQ USMC AVN only, all photo submission requirements from the squadron level to the MAG / Wing is at the discretion of the individual MAG / Wing.
Naming convention – Name all files IAW the below guidelines IOT facilitate HQMC boarding process.
Individual Awards (e.g. Cunningham - LtCol Gillette, VMFA-121, 3dMAW, SOA)
1. Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_Nomination.pdf
2. Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_SOA.pdf
3. Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_Bio.pdf
4. Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_Citation.docx
5. Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_POC Sheet.docx
6-9. Award - Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_PhotoX.jpg (e.g. PhotoCmd, Photo1, Photo2)
10. Award_Rank_LName_Unit_MAW_Photo Captions.docx
Unit Awards (e.g. CMC Trophy - VMFA-121, 1stMAW, SOA)
1. Award_Unit_MAW_Nomination.pdf
2. Award_Unit_MAW_SOA.pdf
3. Award_Unit_MAW_Unit History.pdf
4. Award_Unit_MAW_Citation.docx
5. Award_Unit_MAW_POC Sheet.docx
6-10. Award_Unit_MAW_PhotoX.jpg (e.g. Photo1, Photo2...Photo5)
11. Award_Unit_MAW_Insignia.jpg
12. Award_Unit_MAW_Photo Captions.docx
13. Award_Unit_MAW_Stat Sum.xlsx
All submissions (including deployed units) must be endorsed through their parent chain of command to the first General Officer prior to submission to HQMC AVN(ACP).
All nomination packages will be submitted to HQMC AVN via MS Teams. Access to the MCAA Submission Teams site will be granted by HQMC AVN (ACP).
Wing and equivalent MSC representatives will contact HQMC AVN (ACP) to request access to the MCAA MS Teams portal for submission.
AVN POC – LtCol Jason Stapleton, jason.stapleton@usmc.mil, 703-693-4108.
All nomination packages shall include the following documentation:
Nomination letter with signed endorsements in Adobe PDF.
Comprehensive Summary of Action(s), not to exceed two (2) pages.
Biography of individual, not to exceed one (1) page.
Proposed Citation, (landscape format) not to exceed 1250 characters.
POC Information
Unit Contact Information, to include
POC
Work phone number
Work email address
Nominee Contact Information, to include:
Work mailing addresses
Photographs:
One (1) color high-resolution digital, current official head shot photo of the nominee in the Service ”A” uniform (no border or text box). For deployed Marines, Service “C” or Marine Corps Combat Utilities may be worn.
Three (3) different color high-resolution digital photos of the nominee in the working environment.
A separate Word document must contain short captions for each photo as well as the photographer’s POC information (for publishing credit).
Comprehensive Summary of Action(s), not to exceed three (3) pages.
Unit history
Commanding Officer contact information, to include:
Five (5) different color high-resolution digital photos. Please include a variety of action shots of people, equipment, and aircraft.
A separate Word document must contain short captions appropriate to the unit’s mission for each photo as well as photographer’s POC information (for publishing credit).
A high resolution digital image of the squadron insignia.
Unit Statistical Summary, per enclosure 5 of MCO 1650.29H.
Eligibility for all awards is IAW MCO 1650.29H with the following updates/exceptions:
Robert M. Hanson – Add F-35B/C squadrons to eligibility. All VMFA squadrons, Regular or Reserve.
Frank E. Petersen - All Marine Flight Students (Post winging). See updated award info sheet located on website.
John I. Hudson – Add VMU Squadron of the Year award. All VMU squadrons, Regular or Reserve. See updated award info sheet on website.
Alfred A. Cunningham - Restricted to 75XX PMOS, Regular or Reserve
James W. Frey - Restricted to 73XX PMOS, Regular or Reserve
Pioneer Award - Any enlisted Marine Possessing the UAS MOS 7314 and NMOS 8022, Regular or Reserve
Overall
Late or incomplete submissions.
MSC lack of familiarity with submission requirements.
Poor write-ups (i.e., CertComm vice service level award quality).
Utilizing outdated templates/examples.
Submitted in pdf format vice word doc format.
Citations, SOAs, Biographies over character limit.
Incorrect naming convention.
Incorrect formatting.
Photos
Command photos with banners, borders, Marine/unit name.
Photos not print quality.
Photographer POC is unit POC vice actual photographer. The actual photographer will be crediting in publishing.
Incorrect number of photos (too few or many).
Captions and photos do not match.
Command Insignia
Unauthorized command insignia submitted.
Command insignia is web quality vice print quality.
Submitted in pdf or word format vice JPEG.
MCO 1650.29H
LtCol Jason Stapleton, ACP jason.stapleton@usmc.mil (703) 693-4108
Wing nominations/updates to HQ AVN - follow submission portal to upload award information.
Marine Corps Order 1650.29H - View HERE.
Wing Update Example - View HERE.
Q: Are photographs still a requirement for MCAA award submissions to HQ AVN?
A: Yes. In keeping with MARADMIN 491/20, photo submissions for MCAA award nominees are not used for selection purposes. Photos are used for follow on publication purposes for the final award winners.
Headquarters, Marine Corps Department of Aviation Aircrew Programs Branch 3000 Marine Corps Pentagon Room 5D514 Washington, DC 20350
Office: (703) 693-4108