The Marine Corps and Navy are accepting nominations for the 2026 Expeditionary Warfare Excellence Awards (EWEA). The awards recognize Marines and Sailors who made a significant impact in expeditionary warfare and amphibious capabilities during calendar year 2025. Reserve component Marines are fully eligible. Winners will be announced via MARADMIN and recognized at the Marine Corps Association Combat Development Dinner on or around 20 August 2026.
Heads up: Nominations are due to the POC by 15 May 2026, routed through the first O-6 in the chain of command.
Who it affects
This is open to active and reserve component Marines and Navy personnel in the following categories:
| Award | Eligible Grades |
|---|---|
| Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare Officer of the Year | CWO3-CWO4, O3-O4 |
| Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare SNCO of the Year | E6-E8 |
| Navy Expeditionary Warfare Officer of the Year | CWO3-CWO4, O3-O4 |
| Navy Expeditionary Warfare Enlisted Sailor of the Year | E6-E8 |
The qualifying period is 1 January 2025 through 31 December 2025. The nominee must have served in an expeditionary warfare assignment during that window.
What you need to do
If you have a Marine who fits, build a package and route it through your chain of command. The first O-6 in the chain submits to the POC below.
The package is submitted by email (Word and PDF files, one of each per nominee) with the subject line formatted as:
Calendar Year 2025 EWEA ICO Rank/Name
Each package must include:
- Nomination letter from the first O-6 (minimum) in the chain of command.
- Unit POC name, phone, and email.
- Phone number and email for the nominee.
- Performance summary: qualifications, billet description, and significant contributions. Two pages max, 12-pitch Courier New.
- Biography of the nominee.
- Proposed citation, 10 typewritten lines max, 12-pitch Courier New.
CD&I will cover travel for the winner to attend the ceremony. Anyone else who wants to attend pays their own way.
POC: N.F. Adams, HQMC CD&I
- Comm:
(703) 784-6445 - DSN:
278-8575 - Email:
nolan.adams.ctr@usmc.mil
Key dates
- 1 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2025: Qualifying performance period.
- 15 May 2026: Nomination package deadline (received by POC).
- On or around 20 Aug 2026: EWEA ceremony, Marine Corps Association Combat Development Dinner.
The official version
See MARADMIN 099/26 for the full text. The program was established by a June 2020 decision paper referenced in the message.
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.