Announcement of the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Douglas A. Zembiec Special Operations Officer of the Year Selection Board

1.  Situation.  
1.a. This MARADMIN announces the convening of the 2025
Douglas A. Zembiec Special Operations Officer of the Year
selection board and solicits nominations per Ref A. The
Zembiec Award is an award presented annually in memory of
Major Douglas A. Zembiec, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in
action in Iraq, 2007.  Major Zembiec was awarded the
Silver Star posthumously for his actions while leading his
Iraqi Partners during a nighttime raid in Baghdad.
Commander, United States Marine Forces, Special Operations
Command (COMMARFORSOC) will convene a board of Senior
Field Grade Officers to recommend an officer to the
Commandant of the Marine Corps for selection.
2. Mission.
2.a. Per Ref A, Commanders will use the following
criteria to submit nominations:
2.a.1.  Nominee must be serving on active duty as a MARSOC
Marine Raider Officer Team Commander during the period of
eligibility.
2.a.2. Previous recipients are ineligible to be
re-nominated.  Officers previously nominated but not
selected are eligible for subsequent nominations if they
meet all award criteria.
2.a.3. Nominations may be submitted posthumously,
provided the officer nominated would meet all eligibility
and award criteria.
2.a.4. Nominees should be recognized by seniors,
contemporaries, and subordinates as officers who most
exemplify outstanding leadership and tactical acumen in
the Marine Special Operations community.
2.a.5. Nominees must clearly and dramatically demonstrate
the ideals of courage, resourcefulness, perseverance, and
concern for the well-being of the Special Operations
community, our Corps, and their fellow Marines.
2.a.6. Nominees must exhibit qualities that have made an
outstanding contribution to the development of Esprit De
Corps, tactical and technical competence, and loyalty
within the Special Operations Forces community.
2.a.7. Nominees, through personal example, must set the
standards that all other officers seek to emulate.
2.a.8. Actions included in each nomination must have
occurred within the period of eligibility
(January-December 2025).
3. Execution. 
3.a. COMMARFORSOC will accept nominations from across 
the Service and Joint Force (where Marine Raider 
Officers may be serving) and convene a board to select
nominees using the eligibility and award criteria stated
above and specified in Ref A.  COMMARFORSOC will submit
the names of all nominees chosen by the board, including
the recommended award recipient to DC, PP&O (POF) no later
than 27 February 2026.  Nominations will consist of the
following:
3.b. Biographical information of the nominee.
3.c. Summary of performance supporting the nominee's
qualifications for the award.
4. Administration and Logistics.
4.a. DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination packages.
The packages submitted will include the nominee's unit
address, point of contact, and phone number
(Comm and DSN).  The packages shall be sent electronically
via unclassified email to the POC's indicated in this
message.
4.a.1. Nomination packages submitted via email must be
sent to all message POCS listed above.
4.a.1.a. Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure the entire
package is legible after scanning.
4.b. This MARADMIN does not apply to the Marine Corps
Reserve.
5. Command and Signal.
5.a. Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this
MSG.
5.b. Direct all questions regarding this MARADMIN to the
POCs listed above.
6. Release authorized by MajGen Jason L. Morris,
Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and
Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.