The Marine Corps League (MCL) is soliciting nominations for its six annual enlisted awards, recognizing exceptional performance by active duty and reserve enlisted Marines and Sailors during calendar year 2025. One award is reserved specifically for enlisted reservists. Nominations go through the chain of command and must be endorsed by the first General Officer in the nominee's chain. The hard deadline is 15 June 2026, and the MCL will grant no exceptions.
Heads up: Reserve unit leaders should identify nominees now. June 15 is a hard cutoff with zero extensions.
Who it affects
All enlisted Marines and Sailors are eligible for most awards. The award most directly relevant to reservists is the Marine Corps Reservist of the Year Award, open to any enlisted reservist who made an outstanding contribution to combat readiness in 2025.
IMA nominees must be submitted through their operational sponsor. Reservists assigned to MARFORRES units submit through their chain of command to MARFORRES.
The six awards are:
| Award | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| GySgt Carlos N. Hathcock II Award | Enlisted Marine, outstanding contribution to marksmanship training |
| SgtMaj Wilbur Bestwick Award | Enlisted Marine, Ground Combat Element, combat readiness contribution |
| Sgt Harry D. Myers Award | Enlisted Marine, Combat Service Support Element, combat readiness contribution |
| SgtMaj Frederick B. Douglass Award | Enlisted Marine, Aviation Combat Element, combat readiness contribution |
| CHC George William "Doc" Piercy Award | Navy Corpsman or dental technician, combat medical readiness contribution |
| Marine Corps Reservist of the Year | Enlisted reservist, combat readiness contribution while serving in the Reserve |
What you need to do
If you have a Marine (or are a Marine) who did something worth recognizing in 2025, put together a nomination package and route it now. Here is what the package requires:
- Command nomination letter in standard letter format with a brief justification narrative and the nominee's full name, rank, MOS, duty station, duty address, work email, work phone, time in service, unit where the contribution was made, and POC contact info.
- Nominee's biography (separate enclosure).
- Recommended citation, 250 words or fewer (separate enclosure).
- Signed Privacy Act consent statement from the nominee authorizing release of information.
- Endorsement from the first General Officer in the nominee's chain of command.
Send the complete package as PDF files via email to rbrooks@mcleague.org. Use this subject line format:
2025 Enlisted Awards Program [name of award category] ICO [rank and name]
A sample package is available on the MCL website. Incomplete packages or anything received after the deadline will not be considered.
Key dates
- 15 June 2026: Hard deadline for all nomination packages. No extensions, no exceptions.
- Contributions recognized must have occurred during calendar year 2025.
The official version
POC: Rob Brooks, MCL National Director of Events. Tel: 703-207-9588 ext. 150. Email: rbrooks@mcleague.org
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.