FY26 DC M&RA Personnel and Programs Awards Solicitation

1.  Per the references, this MARADMIN calls for  
nominations to recognize personnel and programs within the Deputy 
Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA) portfolio for 
Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26); 1 October  2025 to 30 September 2026. 
2.  The Marine Corps Association sponsors these awards to honor 
Uniformed and Civilian Marines, as well as centers and programs, 
whose exceptional accomplishments have significantly contributed to 
the Marine Corps mission and demonstrated exemplary excellence and 
dedication to mission readiness.  The awards are divided into 
categories, each managed by a designated Office of Primary 
Responsibility (OPR).  These OPR are responsible for funding award 
recipients' travel expenses to the M&RA professional awards dinner 
in May 2027.
3.  Secretariat M&RA sponsors the Marine Corps Manpower, Personnel, 
and Administration Awards Program (MCMPAAP) and recognizes the 
following categories (Active and Reserve components):
3.a.  Administration Marine of the Year (E1-E3).
3.b.  Administration Noncommissioned Officer of the Year (E4-E5).
3.c.  Administration Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Reserve 
Component (SMCR/IMA) (E4-E5). 
3.d.  Administration Staff Noncommissioned Officer of the Year 
      (E6-E7).
3.e.  Personnel Officer of the Year (W1-W3). 
3.f.  Manpower Officer of the Year (O1-O3). 
3.g.  Civilian Administrator of the Year (GS4-GS8).
3.h.  Civilian Analyst of the Year (GS9-GS12).
3.i.  Personnel Administration Center of the Year (Unit award).
3.j.  Sample packages are available via the MCMPAAP Microsoft (MS) 
TEAMS portal, G-1 representatives can contact the M&RA Secretariat 
MARADMIN points of contact to gain access.  Criteria eligibility 
outlined in ref (a).
3.k.  Nomination packages for categories (3a to 3i) will be submitted 
via the MCMPAAP MS TEAMS page no later than 1 November 2026.
4.  Manpower Management Division (MM) sponsors the following 
category:
4.a.  Career Counselor of the Year (solicitation and due date for 
this category will be disseminated via separate correspondence).
5.  Reserve Affairs Division (RA) sponsors the following category:
5.a.  Active Reserve (AR) Career Counselor of the Year (solicitation 
and due date for this category will be disseminated via separate 
correspondence)
6.  Business and Support Division (MR) sponsors the following 
category:
6.a.  Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS) Marine of the Year Award 
      (E5-E8).
6.c.  Nomination packages for this category (6.a.) shall be routed 
via the Operational chain of command and sent electronically via 
e-mail to:  michael.huff@usmc-mccs.org in a pdf file.  The pdf file 
shall be named "EDIPI_Lastname"(e.g. 1234567890_Huff.pdf).  
The subject line of the email should read: "FY26 MCCS Marine of the 
Year ICO (Rank/Name) no later than 1 November 2026.
7.  Manpower Plans and Policy Division (MP) Manpower Policy Equal 
Opportunity (MPE) branch sponsors the following category:
7.a.  Equal Opportunity Advisor (EOA) of the year (E6-E8)
7.b.  All nominees must meet the following criteria:
7.b.1.  Served as an EOA, with Billet Military Occupational 
Specialty (BMOS) of 0147 during the current FY.
7.b.2.  Displayed sustained superior performance that significantly 
and positively impacted the mission accomplishment of their 
Commanding General or Commander's Equal Opportunity programs.
7.c.  Nomination packages for this category (7.a.) shall be sent 
electronically via email to MPE Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) 
Program at mpe_eo@usmc.mil no later than 1 November 2026.
8.  Marine and Family Programs Division (MF) sponsors the following 
categories:
8.a.  Postal Marine of the Year (E4-E7).
8.b.  Child Development Center Employee of the Year.
8.c.  Marine Family Program Employee of the Year.
8.d.  Nomination packages for this category (8.a.) will be submitted 
via email to: billy.gillenwater@usmc.mil no later than 1 November 
2026.
8.e.  Nominations will be solicited via formal tasking for category 
(8.b.) no later than 1 November 2026.  POC for more information or 
questions is kari.ratcliffe@usmc.mil.
8.f.  Nominations will be solicited via formal tasking for category 
(8.c.) no later than 1 November 2026.  POC for more information or 
questions is bonnie.burns@usmc.mil.
9.  A non-statutory awards board convened by M&RA will select award 
recipients.
10. Action.
10.a.  Each major subordinate command or other commands with a 
general officer in the chain of command may submit only one nominee 
per award category.  The first Marine Corps general officer in the 
chain of command must endorse nominations and should represent the 
most competitive candidate for each category.  Nomination packages 
are due no later than 1 November 2026 to the respective OPR points 
of contact.
11.  The selection of award recipients and details regarding the 
presentation of awards will be announced via separate MARADMIN.  The 
awards dinner is scheduled for 6 May 2027 at the Clubs at Quantico. 
12.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force. 
13.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General William J. Bowers, 
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.