The Marine Corps is accepting nominations for its FY26 Ground Safety Awards. These awards recognize commands and individuals who made meaningful contributions to safety and mishap prevention during the fiscal year. Strong nominees are automatically considered for Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Awards as well.
Heads up: Nomination packages must reach HQMC's Risk Management Directorate (RMD) Safety Division by 15 December 2026. Late, incomplete, or incorrect submissions will not be reviewed.
Who it affects
Anyone in a position to nominate, or be nominated for, safety contributions. There are four award categories:
- Warrior Preservation Award: Marine Corps installations with the most comprehensive safety management system.
- Marine Corps Safety Excellence Award: Individual award for one officer, one SNCO (GySgt and above), one junior enlisted (SSgt and below), and one civilian Marine whose primary duties are outside the safety field but who made a significant safety contribution.
- Marine Corps Safety Award: One command per population category (Groups I-IV) with the strongest safety management system.
- Marine Corps Civilian Safety Professional of the Year: A civilian government employee in the safety community who made outstanding contributions.
Reserve commands and IMAs can be nominated. If your unit has done real work on safety this year, this is the vehicle to get that recognized.
What you need to do
If you are submitting a nomination package, build it with these components in order:
- Narrative write-up per Volume 1, Chapter 5 of MCO 5100.29C w/ CH-1 (the Marine Corps Safety Management System order).
- Signed cover letter from the nominee's commanding officer, including endorsement of the award category and a command POC name and phone number.
- For individual nominees: one 8x10 color photo, high resolution, head and shoulders, service "A" uniform without cover. (This is for Ground Warrior Magazine only and will not affect selection.)
- Letter of endorsement from the first general officer in the nominee's chain of command.
- Submit the complete electronic package (clear, legible copies of all documents) by email or USPS.
Submit to:
HQMC_SAFETY_DIVISION@USMC.MIL
Or by mail:
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Attn: Safety Division
701 S. Courthouse Road
Building 12, Suite 2O050
Arlington, VA 22204-2462
Key dates
- 15 December 2026: Hard deadline for all nomination packages. No exceptions for late, incomplete, or incorrect submissions.
The official version
This guidance comes from MARADMIN 455/26. The governing policy is MCO 5100.29C w/ CH-1 (Marine Corps Safety Management System). Questions go to R.L. Young at ROBERT.L.YOUNG@USMC.MIL or 703-571-4569.
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.