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State of FORCECOM April 2012

Greetings Marines,

This month I would like to talk about the Cadets. How many of you that are Unit OIC’s or above that have Cadets in your units have read the Cadets manual that is available on the Corps website?
Admit it…you like to get recognized for your hard work and dedication.
When you do something nice, you want the recognition that goes with it. Kids are the same way. It is important to note that the Corps is using the same ribbons for the Cadet Achievement Awards, as the rest of the SFMC. The only difference is that the cadets’ ribbons will also have a good conduct knot ribbon device to denote a cadet award. It is possible to earn the same award more than once, just add another knot.
There is a special award for cadets called the Cadet Service
Completion Award it is an award that is given when a cadet ages out of the SFMC cadet program, whether the cadet is age 15 or 17, they are no longer authorized to wear any SFMC Cadet Achievement Awards. They may however continue to wear any SFMC Service and Training awards that they had been awarded during their time as a cadet Just like with the adults there is a…
SFMC CADET CROSS OF VALOR
(a.k.a. Brigade Marine Cadet of the Year)
Issuing Authority: Brigade OIC
Frequency: Annual (one award issued to one cadet per age group per year)
SFMC Ribbon Name: Deidre Rickard Ribbon with Good Conduct Knot This award replaces the SFMC Youth Cross of Valor. This award is given to the Marine Cadet that most exemplifies the spirit, image and attitude of the SFMC within a particular brigade—the one who sets the standard for personal conduct, appearance, motivation, dedicated service and esprit de corps for which all STARFLEET Marine Cadets in that brigade strive.
SFMC CADET SWORD OF VALOR
(a.k.a. Brigade Marine Cadet Leader of the Year)
Issuing Authority: Brigade OIC
Frequency: Annual (one award issued to one Grade 4 Cadet per year)
SFMC Ribbon Name: Bisig Ribbon with Good Conduct Ribbon
This award replaces the SFMC Youth Sword of Honor. This award is given to the Marine Cadet who most exemplifies the personal and professional standards of leadership valued by the Brigade. This individual, through their actions and words, has provided the highest standard of guidance and leadership to their fellow Cadets, setting a standard of excellence for other leaders to follow.
SFMC CADET SHIELD OF VALOR
(a.k.a. Brigade Marine Cadet Volunteer of the Year)
Issuing Authority: Brigade OIC
Frequency: Annual (one award issued to one cadet per age group per year)
Ribbon description: Kelley Ribbon with Good Conduct Knot
This award replaces the SFMC Youth Shield of Valor. This award is given to the Marine Cadet who has made the most significant personal impact in community service efforts within the Brigade. This effort does not necessarily have to be on behalf of a SFMC campaign effort, but financial donations are specifically excluded as the basis for eligibility. Volunteering your time and hard work counts; simply writing a check doesn’t. Candidates for this award should be chosen from Cadets in a particular brigade who has received the Community Service Citation within the past year.
SFMC CADET STAR OF VALOR
(a.k.a. Brigade Marine Cadet NCO of the Year)
Issuing Authority: Brigade SGM
Frequency: Annual (one award issued to one cadet per age group per year)
Ribbon description: Red with Good Conduct Knot
This award is given to the Marine Cadet NCO who most exemplifies the personal and professional standards of leadership valued by the NCO Corps of a Brigade. This Marine Cadet NCO has made a significant personal impact in community service efforts throughout their area, and through their actions and words, have provided the highest standard of guidance and leadership to their fellow Marines, setting a standard of excellence for other NCOs to follow.
SFMC CADET LEGION OF VALOR
(a.k.a. Brigade Training Detachment of the Year)
Issuing Authority: Brigade OIC
Frequency: Annual (one award issued to one cadet per age group per year)
Ribbon Description: Matt Copple Ribbon with Good Conduct Knot
This award replaces the SFMC Youth Legion of Valor. This award is given to the Marine Cadet Training Detachment that most exemplifies the spirit, image and attitude of the STARFLEET Marine Corps within that Brigade. This detachment should set the standard for conduct, appearance, motivation and activity for which all Marine Cadet units in the Brigade strive
I would like to congratulate the First Brigade for recognizing their Cadets at the Brigade Level and forwarding their Cadet Valor award winner’s up to the General Staff for consideration for the Corps Honor awards.
I would like to encourage all the other Brigades to send in nominations for the Cadet Valor awards as the Cadets deserve to be ecognized for all their hard work, Just remember that today’s Cadets are tomorrow’s Unit and Battalion and Brigade and General Staff Officers so let’s give them the recognition they deserve Do you have cadets that have Marine Cadets who have rendered exceptional service to a your brigade by performing a particular task or service to a high standard of excellence?
Well just like the Adult awards there is a SFMC CADET BRIGADE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. For those Cadets that have aged out of the Cadet program there is a
special award called the CADET SERVICE COMPLETION AWARD. This award is presented to members of the SFMC who have aged out/graduated of the Cadet Corps and continue to serve the SFMC as adults to thank them for their dedication and service to the SFMC as a Cadet. Marines who have aged out/graduated from the Cadet Corps at the age of fifteen (15) or eighteen (18) are eligible for the award. However those individuals who have stayed in the Cadet Corps until the age of eighteen (18) are authorized to wear a gold oak leaf affixed to the ribbon signifying that they completed the entire Cadet Corps program.
So come on people get out there and recognize your Marine Cadets
Talk to you next month
John Kiwi Kane
Master Gunnery Sergeant, SFMC
Commanding Officer, Forces Command
STARFLEET Marine Corps
forcecom@sfi-sfmc.org]]>