CY2025 Marine Corps Music Awards Program Recipients
The list of winners selected by a January 2026 board for the 2025 Marine Corps Music Awards Program. Includes one Reserve Band recipient (Marine Musician of the Year) and one active-component recipient (SNCO Musician of the Year).
This is a routine update — a name list, a set of results, or a recurring notice. There is nothing here to translate into plain English, so the official text is reproduced in full below. Read it on marines.mil
Official text
R 202115Z FEB 26 MARADMIN 057/26 MSGID/MARADMIN/CMC CD WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/CY2025 MARINE CORPS MUSIC AWARDS PROGRAM RECIPIENTS// REF/A/DOC/MCO 1650.57A// REF/B/DOC/NAVMC 3500.28D// NARR/REF A IS THE MARINE CORPS MUSIC AWARDS PROGRAM. REF B IS THE MUSIC TRAINING AND READINESS MANUAL// POC/STANLEY, JAMES/MGYSGT/HQMC CD, FLEET MARINE BAND PROGRAM/ 703-614-4308/JAMES.M.STANLEY@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. During January 2026, a board reviewed 24 nominations spanning two award categories listed within reference (a). Amongst a field of highly qualified and truly outstanding nominees, the Director of Communication takes pleasure in congratulating the following recipients of the 2025 Marine Corps Music Awards Program. 1.a. Marine Musician of the Year: Sgt Justin A. Napier, Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band. 1.b. SNCO Musician of the Year: SSgt Jazz M. Vu, 2nd Marine Division Band. 2. Award recipients will be recognized by awards mailed out per ref (a). Commanders are encouraged to present the awards at an appropriate ceremony. 3. Release authorized by Col John O. Caldwell, Director of Communication, Communication Directorate.//
Resources & references
The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.
- Marine Corps Music Awards Program (MCO 1650.57A)Reference
This order governs the Marine Corps Music Awards Program, including award categories, nomination processes, and how awards are presented. It is the primary authority referenced for how this year's recipients were selected and recognized.
- Music Training and Readiness Manual (NAVMC 3500.28D)Reference
This manual covers training and readiness standards for Marine musicians. It provides the framework within which Marine bands and their members are evaluated and developed.