Award Nomination Preparation and Standards - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The reporting senior or originating officer prepares the nomination per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.a. The immediate commanding officer of the Marine being recognized endorses the nomination. The S-1 chief routes through staff for chop and validates against criteria. The S-1 officer signs by direction on routine nominations.

Source documents flow from the action narrative, witness statements, mission accomplishment evidence, previous awards record, and the Marine's MCTFS record. Nomination actions land in the HQMC APS 1650 (Awards Processing System) per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8. Outputs include the certified APS 1650 submission, the citation, the summary of action, and the OMPF entry on approval.

Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 5 (Criteria), the awards system requires stringent controls and strict application of award criteria. Per paragraph 6 (Level of Award), the appropriate level depends on combatant versus noncombatant service circumstances. Per paragraph 8 (Recommendations), submissions route on HQMC APS 1650 unless delegated authority provides otherwise.

Trigger events

• Marine performs an action warranting nomination recognition.
• End-of-tour award nomination cycle opens (subject to MCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 2 restrictions).
• Combat action triggers Combat Action Ribbon nomination.
• Posthumous award required following casualty.
• Joint duty performance triggers joint service award nomination.
• Foreign award acceptance request.
• Retirement award nomination at end of service.

Processing workflow

1. Identify originating officer. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.a, recommendations originate with the reporting senior or another officer.
2. Apply criteria. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 5 (Criteria), apply the guide to award levels.
3. Determine level of award. Per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 6, the award level reflects combatant versus noncombatant service and the magnitude of the action.
4. Draft citation and summary of action. Capture specific actions, dates, location, and impact per SECNAVINST 1650.1SECNAVINST 1650.1.
5. Submit on HQMC APS 1650. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8, recommendations submit on the HQMC APS form.
6. Capture immediate commanding officer endorsement. Per paragraph 8.a, the immediate commanding officer endorses.
7. Route through awards board. Per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7, the awards board reviews.
8. Validate approving authority. Per paragraph 8.b, awards to general officers, NUCs, PUCs, awards higher than the LM, and awards to foreign nationals route to SecNav via CMC (MMMA).
9. Track nomination. Maintain visibility in the awards register through approving authority signature.
10. Document nomination. Record EDIPI, award type, originator, status, and decision in the unit awards register.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• HQMC Awards Processing System (APS). Electronic submission and tracking per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.
• MCTFS. Holds awards entries on approval.
• OMPF. Final record of approved awards.
• Unit awards register. Local register of nominations and approvals.

Forms

• HQMC APS 1650 (EF) Electronic Form. Standard submission per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.
• NAVMC 11533 Award Recommendation. Standard paper format.
• Citation. Narrative justifying the award.
• Summary of Action. Detailed action narrative for heroism or meritorious awards.

Common pitfalls

• Nomination submitted without immediate commanding officer endorsement. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.a, the endorsement is required.
• Routine end-of-tour nomination submitted at a level prohibited by Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 2 (Routine end of tour award recommendations obviously have no place in [the highest levels]). Match level to specific action.
• Citation lacks specifics. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 3 (personal award recommendations must be adequately documented). Cite specific actions.
• Approving authority routing wrong. Per paragraph 8.b, awards of certain types route to SecNav. The S-1 chief validates routing.
• Awards board step skipped. Per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7, the awards board reviews.

Decision points

• Level of award selection. Multiple potential awards apply. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 6, the commander selects the appropriate level per the action.
• Awards board scope. Per paragraph 7, the awarding authority establishes the awards board. The S-1 officer coordinates board composition.
• Originating officer designation. Per paragraph 8.a, the reporting senior or another officer originates. Endorse through the immediate commanding officer.
• Purple Heart for mTBI eligibility. Per MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11, mild traumatic brain injury qualifies for Purple Heart when a medical officer disposition states the Marine is not fit for full duty for more than 48 hours due to persistent signs, symptoms, or findings of impairment from concussion, with disposition made within 7 days of the event. Retroactive to 11 Sep 2001 (start of GWOT).
• V, C, or R device application. Per MARADMIN 665/17MARADMIN 665/17 and ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17, the Valor V, Combat Conditions C, or Remote Impact R device applies per the qualifying action. ALNAV 055/17 sets DoN criteria. MARADMIN 665/17 provides Marine Corps implementation.
• PCS-driven nomination timing. Per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25, award nominations route on a specific timeline ahead of PCS departure to align with the standard 30-day OMPF processing.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 (Personal Decorations - Recommendations). Paragraph 1 covers system review. Paragraph 2 covers routine end-of-tour limitations. Paragraph 3 covers documentation requirements. Paragraph 4 covers controls. Paragraph 5 covers criteria. Paragraph 6 covers level of award. Paragraph 7 covers Awards Board. Paragraph 8 covers recommendations including HQMC APS 1650 submission. SECNAVINST 1650.1SECNAVINST 1650.1 provides the higher Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0102-GENA-1007.

Related references

• MCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2. Authoritative Marine Corps nomination rules.
• SECNAV M-1650.1 Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual. Authoritative DoN award eligibility criteria per decoration.
• SECNAVINST 1650.1 Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual. Higher Navy and Marine Corps policy.
• MARADMIN 077/25 CMC Awards Delegation. Approving authority delegation rules.
• MARADMIN 665/17 V/C/R Device Guidance. Valor, Combat, Remote Impact device application on personal awards.
• MARADMIN 245/11 Purple Heart mTBI. Purple Heart eligibility for mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
• MARADMIN 093/25 PCS Awards Deadlines. Award submission deadlines tied to PCS departures.
• MCO 5000.14D Marine Corps Administrative Procedures. S-1 awards responsibilities.
• MCO P1070.12K Individual Records Administration Manual. OMPF documentation.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0102-GENA-1007.