SUBJ: CAPTAIN HOPLEY YEATON CUTTER EXCELLENCE AND SUPERIOR CUTTERMAN AWARDS

1. The Assistant Commandant for capability is proudly soliciting nominations for the National Cuttermen Chapter Captain Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence and Superior Cutterman Awards. Captain Yeaton, our first cutterman, was a consummate professional mariner and leader who embodied the ‘can-do’ attitude that continues to define the cutterman spirit throughout the Coast Guard fleet today.

2. The Captain Hopley Yeaton Awards annually recognize two cutter crews and two cuttermen. Award categories and criteria for nomination are outlined as follows:

A. The Captain Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award will be presented to one large cutter (210 ft and above), and one small cutter (175 ft and below). All cutters are eligible, including those in pre-commissioning or commission-special status.

Cutters recognized for this award will have demonstrated exceptional performance worthy of special distinction in categories including, but not limited to:

1. Operations and mission accomplishment.

2. Commitment to crew and families.

3. Cutter training and readiness.

4. Engineering.

B. The Captain Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award will recognize one officer and one enlisted member from across the fleet who best exemplify the cutterman spirit and Captain Yeaton’s legacy. Nominees must be cuttermen (permanent or temporary with a minimum of one year of sea time) and currently assigned to an afloat unit. Winners of this award will have demonstrated excellence in various dimensions, which may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. Contribution to operational success.

2. Training and other administrative proficiency.

3. Personal leadership and adherence to the Coast Guard’s core values.

4. Embodiment of the cutterman ‘can-do’ mentality.

5. Notable acts such as personal heroism and/or positive engagements with the public or professional mariners.

6. Proficiency in shiphandling, navigation, boat handling, deck operations, cutter engineering, and/or other professional mariner skills.

7. Attainment of shipboard qualifications beyond normal expectations.

C. Members are ineligible for nomination if they have received Nonjudicial Punishment (NJP) or other disciplinary actions within the past five years.

3. A selection committee comprised of active duty officers, enlisted, and retired cuttermen, representing all facets of cutter operations, will review nominations and forward candidates to the National Cuttermen Chapter for selection.

4. Personal awards will be presented in Washington, DC in conjunction with the JAN 2017 surface navy association national symposium. Unit awards will be sent to the winning cutter’s OPCON for presentation.

5. More detailed nomination criteria and instructions for submittal can be found on the COMDT (CG-751) CGPortal page at: https://cg.Portal.Uscg.Mil/units/cg751/sitepages/home.Aspx or at National Cuttermen Chapter Awards Page.

6. Direct any questions to LCDR Craig Allen, at Craig.H.Allen@USCG.MIL.

7. CAPT Donna Cottrell, Acting Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.

8. Internet release authorized.