scope:

Purpose. To establish the Outstanding Religious Program Specialist (RP) of the Year Program and provide eligibility criteria and nomination procedures.

Applicability. This instruction applies to all active duty RPs in pay grades E-1 through E-6 in the Department of the Navy. Period of eligibility is the fiscal year prior to submission suspense (i.e., if the submission suspense is 10 January 2005, the period of eligibility is FY 04 (01 Oct 03-30 Sep 04). In accordance with article 0820 of reference (b), Major Claimants, commanding officers, and commanding generals are encouraged to submit only the most qualified Sailors for this award. One junior sailor E1-E4 and one senior Sailor E5-E6 representing sea and shore commands will be selected Navy-Marine Corps wide. This program should not detract, but augment, the Chief of Naval Operation's Sailor of the Year Program, for which Religious Program Specialists in pay grades E-5 and E-6 remain eligible.