NAVAL RESERVE JAG CORPS AWARDS PROGRAM INFORMATION
Our Naval Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps Program provides a mechanism for recognizing outstanding performance of individual judge advocates and legalmen, as well as Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Law Units. There are three awards authorized. In order of precedence these are:
1. The Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell, Jr. Award of Excellence;
2. The Senior Judge Advocate Commendation; and
3. The Senior Judge Advocate Letter of Appreciation.
The Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell, Jr., Award of Excellence is the highest award available and is presented in honor of Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell, Jr., the first flag officer of the Naval Reserve Law Program. This award is presented to judge advocates, legalmen and units demonstrating outstanding support of the Navy and Naval Reserve at a significant level of responsibility and to active-duty gaining commands demonstrating outstanding support of the Reserve Law Program.
The Senior Judge Advocate Commendation is awarded to judge advocates, legalmen and Reserve units whose performance or achievement sets the individual or unit apart from others similarly situated, but which is not sufficient to justify the award of the Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell, Jr., Award of Excellence. The Senior Judge Advocate Letter of Appreciation is intended to serve as a formal means of recognition to individuals for significant service or achievement. Ordinarily, this service or achievement would justify the issuance of a letter of appreciation or commendation from an active-duty or reserve command.
The Military Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Programs are normally the site for presentation of all levels of the Naval Reserve Judge Advocate Awards. Normally, separate Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell, Jr., Awards for Excellence are awarded for four geographic regions, East Coast, South Central, West Coast and North Central Regions. Flexibility will be permitted in the award of Senior Judge Advocate's Commendations and Letters of Appreciation. Therefore, nominations should indicate the location where the individual unit will attend the MCLE Program. If the individual or unit is selected to receive the award, the presentation will be made at the location indicated in the nomination package.
The Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell, Jr., Award of Excellence will be made in accordance with the above-stated geographical limitations. For each geographical area there will be no more than one Award of Excellence winner in the following categories: Reserve Law Unit; Senior Judge Advocate (0-5 and above); Junior Judge Advocate (0-4 and below); Reserve Legalmen; and Active Duty Gaining Command.
There is no particular format required for the submission of nominations for any of these Naval Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps Awards. They may be in letter form and should not exceed one page in length. All nominations should include the nominee's name, rank, unit and unit position, a brief description of the duties or service justifying the award, the period of such service and the award requested. It is not necessary to enclose a draft citation with a nomination. All nominations must reflect the date the individual commenced the duties to be recognized and whether any prior award has been made.
Nominations for unit awards should normally be initiated by the Staff Judge Advocate or active-duty gaining command and be forwarded directly to the Awards Board. Individual nominations, other than for commanding officers, should normally be initiated by the individual's commanding officer and forwarded by the cognizant staff judge advocate to the Awards Board. Nominations for awards to commanding officers should normally be initiated by the appropriate staff judge advocate or the active-duty gaining command and submitted directly to the Awards Board. Active-duty gaining command nominations should be initiated by the commanding officer of the supporting Reserve unit and forwarded via the appropriate staff judge advocate to the Awards Board. Any officer senior in rank or position to the individual being nominated may submit a nomination for the award of the Senior Judge Advocate Letter of Appreciation directly to the Awards Board.
Submissions should be forwarded to the Awards Board in care of the Special Assistant for Recognition and Awards.
My role as Special Assistant for Recognition and Awards is to assist Rear Admiral Sturek to ensure that top performing individuals and units receive the recognition they deserve. The Naval Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps Awards Program and SECNAV Program have done this in the past, under the leadership of Captain Mac Carter, and I look forward to your assistance in making certain that all worthy units and individuals are recognized this year. Please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance in making this program work. I may be reached as follows: Work: (215) 864-2600; FAX (215) 864-2610; Home: (610) 644-8198; E-mail: Skantro@aol.com; Suite 900, 1760 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103