Communicator of the Year Award How to submit a Winning proposal Prepared by: Southeast Region Communications Team Civil Air Patrol 2019

Awarded to the communicator based upon a lifetime of service. Why? Awarded to the best communicator in the Wing, Region and in the Nation. May be also awarded below Wing level if desired (Group, Squadron, Flight). Awarded to the communicator based upon a lifetime of service.

What Does CAPR 39-3 say? The Awards & Decorations regulation says see CAPR 100-1 for criteria and instructions. CAPR 100-1 says: “4-8. Communicator of the Year. This award has been established to recognize a current member who has made a significant contribution to the CAP Communications Program as a whole. This selection may be based on the member's lifetime contributions to the CAP Communications Program, not just the year of nomination. “

It also says: “a. Each wing and region will conduct this program and award a “Communicator of the Year” at their level. The wing or region DC/DCS Comm should be involved in this process. The winner of this award is submitted as the nomination to the next higher echelon. Units below wing level may also make this award at their level, if they desire. This is encouraged where practical.”

And then says: b. Nominations, in narrative form, are to be submitted through channels in accordance with the following timetable: 15 January - Unit nominations due to wing for consideration as the “Wing Communicator of the Year.” 15 February - Wing nominations due at region for consideration as the “Region Communicator of the Year.”

And finally says: “d. At each echelon, the Communicator of the Year Award should be presented at an appropriate function such as the wing or region conference. The national award will be presented at the Annual National Conference and Command Council.”

What to submit? Of the “Of the Year Awards” should be submitted online through e-Services. The Communicator of the Year documentation for NHQ requires a strong Narrative submission. Use plain paper not stationary when uploading to e-services. Use narrative paragraph style and do not write it as one long paragraph.

On-Line Please note that SER is asking all awards to be submitted on-line through e-services, but only three pages can be uploaded as additional information. This means that all of your backup information will need to be thought out and condensed to fit within the new requirements. All additional documentation should be maintained at wing if needed for submission to National.

Who can submit? Anyone can submit a Communicator of the Year award at the Wing or lower echelon, but it must be processed through the Wing Awards Committee and approved by the Wing Commander for submission to the Region.

Who can submit? To nominate a Region staff member, the documentation is submitted directly to the Region Awards Committee chairperson.

Desired Eligibility Requirements Be in the 214 Specialty Track for minimum of one year. A Master rating is preferred for the National Award. Should be qualified in Communications management and/or technical skills and be able to teach communications (ICUT & practical communications courses). Should have ES skills - MRO, CUL and others.

Desired Eligibility Requirements (cont.) Be active on radio nets. Handle radio traffic during nets. Is an innovator in communications and other CAP activities. Operates according to the CAP regulations. Works with and possibly mentors other members in the communications field.

Additional Eligibility Considerations Led or participated in communications seminars. Being active in community functions as a CAP communicator (parades, airshows, disaster relief, CERT training etc.).

PLEASE REMEMBER This award is authorized for any senior or cadet member who has met the requirements and has had the proper documentation submitted as established.

SER DISQUALIFICATIONS Award documentation bypassing the Unit Commander. Award documentation not signed by the Wing Commander. Award documentation that is not complete.

NHQ/Region Disqualifiers Not assigned to the 214 Specialty Track or only recently assigned. Has less than a couple of years as a communicator. Has never worked in a Communications ES skill. Has never operated radios or taught communication classes.

Additional information to help the member get the award As much back-up information as possible showing that the member has provided assistance and mentoring to cadets and/or seniors. To/From dates of previous communications positions in past units where commendations may have been written. List them and maintain copies as backup information if needed.

Additional information to help the member get the award Dates and types of certificates received for their communications actions and skills. Endorsement letters from former commanders or organizations that prove members desire to enhance CAP communications. These should be mentioned but not uploaded depending on amount of pages used, but maintain them if nominee is selected for National submission .

How to Organize the Narrative Introduce the person for the award of Communicator of the Year. Start at the career beginning and continue in chronological order. Show growth and progression. List specific deeds and accomplishments. Show how results benefited CAP.

What not to do Do not add flowery fluff that says nothing. E.G. – I am absolutely pleased and my heart is gladdened to be able to nominate Lt John J. Marconi to be the XX Wing’s Communicator of the Year. I have known him for a long time and he has a pleasant smile, laughs a lot and has always gotten things done that I asked. He holds an advanced amateur license. I think he is more than deserving of this award.

What was wrong with that? 1. NHQ and SER do not care how pleased you are to nominate him. 2. Nobody cares how long you have known him. 3. If you had to ask him to do things, then they are not his ideas, so he may not deserve the award. 4. NHQ and SER do not care if he has an amateur license. 5. There are no factual reasons why he deserves the award.

What to Write Capt. John J. Marconi is nominated as the Communicator of the Year for XX Wing. He has served in the communications field for XX years. During this time he has greatly improved the communications program of the XX Wing by… …and tell what he did from day one and make sure to include true facts and statistics.

Remember CAPR 100-1 says: “4-8. Communicator of the Year. This award has been established to recognize a current member who has made a significant contribution to the CAP Communications Program as a whole. This selection should be based on the member's lifetime contributions to the CAP Communications Program, not just the year of nomination.”

Communicator of the Year. But, If you do not submit the proper documentation and provide reasoning why the member deserves the award, the nominee will never have a chance to become a Communicator of the Year.

All questions should be directed to Lt. Col All questions should be directed to Lt. Col. Joel Katz, SER DCS Communications jkatz@sercap.us