In 2009, the Commandant of the Marine Corps declared energy a top priority and challenged the Corps to be more combat effective by changing the way we use energy on the battlefield. Today, that guidance underscores the Marine Corps' efforts to rebalance the force and ensure that America has a forward deployed, self-sustained, amphibious capability able to respond to crises around the world.
In March 2011, the Commandant issued the Expeditionary Energy Strategy and Implementation Plan with the goal of increasing our combat effectiveness through ethos, efficiency and renewable energy--from "Bases to Battlefield." Later that year, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps signed out a comprehensive requirements document, the Expeditionary Energy, Water, and Waste Initial Capabilities Document (E2W2 ICD), that identifies and prioritizes 152 capability gaps (material and non-material) that must be addressed in order to meet the Commandant's 2025 goal. These two core documents, together with the 2012 Marine Corps Science and Technology Strategic Plan, provide a strategic framework for investment and drive modernization in expeditionary energy. The "return" on this investment - more than $352M to date - is increased military capability gained through dramatic savings in weight and fuel transported.
In 2012, the Commandant identified Expeditionary Energy as one of the six pillars of modernization in the Marine Corps -- "areas critical to maintaining operational capabilities and readiness," -- in his annual posture statement to Congress. Modernizing the Marine Corps' capabilities in expeditionary energy is critical to maintaining operational readiness of the Force, for today's fight and tomorrow's conflicts.
Secretary of the Navy Energy Award for Marine Corps Expeditionary Units
The annual Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Energy Excellence Awards recognize the accomplishments of Navy and Marine Corps activities who demonstrate leadership and effectiveness in the areas of energy security, new technology, innovation, program management, and efficiency across the Department of the Navy.
The SECNAV Energy Award for Marine Corps Expeditionary Units recognizes energy-related achievements at the battalion/squadron level that extend operational reach and/or increase training readiness.
Award nomination packages for the 2019 competition are due 24 June. Winners of the 2019 competition will be announced by 15 August 2019.
SECNAV award winners are authorized to display the SECNAV Energy Conservation Award flag for a period of one year from the date of the award announcement. Award winners and units or activities reaching platinum levels of achievement—including USMC Expeditionary Units Award winners—due to budgetary constraints, there will be no cash awards for FY 2019.
See SECNAVINST 4101.2A for information on the SECNAV Energy Excellence Awards Program.
Sample Nomination Package
Download: Submission Instructions and Sample Nomination Package for the 2019 SECNAV Energy Award for Marine Corps Expeditionary Units
Nomination Instructions
Nomination submission instructions are outlined below. A link to a sample award nomination package is also provided above.
Award Period: The award period for the 2017 competition is fiscal year 2018 (1 October 2017 through 30 September 2018)
Submission Deadline: 24 June 2019 (due to USMC Expeditionary Energy Office)
Submission Instructions:
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Award nomination packages must be submitted through the appropriate chain of command to USMC E2O
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Submit award nomination packages via e-mail to energy@usmc.mil
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Due to inbox size limitations, e-mails should not exceed 7MB (including all attachments and photos)
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Submissions via AMRDEC SAFE (secure site for sharing large files) are permissible (instructions at https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/SAFE/)
Elements of Award Nomination Package: See sample provided above for required elements and format of nomination packages
Award Criteria: (Submissions should address one or more criteria)
- Installation (Large). This category is for USMC installations with energy consumption greater than or equal to 500,000 million British Thermal Units (BTU) during the FY.
- Installation (Small). This category is for USMC installations with energy consumption less than 500,000 million BTU during the FY.
- Afloat (Large). This category is for commissioned afloat combatant and amphibious naval units with crews greater than or equal to 400 personnel.
- Afloat (Small). This category is for commissioned afloat combatant and amphibious naval units with crews less than 400 personnel:
- Afloat (Logistics). This category is for auxiliary ships including all civil manned ships from the combat logistics force under Military Sealift Command.
- Aviation (Large). This category is for USMC group sized units operating under aircraft controlling custodians.
- Aviation (Small). This category is for USMC squadron and detachment sized units operating under aircraft controlling custodians.
- Expeditionary. This category includes all USMC deployed expeditionary units.
- Technology Development and Acquisition. This category is for DON activities that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and/or innovation in developing energy technologies or contract management. Energy technologies must have a functioning prototype that significantly impacts the lethality or operational reach of a platform or weapons system and be capable of being tested in a field operating environment. Contract management practices must have the potential to significantly improve energy resilience on a service-wide level.
USMC Expeditionary Energy Award Winners
2018 USMC EXPEDITIONARY ENERGY AWARD WINNER - 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines
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3rd Battalion, 11th Marines (3/11) received the 2018 SECNAV Energy Award in the USMC Expeditionary Unit category for FY 2017 accomplishments testing and developing new energy saving systems and techniques.
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3/11 worked closely with E2O to test and evaluate various expeditionary energy initiatives in live training environments, including the Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy Network System (GREENS), the Network on the Move (NOTM) Lithium 6T Module (L6T), and the Joint Operational Energy Command Control (JOEC2) Concept. Not only do these systems offer improved logistical efficiency, they provide force protection for the entire Marine Corps.
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Congratulations 3/11 for winning two years in a row! For more information, view the ALNAV messageannouncing all winners.
2017 USMC EXPEDITIONARY ENERGY AWARD WINNER - 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines
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3/11 received the 2017 SECNAV Energy Award in the USMC Expeditionary Unit category for FY 2016 accomplishments in energy data gathering and analysis, adaptive energy planning, and their leading role in identification and development of solutions to complex challenges associated with energy consumption.
2016 USMC EXPEDITIONARY ENERGY AWARD WINNER - 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)
2015 USMC EXPEDITIONARY ENERGY AWARD WINNER - Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force Training Center (MAGTFTC) Exercise Support Division
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MAGTFTC Exercise Support Division received the 2015 SECNAV Energy Award in the USMC Expeditionary Unit category for FY 2014 accomplishments in exemplary energy leadership and for demonstrating an unwavering commitment to energy efficiency, awareness, and training while supporting commands throughout the Marine Corps.