R 311741Z OCT 25 MARADMIN 521/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PO WASHINGTON DC//  SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR  (CY) 2025 LTCOL WILLIAM G. LEFTWICH  TROPHY FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP SELECTION BOARD//  REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC/20180830//  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//J.S EDWARDS/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL: (703)692-4289/ EMAIL: [email protected]//  POC/R.W. VIEHMEYER/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF/-/ TEL:(703) 614-4510/ EMAIL: [email protected]  POC/D.A. MELLON/MAJ/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL:(703) 697-0224/ EMAIL: [email protected]  GENTEXT/Remarks/1. Situation.  1.a. This MARADMIN announces the convening of the 2025  Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) William G. Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership selection board and solicits  nominations from throughout the Marine Corps. The LtCol  William G. Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership is  an award presented annually in memory of Navy Cross  recipient LtCol William G. Leftwich, U.S. Marine Corps,  killed in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 18 November  1970. The Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and  Operations (DC, PP&O) will convene a board of senior  field grade officers in early March 2026 to review  nominations and forward recommendations to the Commandant of the Marine Corps for final selection and announcement  of the winner.  2. Mission.  2.a. IAW Ref A, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces  Command (COMMARFORCOM); Commander, U.S. Marine Corps  Forces Pacific (COMMARFORPAC); and Commander, U.S. Marine  Corps Forces Reserve (COMMARFORRES) shall nominate  eligible officers for the 2025 LtCol William G. Leftwich  Trophy for Outstanding Leadership, and submit nomination  packages to DC, PP&O NLT 27 February 2026.  3. Execution. 3.a. Prerequisites. Per the reference, commanders will  use the following prerequisites to submit nominations: 3.a.1. Actions included in each nomination must have  occurred within the period of eligibility  (January-December 2025). 3.a.2. Nominees must be Marine Captains in the Ground  Combat Arms community serving on active duty as a company  or battery commander within the Ground Combat Element of  the Operating Forces during the period of eligibility.  3.a.3. Majors and Major selectees are eligible for  nomination, provided the actions of the nominee occurred  as a Captain during the period of eligibility. Only  actions performed as a Captain will be included in the  nomination package and considered by the selection board.  3.a.4. Nominees must not be previous recipients of the  LtCol William G. Leftwich Trophy. Officers previously  nominated but not selected are eligible for subsequent  nominations if they still meet award criteria. 3.a.5. Nominations may be submitted posthumously,  provided the officer nominated would meet eligibility  and award criteria in Para 4 of the Ref.  3.a.6. Nominees should be recognized by seniors,  contemporaries, and subordinates as officers who most  exemplify outstanding combat arms leadership. 3.a.7. Nominees must clearly and distinguishably  demonstrate the ideals of courage, resourcefulness,  perseverance, and concern for the well-being of the Corps  and their fellow Marines.  3.a.8. Nominees must have exhibited qualities that have  made an outstanding contribution to the development of  esprit de corps and loyalty within their units. 3.a.9. Nominees, through personal example, must set the  standard that all other officers seek to emulate.  3.b. Requirements. 3.b.1. COMMARFORCOM and COMMARFORPAC shall nominate two  (2) officers from each MEF and COMMARFORRES may nominate  two (2) officers that have met award eligibility criteria  outlined in para 3.a. and in the reference during the  eligibility period. 3.b.2. Commanders shall submit nominations NLT 27  February 2026 to DC, PP&O. 3.b.3. Nominations will consist of the following: 3.b.3.a An official photograph of the nominee taken within  12 months of the convening date of the award board. 3.b.3.b. Biographical information of the nominee. 3.b.3.c. Summary of performance during the eligibility  period supporting the nominee's qualifications for the  award.  4. Administration and logistics. 4.a. DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination packages.  Packages will include the nominating unit's address,  point of contact, and phone number (Comm and DSN).  Packages may be submitted via email  by Commanders identified in Para 3.b.1. Packages must  be received by DC, PP&O (POF) NLT 27 February 2026 to  be considered. 4.a.1. Nomination packages submitted via email must be  sent to all message POCs listed above. 4.a.1.a. Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure entire  package is legible after scanning.  4.b. Nomination packages for deployed Marines should  be routed through the Marine’s deployed chain of  command (e.g. UDP infantry battalions will be reviewed  and submitted through 4th MAR, 3d MARDIV, and III MEF). 5. Command and Signal. 5.a. This MARADMIN is applicable to the total force. 5.b. Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this  msg. 5.c. 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.//