A few years back, I shared a DAU LOG Blog post entitled “Tips for Writing a Winning Award Nomination Package”. In view of the fact the topic is as timely as ever, permit me to re-blog its contents as a handy – and hopefully helpful - resource for those of you authoring or submitting DoD award nomination packages. To also help facilitate your success, we also maintain a consolidated “one-stop shop” ACQuipedia article listing of (and containing links to) key Secretary of Defense and Department of Defense-level Product Support and Sustainment Awards.

Every now and again, I depart from sharing career field or professional development-specific information to share personal perspectives on a topic of possible interest to the community. This is one of those instances. Today’s topic is authoring an award winning nomination package. Having had the privilege of authoring more award nomination packages than I can count, as well as serving as an evaluator on a number of DoD and organizational awards boards, I’ve come to realize there are some common attributes that excellent nomination packages often have in common. Whether you’re writing a team or individual award nomination packages, as a public service, wanted to share a few insights I’ve gleaned over the years to assist you in crafting winning award nominations:

• The Basics
  • Review and understand the criteria
  • Follow the instructions
  • Start early – don’t wait to get started until late in the game
  • If there is a page limit, don’t exceed it.
  • If there are format requirements, ensure you meet them.
  • Write well. No spelling or grammatical errors. No run-on sentences.
  • Use active (not passive) voice.
  • If award is for a specific period, stick with contributions that occurred during that period
  • Anticipate time needed for internal review/staffing/approval.
  • Don’t embellish, exaggerate or overstate accomplishments.
  • Submit the nomination on time, and follow-up to ensure it was received.
• Getting Started
  • Ask yourself: is this truly a competitive nomination? You may decide this simply isn’t our year.
  • Be cognizant of scoring/weighting factors if applicable
  • Review earlier nomination packages if available. What kinds of information did previous winning packages contain?
  • If there are multiple categories required for a nomination, don’t put all your eggs (accomplishments) in one basket (a single category)
  • As an addendum, don’t ignore the importance of a lesser weighted category – all other things being equal, it may turn out to be the section that separates the winner from the runner up.
  • Write well (grammar, spelling)
  • Another set of eyes. Seek subject matter experts or trusted colleagues to review the package and provide feedback and suggested enhancements.
  • Edit, re-edit, then edit again.
• Put Yourself in the Shoes of the Reviewer/Assessor
  • Make the assessor’s job as easy as possible – don’t “bury the lede”,
  • More is not always better.
  • Be concise. Get to the point. Brevity can often be more force multiplier.
  • Avoid long, flowery, overly detailed text
  • Avoid unsubstantiated superlatives.
• Focus on Results, Impacts and Benefits.
  • Remember the 3Rs: Results, results, results!
  • Be “fact rich” and “opinion lean”
  • Ensure specific accomplishments actually occurred within the award period.
  • Constantly ask yourself questions such as: So what? Why does it matter? Why should the reader care? Who benefited? What difference did an accomplishment make?
  • Be specific. Cite specific examples. Quantify benefits. Were there cost savings? If so, what were they? One-time or ongoing? Performance enhancements? Metrics achieved/exceeded? What was the standard and by how much did we exceed them?
  • Outcomes? Improvements over a period?
  • Ask yourself what sets the nominee(s) apart? What separates the ‘very good’ from the truly ‘outstanding’?
  • Consider both enterprise impacts in addition to organization, program-specific, or individual benefits
  • Highlight specific examples of innovation, initiative, creativity, “above and beyond” activities, unique solutions, critical thinking, and leadership
  • Success begets success. Consider citing credible sources (e.g. senior leaders, GAO, IG, audit agency) who have spoken about the individual, team, or accomplishment. Solid, hard-hitting quotes from credible source can powerfully reinforce key points in the nomination.