The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award is presented annually by the U.S. Navy 's Chief of Naval Operations to one ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and one in the U.S. Pacific Fleet .
21-422: Generally the recipient is the ship with the highest score in the fleet's annual competitions for Battle Effectiveness Awards , and is therefore often thought of as the fleet's most battle-ready ship. This isn't strictly correct, because it has been the policy to rotate eligibility for the award annually among the various type commands ( aircraft carriers , submarines , amphibious ships , etc.). The award includes
42-404: A battleship for Uncle Sam . I know a lot of other kids would give their errand money if you would start a fund. I am 13 years old, and go to Public School No. 9, Brooklyn . Truly Yours, MARJORIE STERRETT I am a true blue American and I want to see Uncle Sam prepared to lick all creation like John Paul Jones did. P.S.—Please call the battleship America ." The letter was written during
63-411: A ship, aviation squadron, or unit must demonstrate the highest state of battle readiness. The Battle Effectiveness Award recognizes sustained fast and winning performance in an operational environment within a command. To qualify for Battle "E" consideration, a command must win a minimum of four of the six Command Excellence awards and be nominated by their immediate superior in command. Eligibility for
84-471: A small monetary stipend (about $ 500 in 2004). Commanding officers receiving the award must put the money into the ship's recreation fund, where it can be spent on athletic equipment, prizes for athletic or marksmanship competitions, recreation room furniture, dances, parties, and similar recreational activities. The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund was established in 1917 by the Tribune Association. It
105-451: A temporary signage, along with temporary hull numbers and a vessel name board, during unique events such as a change of command. For each subsequent consecutive competition won, the ship, aviation squadron, or other command paints an angled line, or hashmark, below the white "E". The very rare winners of five consecutive "E"s replace the white "E" and hashmarks with a gold "E" and silver star just above. The "E" and any hashmarks are removed in
126-549: A white "E" with black shadowing on their bridge wings or stacks to display evidence of the honor. Aviation units will paint the same color insignia or simply a black "E" on at least one of their aircraft (often the aircraft with the air wing commander's or squadron commanding officer's name on it). It may also be displayed on signage, such as on a squadron hangar. Because the U.S. Navy no longer paints identifying hull numbers, vessel names, or other markings on its submarine fleet, submarines that are Battle E recipients will display it as
147-568: The Battle "E" ), is awarded annually to the small number of United States Navy ships, submarines, aviation, and other deployable combat coded units that win their battle effectiveness competition. The criterion for the Battle Effectiveness Award is the overall readiness of the command to carry out its assigned wartime tasks, and is based on a year-long evaluation. The competition for the award is, and has always been, extremely keen. To win,
168-475: The Battle "E" ribbon ) was authorized on March 31, 1976, by Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf as a unit award for battle efficiency competition. The service ribbon replaced the "E" patch previously sewn on the right sleeve of the enlisted naval uniform for rates/pay grades E-1 through E-6. The Navy "E" Ribbon was designed by AZ3 Cynthia L. Crider in 1973. Her design and recommendation were approved by
189-574: The Korean War , and were not reinstated until 1958. 14 ships received the award in 1961 and 1962. The 1963 ship history for USS Enterprise (CVN-65) reported that they were awarded the (presumably 1962) Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award in August 1963. Battle Effectiveness Award The Battle Effectiveness Award (formerly the Battle Efficiency Award , commonly known as
210-428: The "E" award for the second time in a row, but with the new uniform change could not wear anything on their uniforms to show they had been awarded the Navy "E" two consecutive times. The Navy "E" Ribbon denotes the wearer was on permanent duty aboard a U.S. Navy ship or in a unit that won a battle efficiency competition after July 1, 1974. United States Marine Corps members assigned as ship's company are eligible on
231-406: The Navy "E" Ribbon for each award. When a sailor or Marine receives a fourth Navy "E" award, a silver wreathed letter "E" replaces the three "E" devices on the ribbon. The wreathed "E" effectively "closes out" the award ribbon — no further "E" devices are authorized for display to denote five or more awards of the Navy "E". Multiple "E" ribbon attachments are placed in a symmetrical, horizontal line in
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#1732856154073252-578: The Secretary of the Navy after three years, and the ribbon was subsequently created by the Department of the Army, which has the final approval for the design and colors of all ribbons and medals in the U.S. military. Serving with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 88 (VAW-88), a Naval Air Reserve E-2 Hawkeye squadron at NAS North Island , California, Petty Officer Crider designed the ribbon after her squadron won
273-762: The Surface Forces Training Manual (SURFORTRAMAN) has changed the name of the Battle Efficiency Award to the Battle Effectiveness Award for COMNAVSURFOR ships. In addition to the Battle "E," a ship's earned Command Excellence Awards are painted and displayed on the port and starboard side of the bulwark, aft of the Battle "E." They are: Aviation units may also display additional aviation-unique Command Excellence Awards on their aircraft or squadron signage ashore: Navy %22E%22 Ribbon The Navy "E" Ribbon or Battle Efficiency Ribbon (informally
294-421: The award demands day-to-day demonstrated excellence in addition to superior achievement during the certifications and qualifications conducted throughout the year. A command's performance during training exercises, weapons inspections, and tactical readiness examinations are among the 16 different areas that are considered in the competition. Ships that win a battle effectiveness competition are authorized to paint
315-512: The buildup to America's entry into World War I , and it generated a huge response. Former president Theodore Roosevelt responded immediately with a handwritten letter and a dollar contribution; within a few days he met with Marjorie in Manhattan . The Tribune printed the name of every contributor, and newspapers across the country reprinted Marjorie's letter and received additional donations. Ultimately 200,000 dimes were collected, each typically in
336-551: The highest scores in short-range battle practice, and to submarine crews making the highest scores in torpedo firing. Since the end of World War II, the Navy has emphasized readiness and fitness of the ship rather than competition between individual departments. Marjorie Sterrett-Raun died in March 1927 in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania . 1948 was the first post- World War II year in which awards were made. Awards were discontinued in 1951 due to
357-517: The name of a child or a contributor's yet-to-be born grandchild. The money was offered to the Navy, but Secretary Josephus Daniels at first rejected it, citing legal prohibitions. A law was soon enacted allowing the Navy Department to accept the money, and by early 1918 the $ 20,000 ( US$ 405,133 today) had been transferred to the government. Prior to World War II , income from the fund was used to pay prizes annually to turret and gun crews making
378-416: The same basis as Navy personnel; Marine Corps (and other sister-Service) personnel assigned to embarked units, such as aircraft squadrons, battalion landing teams, and Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) are not eligible to wear the ribbon. The Navy "E" Ribbon does not have a corresponding medal, meaning that when in full dress uniform (when medals are worn), the ribbon is placed above the right breast pocket of
399-472: The uniform instead of the left. However, when in standard uniform (no medals are worn), the ribbon is placed above the left breast pocket, along with all other citations and awards. The United States Coast Guard 's equivalent of the Navy "E" Ribbon is the Coast Guard "E" Ribbon . The first, second, and third award of the Navy "E" (Battle "E") are denoted by a silver 3 ⁄ 16 inch letter "E" device on
420-540: The year the command first fails to win the award. Personnel of ships, aviation squadrons, and other units that win the Battle "E" are authorized to wear the Navy "E" Ribbon and Battle "E" Device . Before 1976, Navy enlisted personnel at pay grade E-6 and below wore a small cloth "E" on their uniform sleeves (naval officers, chief petty officers, and all Marine Corps personnel wore nothing), with hashmarks and color corresponding to that on their ship or unit. The latest revision of
441-563: Was initiated by a contribution which accompanied the following letter, printed on February 4, 1916: "To the Editor of the New York Tribune "Dear Sir: "I read in your paper every morning a lot about preparedness. My grandpa and my great grandpa were soldiers. If I was a boy I would be a soldier, too, but I am not, so I want to do what I can to help. Mama gives me a dime every week for helping her. I am sending you this week's dime to help build
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