AwardsRoutine update
FY2026 Commandant's Combined Awards Program — Recruiter, Drill Instructor, MSG, and Marine Combat Instructor of the Year
Announcement of the FY2026 CMC Combined Awards Program, covering nomination, selection-board, and ceremony procedures for four annual award categories. This is an administrative notice directed at MCRC, MARFORCOM, MCESG, and TRNGCMD commands with nomination and submission responsibilities.
This is a routine update, such as a name list, a set of results, or a recurring notice. The plain-English version is the summary above; the official text follows in full so you can find your name, number, or unit. Read it on marines.mil
Official text
R 221300Z OCT 26 MARADMIN 517/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS COMBINED AWARDS AND CEREMONY EVENT// REF/A/DOC/CMC/9MAY2005// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1650.39B, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS COMBINED AWARDS PROGRAM// POC/D. J. LECTORA/GYSGT/TECOM SSEC CHIEF/TEL: (703) 784-3727/EMAIL: DANIEL.LECTORA@USMC.MIL// POC/H. VINSON/CIV/TECOM G-3 COPSA/TEL: (703) 432-1636/EMAIL: HORACE.VINSON@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. This message announces the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Combined Awards Program (CAP). 2. In accordance with the reference, the CMC will recognize recipients in the following four awards categories: Recruiter of the Year, Drill Instructor (DI) of the Year, Marine Security Guard (MSG) of the Year, and Marine Combat Instructor (MCI) of the Year. The in-person FY26 CMC CAP ceremony will be held in the National Capital Region. Date, time, location, and details regarding travel will be published via separate correspondence (SEPCOR). 3. Commanding General (CG) Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) will convene a selection board for Recruiter of the Year and runner-up among regular recruiters and prior service recruiters; CG, Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) will convene a selection board for MSG of the Year and runner-up and will coordinate with Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG) to receive nomination packages; CG Training Command (TRNGCMD) will convene a selection board for MCI of the Year and runner-up. 3.a. These selection endorsements, along with photo, biography, and professional resume, will be submitted to Training and Education Command (TECOM) no later than (NLT) 9 November 2026 via SEPCOR through an Enterprise Task Management Software Solution (ETMS2) task utilizing the USMC TECOM SPECIAL BOARDS group. 4. DI of the Year nomination packages are due to CG TECOM NLT 2 November 2026 via SEPCOR ETMS2 task. Each depot will select and submit one DI of the Year nominee. CG TECOM will convene the selection board for the DI of the Year nominees (date TBD). 5. CG TECOM will serve as the Office of Primary Responsibility to facilitate the FY26 CMC CAP MARADMIN and ceremony. Board winners and the first runners-up results will be announced via MARADMIN. Additional instructions on award ceremony coordination to include dates, billeting, uniform, and civilian attire will be included in the MARADMIN announcing winners and runners-up. Travel for each awardee and one guest will be executed with unit funds. 6. All commands will prepare and submit a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for their winners and the runners-up via Improved Awards Processing System (iAPS) to TECOM (M30010) for processing NLT 9 November 2026. 7. CG TECOM will endorse and forward award recommendations for all CMC CAP winners and first runners-up in each category to CMC (MMPB-31) in iAPS. Per the reference, CMC is the awarding authority for all CMC CAP awards and CMC (MMPB-31) will prepare the award certificates, as required. Per the reference, CMC CAP winners are eligible for meritorious promotion. The names of the CMC CAP winners will be forwarded to CMC (MMPB-11) for enlisted promotion screening prior to the results MARADMIN. Once approved by MMPB-11, meritorious promotion warrants for all CMC CAP winners may be prepared at the lowest level of command with the required promotion authority. 8. TECOM will coordinate the combined awards ceremony with the CMC Protocol Office and will publish a Letter of Instruction with administrative and coordinating instructions. 9. Release authorized by Lieutenant General T. B. Savage, Commanding General, Training and Education Command / Deputy Commandant for Training and Education.//
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