ALCOAST 011/26 - JAN 2026 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2025 BOAT FORCES AWARDS

R 121508Z JAN 26   MID320018463744U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 011/26
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR THE 2025 BOAT FORCES AWARDS
A. Boat Operations and Training (BOAT), Volume I,
COMDTINST 16114.32H
1. This ALCOAST solicits nominations for the 2025 Boat Forces
Awards. This includes the CDR Ray Evans Outstanding Coxswain Trophy
Award (Active Duty and Reserve), Fireman First Class Paul Clark
Outstanding Engineering Award (Active and Reserve), and the Master
Chief Jack Downey Award.
2. CDR Ray Evans Outstanding Coxswain Trophy Award.
    a. Background. While serving as Signalman First Class, Petty
Officer Ray Evans was awarded the Navy Cross for his gallant efforts
while fighting alongside fellow coxswain Douglas Munro on
27 September 1942 at Point Cruz on Guadalcanal. Petty Officer Evans
provided covering fire for, and evacuated elements of the 1st
Battalion, 7th Marines, who were under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Lewis B. Puller. Petty Officer Evans remained at his post
for the entire operation and, with every other member of his crew
killed or wounded, he maintained control of the boat and risked his
own life to save others. Only those who display extreme acts of
combat heroism and other distinguished service receive the
Navy Cross.
    b. The CDR Ray Evans Outstanding Coxswain Trophy Award recognizes
outstanding performance in Coast Guard Boat Force's operations and
is presented annually to one active-duty and one reserve enlisted
coxswain who demonstrates sustained exemplary performance and
superior technical, professional, and leadership abilities.
    c. Eligibility requirements. The 2025 CDR Ray Evans Outstanding
Coxswain Trophy Award recipients will be selected IAW the criteria
established in REF (A). Nominees must meet the following:
        (1) Be active duty, E-3 (with designator) through E-6 or
Selected Reserve member, E-3 (with designator) through E-6.
        (2) Be a certified coxswain.
        (3) Be assigned to a Boat Forces unit during the entire
designated calendar year.
        (4) Be actively engaged in physical readiness, successfully
passing the boat crew physical fitness test routinely, and in
compliance with body composition standards.
        (5) Have no non-judicial punishment, no civil convictions,
have a mark of satisfactory in conduct, and no mark less than four
on their enlisted performance evaluation.
    d. Selection criteria. The award recipients will be the coxswains
who possess the strongest combination of leadership, proficiency,
and performance of duty.
    e. Selection. The Office of Boat Forces will convene a selection
panel to evaluate the nomination packages, and the award recipient
will be announced via ALCOAST.
    f. Action. Nomination packages must be submitted by the
Commanding Officer/Officer-in-Charge to COMDT (CG-731) via the chain
of command using sample format provided at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg731/SitePages/Coxswain%20
Trophy%20Award.aspx

3. Fireman First Class Paul Clark Outstanding Engineering Award.
    a. Background. Fireman First Class Paul Clark was honored with
the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as engineer
of a landing craft during an assault on an occupation of French
Morocco in 1942. When a hostile aircraft strafed his boat with
machine gun fire, mortally wounding the bowman and severely injuring
the coxswain, Fireman Clark quickly assumed control of the craft and
immediately withdrew from the beach. He sped to an offshore ship,
placed the wounded men aboard and, although his craft was riddled
with enemy gunfire, courageously returned to his station at the
beach and completed his boat's mission.
    b. The Fireman First Class Paul Clark Outstanding Engineering
Award recognizes outstanding boat engineering performance and is
presented annually to one active-duty and one reserve enlisted
engineer who demonstrates sustained exemplary performance and
superior technical, professional, and leadership abilities.
    c. Eligibility requirements. The 2025 Fireman First Class
Paul Clark Boat Forces Engineering Award recipients will be selected
IAW the criteria established in REF (A). Nominees must meet the
following:
        (1) Be active duty, E-3 (with designator) through E-6 or
Selected Reserve member, E-3 (with designator) through E-6.
        (2) Be a certified boat engineer.
        (3) Be assigned to a Boat Forces unit during the entire
designated calendar year.
        (4) Be actively engaged in physical readiness, successfully
passing the boat crew physical fitness test routinely, and in
compliance with body composition standards.
        (5) Have no non-judicial punishment, no civil convictions,
have a mark of satisfactory in conduct and no mark less than four
on their enlisted performance evaluation.
    d. Selection criteria. The award recipients will be boat
engineers who possess the strongest combination of leadership,
proficiency, and performance of duty. Units that do not require a
boat engineer may submit a package for an individual performing
similar duties in the spirit of these criteria.
    e. Selection. The Office of Boat Forces will convene a selection
panel to evaluate the nomination packages, and the award recipient
will be announced via ALCOAST.
    f. Action. Nomination packages must be submitted by the
Commanding Officer/Officer-in-Charge to COMDT (CG-731) via the chain
of command using sample format provided at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg731/SitePages/Boat%20Forces%
20Engineer%20Award.aspx

4. For the purpose of these awards, Boat Forces units include:
Sectors (member shall maintain an active boat crew competency while
assigned), Aids to Navigation Teams, Centers of Excellence (NMLBS,
BFCO, SMTC-Boat Tactics Branch, MLEA-Pursuit School, (if maintaining
an active boat crew competency)), NSF (Deck Department), MFPU, MSST,
MSRT (Members assigned to Tactical Delivery Teams), MSU Huntington
Boathouse, PSU (Members assigned to Waterside Division), Stations,
Boat Forces Units (BFUs), and Cutters.
5. Master Chief Jack Downey Award.
    a. Background. Master Chief John E. Jack Downey led an exemplary
career, having served in the United States Coast Guard for over
40 years. He brought a wealth of leadership, professionalism, and
performance to a wide variety of operational, command, and staff
assignments over the years, including five Officer-In-Charge multi-
mission ashore assignments and two Officer-In-Charge afloat
assignments. Having held Officer-In-Charge positions at Boat Forces
units for more than 17 years of the more than 20 years he served in
the Boat Forces Community; he was the first recipient of the Joshua
James Keeper Award, which is presented to Coast Guard members in
recognition of their longevity of service and their outstanding
performance in Boat Forces operations. As Officer in Charge at
Station Chatham, he received a much-needed new surf capable rescue
boat, the 28 ft LeCompte. In October 1991, Cape Cod and New England
were slammed by the No Name or Halloween Storm, later known as
"The Perfect Storm." Under Master Chief's leadership, the station
crew prepared for one of the most ferocious storms in history and
performed many rescues in the wake of the storm. Master Chief Downey
received many prestigious awards throughout his career, but his
greatest legacy may not be his personal heroics, but the wisdom,
guidance and experience he shared with innumerable Coast Guard women
and men, from Cadets to Commanders.
    b. The Master Chief Jack Downey Award recognizes units in four
categories:
        (1) Station
        (2) Advanced Competency Station
        (3) Aids to Navigation Team
        (4) Other (cutters, TRACENs, MSST, MSRT, MFPU, PSU,
Strike Team) who have exemplified the finest traits of a Boat Forces
unit. The award nominee's activities shall have occurred during the
designated calendar year, and award recipients will hold the
distinction for one year.
    c. Eligibility requirements. The 2025 Master Chief Jack Downey
Award recipients will be selected IAW the criteria established in
REF (A).
    d. Selection criteria. The award recipients will be the units who
possess the strongest combination of:
        (1) Mission Performance.
        (2) Leadership and Partnerships.
        (3) Community Outreach.
        (4) Readiness.
        (5) Safety.
    e. Selection. The Office of Boat Forces will convene a selection
panel to evaluate the nomination packages, and the award recipients
will be announced via ALCOAST.
    f. Action. Nomination packages must be submitted by the
Commanding Officer/Officer-in-Charge to COMDT (CG-731) via the chain
of command using sample format provided at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg731/SitePages/Jack%20Downey
%20Award.aspx

6. All nomination packages require endorsement by one level up the
chain of command and should be received by COMDT (CG-731),
Attn: LT James Meadows, NLT 16 FEB 2026. All submissions must be
sent by email and must be in PDF format with all required signatures
and endorsements. Electronic signatures are acceptable. Nominations
must be in standard memorandum format, not to exceed three pages.
Endorsements must not exceed one page.
7. POC: COMDT (CG-731) LT James Meadows, James.L.Meadows@uscg.mil.
(571) 608-9279. For general policy questions contact COMDT (CG-7311)
at HQS-DG-Ist-CG-7311@uscg.mil.
8. RDML Amy Grable, Assistant Commandant for Capability
(CG-7), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.