In commemoration of the Reserve Forces Policy Board’s 50th Anniversary,
the Board, under the leadership of former Chairman Al Zapanta, established the Citizen Patriot Awards for Distinguished Service in 2002. An individual and an organization will be recognized annually.
The Citizen Patriot Award is the highest award conferred by the RFPB Fellows Society and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Reserve Components at the national level. The recipient will have made a substantial contribution to the nation’s defense and to national security. Recipients will have demonstrated a quantifiable and recognizable pattern of excellence over a lifetime.
The Citizen Patriot Unit Award is intended for units organized to serve the nation. The recipient unit will have made a substantial contribution to the security and/or defense posture of the United States of America in a manner worthy of recognition at the national level and will have demonstrated a quantifiable and recognizable pattern of excellence.
The responsibility and privilege of presenting this prestigious award has been transferred to the RFPB Fellows Society. The RFPB Fellows Society will continue the tradition of honoring those who have demonstrated exemplary service.
Citizen Patriot Award
Past Citizen Patriot Award Recipients
Individual Award: Honorable John O. Marsh Jr.
Unit Award: Woman Air Service Pilots of World War II
Individual Award: Honorable G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery
Unit Award: “The First Shot Club” Veterans USS Ward (DD 139)
Individual Award: Honorable Melvin R. Laird
Unit Award: Bataan Death March Units, 200th and 515th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard
Individual Award: General John W. Vessey Jr.
Unit Award: Montford Point Marines
Individual Award: Honorable Robert Dole and Mr. Terrence O'Connell
Unit Award: 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve
Individual Award: Honorable John S. McCain
Unit Award: Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 84, U.S. Navy
Individual Award: Senator Sam Nunn
Individual Award: General George A. Joulwan
Unit Award: 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry Regiment
Individual Award: Honorable Deborah Lee James and Honorable Steve Buyer
Unit Award: Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWO FIVE
Unit Award: 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team
Individual Award: LTG Mick Kicklighter (Ret)
Unit Award: 200th RED HORSE Squadron
Individual Award: No recipient this year
Individual Award: No recipient this year
Unit Award: No recipient this year
Individual Award: No recipient this year
Unit Award: No recipient this year
Individual Award: No recipient this year
Unit Award: 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Individual Award: No recipient this year
Unit Award: 369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters)
2002
2003
2004
2005
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Nomination Process for the Citizen Patriot Award
Individual and Unit category recommendations should be submitted in narrative format to include the individual/unit’s full name (decommissioned units are eligible for the Unit award) without abbreviations or acronyms, complete address and the unit’s background in the first paragraph. The period of eligibility has no time parameters.
Second and succeeding paragraphs should highlight the individual/unit’s accomplishments and contributions to the security and/or defense posture of the United States of America in a manner worthy of recognition at the national level and will have demonstrated a quantifiable and recognizable pattern of excellence.
Award Timeline:
1 Apr 2022
Nomination Solicitation: The RFPB Fellows Society solicitation announcement will be sent to all Reserve Component Chiefs, the National Guard Association of the U.S., and the Reserve Organization of America requesting Unit nominations for the Citizen Patriot Awards. Citizen Patriot Individual Award nominations are submitted by the RFPB and the RFPB Fellows Society only.
1 Jun 2022
Nomination Submission Deadline: Both Individual and Unit category recommendations should be submitted via memorandum format. Recommendation package enclosures and/or attachments are permitted. Submit scanned packages in “pdf" format to: RFPBfellowssociety@gmail.com.
15 July 2022
Award Committee Vote: The RFPB Fellows Society Secretary/Treasurer will validate each nomination package. All award nominations will be electronically transmitted to the RFPB Fellows Society Awards Committee for review and consideration.
The RFPB Fellows Society Awards Committee will submit their votes electronically via email to: RFPBfellowssociety@gmail.com.
1 August 2022
Announcement of Winners: The RFPB Fellows Society Awards Committee officially vote on both the Individual and Unit Award recipients and formally announcement of winners via a person phone call by the RFPB Fellows Society President.
2022 - RFPB Fellows Society annual meeting - TBD
Award Presentation: The Individual and Unit Awards presentations by the RFPB Fellows Society will take place a time to be determined in conjunction with the RFPB Annual Meeting if possible.
In 1947, President Harry Truman planted the seed for what is now the Reserve Forces Policy Board.
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