ALCOAST 349/20 - SEP 2020 SOLICITATION FOR THE JOSHUA JAMES ANCIENT KEEPER AWARD

R 171438 SEP 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 349/20
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR THE JOSHUA JAMES ANCIENT KEEPER AWARD
A. U.S. Coast Guard Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Manual, Volume I,
COMDTINST M16114.32 (series)
1. Per REF (A), this message announces the solicitation of
nominations for the Joshua James Ancient Keeper Award. The incumbent
Ancient Keeper, BMCM Kirk W. McKay, is scheduled to retire in July 2021.
2. Background.
   a. Captain Joshua James is the most celebrated lifesaver in Coast
Guard history, with 626 lives saved. Only those who have exemplified
the finest traits of maritime professionalism and leadership, like
Joshua James, were appointed as Station Keepers.
   b. The Joshua James Ancient Keeper Award recognizes longevity and
outstanding performance in Coast Guard Boat Force operations. It is
presented upon departure of the incumbent Ancient Keeper.
3. Eligibility Requirements. The Joshua James Ancient Keeper Award
winner will be selected IAW the criteria listed below.
All nominees must:
   a. Be a Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) or enlisted member who
has served on continuous active duty with ten or more years of accumulated
service at Boat Force units, of which five years must have been as
Commanding Officer or Officer in Charge of Stations or ANTs.
   b. Be qualified as a coxswain in accordance with directives and
guidelines in effect at the time of certification on any Coast Guard boat
(excluding skiffs and punts) attached to a shore unit.
   c. Have no non-judicial punishment, no civil convictions, have a mark of
“Satisfactory” in Conduct and no mark less than “4” on his or her enlisted
performance evaluation and must have maintained Good Conduct eligibility.
Have not received a derogatory report for any Officer Evaluation Report (OER)
and have not received a mark less than “4” on his or her OER.
   d. Be eligible to hold the distinction for at least two years. The
candidate may have no more than 28 years of service when designated as
awardee.
   e. Have a distinguished record of seamanship and leadership in
the Boat Force community.
   f. For the purpose of this award, Boat Force units include:
Stations, Station Smalls, Aids to Navigation Teams, Station Aids to
Navigation Teams (STANTS), Sectors, Marine Safety Units
(MSU) and Marine Safety Detachments (MSD) with a boat allowance, Maritime
Force Protection Units (MFPU), Maritime Safety and Security Teams
(MSST), Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRT), Port Security Units
(PSU), and Centers for Excellence (National Motor Lifeboat School, Training
Center Yorktown - Boat Forces and Cutter Ops Branch, Special Missions Training
Center - Boat Tactics Branch, Boat Force Standardization Team, Maritime Law
Enforcement Academy - Non-Compliant Vessel Course, and Boat Force Command
Cadre School).
4. Selection Criteria. The award recipient will be selected from the group
of candidates meeting the above criteria and have the most cumulative service
at Boat Forces units. In cases where candidates have the same amount of
cumulative service, the member who possesses the most service as CO or OIC
will be selected.
5. Selection. COMDT (CG-731) shall review all nomination packages
and recommend the nominee who best meets the criteria to COMDT (CG-7).
6. Action. Nomination packages shall be submitted via District
Commanders as prescribed in REF (A). District Commanders shall
not submit more than one nomination package. Headquarters units
shall submit nominations directly to COMDT (CG-731). All nomination
packages should be received by COMDT (CG-731), Attn: Kevin Jones, NLT 20
November 2020. All submissions shall be sent by email and must be in .pdf
format with all required signatures and endorsements.
7. POC: Mr. Kevin Jones, COMDT (CG-731), at 202-372-2459 or Kevin.M.Jones@uscg.mil.
8. RDML John W. Mauger, Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.