The General Brehon B. Somervell Medal of Excellence
Recognizing a Lifetime of Multi-Functional Logistics Leadership
The General Brehon B. Somervell Medal of Excellence is the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command’s highest honor for sustained, multi-functional logistics achievement. It is not a PCS or change of duty position award; it is a profound recognition of a lifetime dedicated to the art and science of Army sustainment.
This medallion honors those exceptional U.S. Military and DoD Civilians whose careers have transcended single-branch expertise to fundamentally shape, improve, and lead the broader sustainment enterprise. Recipients of the Somervell Award represent the very best of our profession, leaders who have ensured the Total Force is equipped, supplied, and ready to fight and win our Nation's wars.
The award is named in honor of General Brehon B. Somervell, a visionary leader and the driving force behind Army logistics during World War II. As the Commanding General of the Army Service Forces, he orchestrated the most massive, complex global supply chain in military history, famously stating, "Good logistics alone can't win a war. Bad logistics alone can lose it." General Somervell is also remembered as the man who conceived and directed the construction of the Pentagon. The Medallion of Excellence honors his legacy of strategic foresight, unwavering dedication, and multi-functional sustainment impact.
To be considered for the General Brehon B. Somervell Medal of Excellence, nominees must meet the following strict criteria as outlined in Somervell Policy Memorandum.
Official Somervell Policy Memorandum
• Time in Service: Must possess 25 or more years of documented sustainment experience (military, civilian, or combined).
• Multi-Functional Impact: Must demonstrate significant, lasting contributions to the Army sustainment enterprise across at least two (2) or more functional areas of logistics (e.g., Supply, Maintenance, Transportation, Field Services, Medical Logistics).
• Status: Must be in good standing with no pending disciplinary actions.
• Active Duty, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers (Enlisted, Warrant Officer, and Commissioned Officer).
• Department of the Army (DA) Civilians.
• Note: Approval is posthumous for personnel who met the criteria prior to their passing.
• Contractors and Foreign National personnel are not eligible.
• The Somervell Medal cannot be used as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Change of Duty, or routine retirement award. It is strictly a recognition of a lifetime of multi-functional excellence.
• Nominations that highlight excellence within only a single, specialized branch (e.g., purely Transportation or purely Quartermaster) will be returned without action. For branch-specific excellence, recommenders should pursue regimental awards (e.g., Order of Saint Martin, Order of Saint Christopher).
The Logistics Proponency Office has streamlined the Somervell Award nomination process. Please follow these three steps carefully to ensure your packet is complete and ready for board review.
Do not use outdated forms. To ensure your nomination meets current board standards, you must download and use the official templates provided below.
Official Somervell Nomination Memo Template (.docx)
• Note: The justification paragraphs must clearly articulate the nominee's multi-functional impact across the sustainment enterprise. Avoid simply listing duty descriptions.
Somervell Award Submission Checklist (.pdf)
• Note: This checklist must be completed and signed by the submitting POC to verify all eligibility criteria have been met.
Gather the required documents. A complete nomination packet consists of exactly three (3) files, saved in PDF or Word format:
1. The Signed Nomination Memo (from Step 1) (Word)
2. The Completed Submission Checklist (from Step 1) (PDF)
3. The Nominee’s Official Record (Current Soldier Talent Profile (STP) for military personnel, or a comprehensive professional Biography for DA Civilians) (PDF or Word).
Important: Incomplete packets or packets missing the STP/Bio will be returned without action.
Once your three documents are ready, use our secure online portal to submit the packet directly to the Logistics Proponency Office.
Submission Timeline & Expectations:
• Processing Time: The Somervell Board review and Commanding General approval process typically takes 30 to 45 days from the date of submission.
• Planning Your Timeline: Please submit your packet at least 45 days prior to any planned presentation ceremony or retirement date.
• Confirmation: The submitting POC will receive an email confirming receipt once the packet is successfully uploaded.
The General Brehon B. Somervell Medal of Excellence is highly competitive. To ensure your nominee receives the recognition they deserve, the Somervell Award Board strongly recommends reviewing the following guidance before drafting your justification memo:
This is the most common reason for a packet’s return or disapproval. The Somervell Medal is explicitly designed to recognize enterprise-level, multi-functional sustainment impact.
• The Pitfall: Nominations that only highlight exceptional performance within a single, specialized branch (e.g., a career spent entirely in Transportation, or purely in Aviation Maintenance).
• The Solution: Your justification must clearly articulate how the nominee’s achievements crossed functional lines. Show how their expertise in one area (e.g., Supply) directly improved or integrated with others (e.g., Maintenance, Medical Logistics, or Field Services) to enhance the readiness of the Total Force.
A strong nomination tells the story of what the nominee achieved, not just what their job title was.
• The Pitfall: Copying and pasting bullets from an NCOER, OER, or civilian performance appraisal that simply list daily duties (e.g., "Served as the Accountable Officer for a $50M property book").
• The Solution: Focus on tangible, lasting impacts. Use quantifiable data to show cause and effect. Example: "As the Accountable Officer, they developed and validated new processes that directly integrated maintenance and supply functions, tangibly improving equipment readiness across the entire Brigade."
While many Somervell Medals are presented near the end of a career, the award itself is not granted simply for 25 years of honorable service.
• The Expectation: The board expects to see a clear pattern of sustained excellence and strategic influence throughout the nominee’s career, culminating in a profound impact on the Army Logistics Corps.
If your nominee is a master of their specific craft but their career has been highly specialized within a single sustainment branch, the board highly encourages pursuing branch-specific recognition instead.
• For Quartermaster Professionals
• For Transportation Professionals
Last Updated: 29 April, 2026