MARADMIN 526/26
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2026 GUNNER HENRY L. HULBERT TROPHY FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP SELECTION BOARD
R 261509Z OCT 26 MARADMIN 526/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC PPO PO WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2026 GUNNER HENRY L. HULBERT TROPHY FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP SELECTION BOARD// REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC/DTD:20180830// AMPN/REF A IS THE MCO 1650.60, MARINE CORPS GROUND AWARDS PROGRAM// POC/E.A. BENSON/CIV/UNIT:PPO POF/-/TEL:(703)692-4303/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/N.D. WHITEFIELD/COL/UNIT PPO POF/-/TEL: (703) 614-4183/ EMAIL: [email protected] POC/R.L. BROWNE/CWO5/UNIT:PPO/-/TEL:(703)614-8497/ EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/R.W. VIEHMEYER/LTCOL/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL:(703) 614-4510 / EMAIL: [email protected] POC/A.L. DARNELL/MGYSGT/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL:(703) 614-3432/ EMAIL: [email protected] POC/K.M. BROWN/MSGT/UNIT: PPO POF/-/TEL:(703) 697-0224/ EMAIL: [email protected] GENTEXT/Remarks/ 1. Situation. This MARADMIN announces the convening of the 2026 Gunner Henry L. Hulbert Trophy for Outstanding Leadership selection board and solicits nominations from throughout the Marine Corps. The Gunner Henry L. Hulbert Trophy for Outstanding Leadership is an award presented annually in memory of Medal of Honor recipient Marine Gunner Henry Lewis Hulbert, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action during the battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, France, on 04 October 1918. The Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations (DC, PP&O) will convene a board of senior field grade officers in early March 2027 to review nominations and forward recommendations to the Commandant of the Marine Corps for final selection and announcement of the winner. 2. Mission. IAW Ref A, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (COMMARFORCOM); Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific (COMMARFORPAC); Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve (COMMARFORRES); Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (COMMARFORSOC), Commanding General, Training and Education Command (CG, TECOM); and Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations Command (CG, MCICOM) shall nominate eligible officers for the 2026 Gunner Henry L. Hulbert Trophy for Outstanding Leadership, and submit nomination packages to DC, PP&O NLT 19 February 2027. 3. Execution. 3.a. Prerequisites. Per the reference, commanders will use the following prerequisites to submit nominations: 3.a.1. Actions included in each nomination must have occurred within the period of eligibility (January-December 2026). 3.a.2. Nominees must be a CWO2 or CWO3 Infantry Weapons Officer (MOS 0306 Marine Gunner) serving in Marine Gunner billets on active duty in the active or reserve component during the period of eligibility. 3.a.3. CWO4 and CWO4 selectee Gunners are eligible for nomination, provided the actions of the nominee occurred as a CWO3 during the period of eligibility. Only actions performed as a CWO3 will be included in the nomination package and considered by the selection board. 3.a.4. Nominees must not be previous recipients of the Gunner Henry L. Hulbert trophy. Gunners previously nominated but not selected are eligible for subsequent nominations if they still meet award criteria. 3.a.5. Nominations may be submitted posthumously, provided the Officer nominated would meet eligibility and award criteria in para 4 of the Ref. 3.a.6. Nominees should be recognized by their seniors, contemporaries, and subordinates as the Gunner who most exemplifies outstanding leadership, courage, and technical, tactical, and doctrinal expertise within the Marine Gunner community. 3.a.7. Nominees must clearly and distinguishably demonstrate the ideals of courage, resourcefulness, perseverance, and concern for the well-being of the Corps and their fellow Marines. 3.a.8. Nominees must have exhibited qualities that have made an outstanding contribution to the development of Esprit de Corps, infantry advocacy, and the refinement of infantry and combat marksmanship doctrine. 3.a.9. Nominees must possess extensive technical and tactical infantry weapons and combat marksmanship expertise. 3.a.10. Nominees, through personal example, must set the standard that all other Marine Gunners and enlisted Marines seek to emulate. 3.b. Requirements. 3.b.1. COMMARFORCOM and COMMARFORPAC shall nominate one (1) Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner) from each MEF, and COMMARFORRES, COMMARFORSOC, CG, TECOM and CG, MCICOM shall each nominate one (1) Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner) that meets award eligibility criteria outlined in para 3.a. and in the reference during the eligibility period. 3.b.1.a COMMARFORCOM may consider the Infantry Weapons Officer at Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment when determining the (1) MARFORCOM nomination. 3.b.2. Commanders shall submit nominations NLT 19 February 2027 to DC, PP&O. 3.b.3. Nominations will consist of the following: 3.b.3.a An official photograph of the nominee taken within 12 months of the convening date of the award board. 3.b.3.b. Biographical information of the nominee. 3.b.3.c. Summary of performance during the eligibility period supporting the nominee's qualifications for the award. 4. Administration and Logistics. 4.a. DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination packages. Packages will include the nominating unit's address, point of contact, and phone number (Comm and DSN). Packages may be submitted via email by Commanders identified in Para 3.b.1. Packages must be received by DC, PP&O (POF) NLT 19 February 2027 to be considered. 4.a.1. Nomination packages submitted via email must be sent to all message POCs listed above. 4.a.1.a. Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure entire package is legible after scanning. 4.b. Nomination packages for deployed Marines should be routed through the Marine’s deployed chain of command (e.g., UDP infantry battalions will be reviewed and submitted through 4th MAR, 3d MARDIV, and III MEF). 5. Command and signal. 5.a. This MARADMIN is applicable to the total force. 5.b. Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this message 5.c. Direct all questions regarding this MARADMIN to the POCs listed above. 6. Release authorized by BGen Michael R. Nakonieczny, Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and Operations.//