A Medal of Honor recipient will present the awards at the American Legion’s National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. The nominee must be available to attend in person at the national convention in New Orleans. The convention will run from Aug. 23rd-29th.
Service members will be nominated by their commanding officer based primarily on the level of volunteerism they perform off-duty in a local community. Commanding officers may nominate only one sailor from their command.
To be eligible, service members must have served as an E-5 or below between Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2023, completed their volunteer service during this period and have a recommended award citation from their command. Nominees may be active or Reserve, but must be outstanding military professionals.
Service members will need to provide the following items in their packages:
- A nominee biography that includes quantitative data such as hours, days, or months spent on off-duty volunteer community service and the organization name where community service was provided, as well as the activity. Command-sponsored activities, either on-duty or off-duty, will not be counted. This description should be provided in bullet format. Example:
- Provided 38 hours at the community center, as a soccer coach
- Spent 10 hours at the library reading to children
- A service record brief
- An 8x10 glossy .jpg photograph or the nominee's high-resolution digital head and shoulder photograph
- This should be an official photo taken by their respective unit in a full-service uniform.
- A high-resolution JPEG full-body photograph in service uniform (dress blues or service uniform)
Packages must be endorsed and submitted by the command and previous winners are not eligible to submit packages.
The American Legion will provide travel and lodging expenses for the individual winner only. The winner is responsible for travel expenses for family members or guests.
If chosen as the award recipient, the nominee's submitted JPEG photos will be used in printed and online material to publicize and document the award ceremony. The photo should be similar to those commonly associated with Navy leader biographies and official portrait photos.
If chosen as the award recipient, the biography will be used in the Legion's magazine and convention program. The biography should include hometown information, as well as professional highlights and qualifications.
A written and signed statement of consent by the sailor, authorizing the release of information contained in the nomination, is required per the Privacy Act of 1974. The following statement is a sample of written consent: "I, (rate/rank/full name), do hereby authorize the release of all information enclosed in this nomination package to those persons involved in the selection process.”
Nomination packages should be emailed to kristine.a.garland.civ@us.navy.mil by April 20, 2024. The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) will consolidate all nominations, organize a ranking board, and recommend the top candidates to the American Legion, which will make the selection. NAVCO will inform the winner and also notify those not selected.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States.
For further information, please contact Kristine Garland at kristine.a.garland.civ@us.navy.mil
To view a sample package of a previous winner, visit:
https://www.outreach.navy.mil/Portals/4/DOCS/Spirit_of_Service_Submission_Example.pdf?ver=2017-07-06-153220-940
For the most recent NAVADMIN, go here: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2024/NAV24042.txt?ver=gYcUBuzXGpQ6V6jEjTMXjg%3d%3d