Awards Board Process - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The awarding authority establishes the awards board per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7. The S-1 officer designates the board recorder and supports board operations. The board reviews nominations against criteria and level-of-award standards before forwarding to the awarding authority. The commander reviews board recommendations before approval.

Source documents flow from submitted nominations, the criteria guide at Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 5, the level-of-award standards at paragraph 6, and prior award decisions. Board actions land as documented deliberations, board recommendations, and the awards board file. Outputs include the board recommendation memorandum, the documented criteria application, the disapproval rationale where applicable, and the routing to the awarding authority.

Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7 (Awards Board), awarding authorities shall establish an awards board to review nominations. The board ensures stringent controls and strict application of criteria.

Trigger events

• Awarding authority establishes a new awards board.
• Nominations queue for board review.
• Periodic board meeting cycle opens.
• Board member rotation cycle.
• Disapproval routing requires board memo.
• Senior leader change triggers board re-designation.
• Annual board file review.

Processing workflow

1. Designate board members. The awarding authority appoints members per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7.
2. Establish meeting schedule. The S-1 officer sets the board cycle aligned with nomination volume.
3. Receive nominations for review. Pull nominations from the unit awards register.
4. Apply criteria. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 5 (Criteria), the board applies the standards.
5. Validate level of award. Per paragraph 6, the board confirms the recommended level matches the action and circumstance.
6. Document board deliberations. The recorder captures rationale, concurrence, and non-concurrence by member.
7. Issue board recommendations. The board memo provides the recommendation to the awarding authority.
8. Process disapprovals. Where the board recommends disapproval, document the basis per paragraph 5 criteria failure.
9. Maintain the awards board file. Stage in the unit awards office records.
10. Report outcomes. The S-1 officer briefs the chain on board activity on a fixed cycle.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• HQMC APS. Nominations route through APS per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 8.
• Unit awards register. Local register of nominations through board review.
• Awards board file. Local file of board deliberations and outcomes.

Forms

• Awards Board Appointing Memorandum. From the awarding authority per paragraph 7.
• Board Recommendation Memorandum. Local format from the board to the awarding authority.
• Board Deliberation Worksheet. Local format recording criteria application per nomination.
• Disapproval Memorandum. Where the board recommends disapproval.

Common pitfalls

• Awards board not established. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7, the awarding authority shall establish a board. Establish before nomination submission.
• Board members not designated in writing. The appointing memorandum is missing. Capture in writing per paragraph 7.
• Criteria application not documented. The deliberation worksheet is missing. Document per nomination.
• Disapproval routed without rationale. Per paragraph 5, criteria failure provides the basis. Document the basis.
• Board file not maintained. The audit trail breaks. File deliberations and outcomes per nomination.

Decision points

• Board composition. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7, the awarding authority sets the board. Senior members representing the action category.
• Recommended level adjustment. The board determines the level recommended differs from the original nomination. Document the basis per paragraph 6.
• Disapproval versus return for further development. The board returns nominations needing more documentation per Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 3 (personal award recommendations must be adequately documented).

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 7 (Awards Board). Paragraph 5 (Criteria) provides the standard the board applies. Paragraph 6 (Level of Award) provides the level standard. SECNAVINST 1650.1SECNAVINST 1650.1 covers 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 paragraph 7. Authoritative awards board rules.
• MCO 1650.19J Enclosure 1 Section 2 paragraph 5 and 6. Criteria and level standards.
• SECNAVINST 1650.1 Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual. Higher policy.
• MCO 5000.14D Marine Corps Administrative Procedures. S-1 awards responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0102-GENA-1007.