R 192057Z NOV 24 MARADMIN 558/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PO WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2024 DOUGLAS  A. ZEMBIEC SPECIAL OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE YEAR  SELECTION BOARD// REF/A/DOC/MCO 1650.60/YMD: 20180930// AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1650.60 MARINE CORPS GROUND AWARDS  PROGRAM// POC/E.A. BENSON/CIV/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL: (703)-692-4303/  EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/M.T.BRIDE/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL: (703)-692-4289/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/M.D. MAROTTA/MGYSGT/UNIT: PPO POF (SOF)/-/ TEL: 703-697-2959/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/R.D. CRYMES/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF (SOF)/-/ TEL: 703-692-4320/ EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Situation:  This MARADMIN announces  the convening of the 2024 Douglas A. Zembiec Special  Operations Officer of the Year selection board and  solicits nominations per Ref A. The Zembiec Award is an  award presented annually in memory of Major Douglas A.  Zembiec, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action in  Iraq, 2007.  The Commander, United States Marine Forces,  Special Operations Command (COMMARFORSOC) will convene a  board of Senior Field Grade Officers to recommend an  officer to the Commandant of the Marine Corps for  selection. 2.  Mission: 2.a.  Per Ref A, Commanders will use the following  criteria to submit nominations: 2.a.1.  Nominee must be serving on active duty as a  MARSOC Special Operations Officer (SOO) Team Commander  during the period of eligibility. 2.a.2.  Previous recipients are ineligible to be  re-nominated.  Officers previously nominated but not  selected are eligible for subsequent nominations if they  meet all award criteria. 2.a.3.  Nominations may be submitted posthumously,  provided the officer nominated would meet all  eligibility and award criteria in para (3) of Ref A. 2.a.4.  Nominees should be recognized by seniors,  contemporaries, and subordinates as officers who most  exemplify outstanding leadership and tactical acumen in  the Marine Special Operations community. 2.a.5.  Nominees must clearly and dramatically  demonstrate the ideals of courage, resourcefulness,  perseverance, and concern for the well-being of the  Special Operations community, our corps, and their  fellow Marines. 2.a.6.  Nominees must exhibit qualities that have made  an outstanding contribution to the development of Esprit  De Corps, tactical and technical competence, and loyalty  within the Special Operations Forces community. 2.a.7.  Nominees, through personal example, must set the  standards that all other officers seek to emulate. 2.a.8.  Actions included in each nomination must have  occurred within the period of eligibility  (January-December 2024). 3.  Execution:  COMMARFORSOC will accept nominations from  across the Service and Joint Force (where Marine Special  Operation Officers may be serving) and convene a board to  select nominees using the eligibility and award criteria  stated above and specified in Ref A.  COMMARFORSOC will  submit the names of all nominees chosen by the board,  including the recommended award recipient to DC, PP&O  (POF) no later than 28 February 2025.  Nominations will  consist of the following: 3.a.  Biographical information of the nominee. 3.b.  Summary of performance supporting the nominee's  qualifications for the award. 4.  Administration and logistics: 4.a.  DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination packages.   The packages submitted will include the nominee's unit  address, point of contact, phone number (comm. and DSN)  and unclassified email address.  The packages shall be  sent electronically via unclassified email to the POC’s  indicated in this message.   4.a.1. Mailing address for nomination packages is:  Commandant of the Marine Corps, HQMC PP&O (POF)  (Room 4A480), (Attn: Mr. Gene Benson), 3000 Marine  Corps Pentagon, Washington, DC 20350-3000. 4.a.2.  Nomination packages submitted via email must  be sent to all message POCS listed above.  4.a.2.a.  Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure entire  package is legible after scanning.   4.b.  This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine  Corps Reserve. 5.  Command and signal: 5.a.  Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of  this MSG. 5.b.  Direct all questions regarding this MARADMIN to  the POCs listed above. 6.  Release authorized by MajGen Jason L. Morris,  Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and  Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.//