RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 1471627-UUUU--RUCRNAD.
ZNR UUUUU
R 271627Z MAY 09
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS//
TO NAVADMIN
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UNCLAS //N02300//
NAVADMIN 158/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/MAY//
SUBJ/2009 AMERICAN LEGION SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD// 
POC/LISA BRAUN/LCDR/NAVCO/LOC: MILLINGTON, TN/TEL:(901) 874- 
5801/EMAIL:LISA.BRAUN-AT-NAVY.MIL//
RMKS/1. FOR ITS NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE AMERICAN LEGION WILL 
PRESENT ITS SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD TO AN ENLISTED MEMBER OF EACH 
SERVICE. THE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE SERVICE MEMBERS BY THE 
NATIONAL COMMANDER, DAVID K. REHBEIN, AT THE LEGION'S NATIONAL 
CONVENTION IN LOUISVILLE, KY, AUGUST 21-27, 2009.
2. ELIGIBILITY. NOMINEES MUST BE E-5 OR BELOW, ACTIVE OR RESERVE, AND 
AN OUTSTANDING MILITARY PROFESSIONAL. THE MAIN CRITERIA OF THE AWARD IS 
THE LEVEL AND TYPE OF OFF-DUTY VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE. EXAMPLES OF 
OFF-DUTY SERVICE INCLUDE READING TO CHILDREN AT A SCHOOL, WORKING IN A 
HOMELESS OR ANIMAL SHELTER, ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY EFFORTS OR TUTORING 
SHIPMATES IN THEIR PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THERE IS NO PERIODICITY 
OF THE AWARD AND LONGEVITY OF VOLUNTEER EFFORTS IS DESIRED. PREVIOUS 
WINNERS OF THIS AWARD ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. IF CHOSEN AS THE RECIPIENT, THE 
AWARDEE MUST ATTEND THE CONFERENCE.
3. TRAVEL AND LODGING. WITHIN CONUS, THE AMERICAN LEGION WILL PROVIDE 
ALL TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES. FOR OCONUS, THE AMERICAN LEGION WILL 
PROVIDE TRAVEL AND LODGING FROM THE POINT OF CONUS ENTRY/DEPARTURE. AS 
REPRESENTATION AT THE AMERICAN LEGION'S NATIONAL CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 
THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE NAVY, COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE EVERY 
EFFORT POSSIBLE TO FACILITATE ATTENDANCE, TO INCLUDE PERMISSIVE/NO COST 
TAD ORDERS.
4. NOMINATIONS. NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST CONTAIN THREE ELEMENTS; THE 
COMMANDING OFFICER'S NOMINATION, A DESCRIPTION OF THE VOLUNTEER 
SERVICE, AND A BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAILOR.
A. COMMANDING OFFICER NOMINATION. CO'S MAY NOMINATE ONE SAILOR FROM 
THEIR COMMAND AND MUST INDICATE THEIR CMC'S SUPPORT OF THE NOMINATION. 
NOMINATIONS MUST BE ON COMMAND LETTERHEAD AND INDICATE THE CO'S 
CONFIDENCE IN THE SAILOR'S PROFESSIONALISM AND IN HIS OR HER ABILITY TO 
APPROPRIATELY REPRESENT THE NAVY.  CO'S MUST ASSESS THE VALIDITY OF THE 
SAILORS VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, AND EXPRESS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO FACILITATE 
THEIR NOMINEE'S ATTENDANCE AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION, IF SELECTED. 
ENDORSEMENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED.
B. VOLUNTEER EFFORTS. DESCRIPTION OF VOLUNTEER EFFORTS MUST INCLUDE 
QUANTITATIVE DATA SUCH AS HOURS, DAYS, MONTHS, OR YEARS SPENT 
VOLUNTEERING. QUALITATIVE HIGHLIGHTS MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED THAT PROVIDE 
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OR IMPACT UPON A COMMUNITY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE 
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, LETTERS OF THANKS, OR OTHER RECOGNITION. THIS 
DESCRIPTION MAY BE EITHER NARRATIVE OR BULLET FORMAT.
C. NOMINEE BIOGRAPHY. IF CHOSEN AS THE AWARD RECIPIENT, THE BIOGRAPHY 
WILL BE USED IN THE CONVENTION'S PROGRAM, AVAILABLE TO ALL ATTENDEES. 
THE BIOGRAPHY SHOULD INCLUDE HOMETOWN INFORMATION AS WELL AS 
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS AND QUALIFICATIONS, BUT SHOULD FOCUS ON 
VOLUNTEER SERVICE. A HIGH-RESOLUTION PICTURE SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED 
FOR USE IN THE PROGRAM. THE BIOGRAPHY AND PICTURE SHOULD BE SIMILAR TO 
THOSE COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH CO BIOGRAPHIES. ALTERNATIVELY, THE 
PICTURE MAY BE OF THE SAILOR DOING VOLUNTEER WORK.
5. NOMINATION SUBMISSION. NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 29 JUN 09. 
NOMINATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE POC OR HARD COPY TO 
THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
NAVY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD
5722 INTEGRITY DRIVE
MILLINGTON, TN 38054-5045
6. SELECTION PROCESS. NAVCO WILL CONSOLIDATE ALL NOMINATIONS AND 
PROVIDE A SUMMARY TO THE MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE NAVY 
(MCPON). 
MCPON WILL MAKE THE FINAL SELECTION AND NOTIFY THE RECIPIENT. NAVCO 
WILL NOTIFY THOSE NOT SELECTED. THE NOMINATION PACKAGE OF THE RECIPIENT 
WILL THEN BE FORWARDED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION NO LATER THAN 10 JULY 
2009.
7. RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL J. C. HARVEY, JR., DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF.// 
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