R 192056Z NOV 24 MARADMIN 557/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PO WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2024  SERGEANT CLYDE A. THOMASON MARINE  SPECIAL OPERATOR 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 2024 Sergeant Clyde A. Thomason Marine Special  Operator of the Year selection board and solicits  nominations from within the United States Marine Forces,  Special Operations Command per Ref A.  The Thomason Award  is an award presented annually in memory of  Sergeant Clyde A. Thomason, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in  action on Makin Island, 1942.  The Commander,  United States Marine Forces, Special Operations Command  (COMMARFORSOC) will convene a board to recommend a  nominee to The Commandant of The Marine Corps (CMC). 2.  Mission: 2.a.  IAW Ref A, Commanders will use the following  criteria to submit nominations:  2.a.1.  Nominees must be Marines serving on active duty  as a MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO) during the  period of eligibility. 2.a.2.  Previous recipients are ineligible to be  re-nominated.  Marines 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 Marine nominated would meet all eligibility  and award criteria within para (3) of Ref A. 2.a.4.  Nominees should be recognized by seniors,  contemporaries, and subordinates as a Marine who has made  a significant contribution to the command during the past  year and epitomized the quintessential CSO. 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 CSOs 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 Critical  Skills Operators 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 of 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  POC’s listed above. 6.  Release authorized by MajGen Jason L. Morris,  Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and  Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.//