Nominations for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award are currently being sought to recognize an exceptional chief petty officer, as well as one outstanding junior Sailor organization for the Junior Sailor Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Chapter of the year, until May 22.

Established by the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation, the prominent award is named in honor of Major League Baseball pitcher, National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHOF) inductee, and Navy veteran Bob Feller.

This unique award is intended to recognize a representative from three critical areas of Mr. Feller's life: his MLB career, his service in the Navy as a chief petty officer and his induction in the NBHOF. Accordingly, the award will be presented to one active MLB player, one chief petty officer and one member of the NBHOF. This year the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation will also recognize a group of Sailors, 18-25 years old, who have most effectively worked together as a team to promote peer-to-peer mentorship and a reduction in Sailor destructive personal decision making and behavior.

"The Bob Feller Act of Valor Award is very important because Mr. Bob Feller was once a part of us," said Ensign Sheena Hunt, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) educational services officer. "Besides being a Major League Baseball player, he served in the world's greatest Navy as a chief petty officer and fought in World War II. His leadership, bravery, honor, courage and commitment to the Navy, our country and Sailors are the very characteristics that our chief petty officers demonstrate on a daily basis. They are out on the deck plates leading, taking care of Sailors and molding them into great leaders."

In recognition of Mr. Feller's significant accomplishment in attaining the rank of chief petty officer, nominees for the chief petty officer award must be a chief petty officer (E-7 only), active or reserve, must be outstanding military professionals, and must embody the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

"I encourage departments to nominate their chiefs and Junior Sailor Chapters to show them that their hard work did not go unnoticed and that they are appreciated for what they do throughout their departments, the command, and communities," Hunt said.

Nominees for the Junior Sailor Peer-to-Peer Mentorship award must have worked effectively as a team to enhance their command's mission, Sailor, and community success in a manner consistent with the high ideals and personal example of Bob Feller.

Mr. Feller enlisted in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor while he was with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first American professional athlete to enlist. He served on the battleship USS Alabama (BB-60), and while doing so, the ship fought in both World War II theaters and earned eight battle stars. Mr. Feller was released from active duty achieving the rank of chief petty officer, and is the only chief petty officer in the Hall of Fame.

Complete instructions and requirements can be found in NAVADMIN 054/15 and any questions can be directed towards Ensign Hunt.

Abraham Lincoln is currently undergoing refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone.

Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit www.navy.mil/.