State of the Commandant March 2017
Good evening, Marines.
With Spring just around the corner it’s time to look forward to your Regional Summits and Brigade Marine Musters. This is the time of year when nominations go in for local Valor awards so look around you and speak up for those individuals who have been active and supportive of both Corps and Community.
Also, this is the time to nudge your Brigade Officer in Charge to review Unit reports for 2016 in regards to the upcoming issue of the Commandant’s Campaign Award. I bring this up specifically because … well … it’s one of ‘my’ opportunities to personally thank those of you out there who have stepped up to help those around you.
Community service is something near and dear to my heart so that puts the Commandant’s Own Projects that much closer. But I have to admit some confusion. The last 6 years, while I’ve been a part of Forces Command, I was used to seeing 40 to 60+ names come across my desk to go into the report I sent up to the ‘Dant’ for his review and decision each year.
This year? Ten. I simply do not believe that only ten individuals, over a period of 365 days, found a way to support Toys for Tots, the Special Olympics and Gunny Hawk’s March for the Disabled.
Come on, folks. Only ten?
Let me provide a reminder.
The Commandant’s Campaign Ribbon is awarded to marines who are active in community service projects that are of of particular interest to the Commandant of the SFMC. That is… me. The programs eligible for inclusion into the 2016 program were: Toys for Tots, Special Olympics and the Sergeant Major’s March for the Disabled.
To be consider for this award you must provide the following information:
** Who: name, rank, SCC# and unit
** What: what program you were involved in. It must be one of the above three. You can’t go off o a private project and expect it work out for this award. Those hours ‘can’ go toward a personal Community Service award [individual] or a Unit Community Service streamer [both issued by BDE OIC]
** Where: where the activity physically took place.
** When: the date/dates things happened.
** How Long: a minimum of 4 physical volunteer hours is required for this activity.
This is an example:
Who: MGN Jari James, SCC#99999, 503 MSG 5BDE
What: Toys for Tots, sorting toys for delivery
Where: USMC Reserve Drill Hall at Gowan Field, Idaho
When: December 15, 2016
How Long: 6 hours
How do I get this information you might ask? From your Brigade OIC.
Okay, BDE OIC’s, if you weren’t one who kept track as the year progressed, it’s time to sit down and go back through each and every report from last year that covered 1 Jan through 31 Dec 2016.
Unit members, contact your BDE OIC’s with you information.
To give folks a chance, I’m holding submissions upon until the first of May 2017. That will give everyone through the next reporting period to get the info in. Please send as a separate email to COL Brian Allen, COFORCECOM [forcecom@sfi-sfmc.org] so he can collate the awards list for my review.
Come on, people. Do me proud. I want to see those blue and gold ribbons on those uniforms.
That’s all for now. Keep it safe out there and be nice to each other.
Stand Easy, Marines.
Jari
MGN Jari “Gato” James
Commandant, Starfleet Marine Corps