When the 20th anniversary of the date you joined US SubVets comes around, your Base is going to celebrate that achievement with you, by presenting you with a 20 -Year Pin and Certificate commemorating your significant milestone at a Base meeting in recognition of your achievement.

But what if you have already passed that 20-year milestone? No problem. We will recognize all shipmates that have achieved 20 or more years of membership with a Pin and a Certificate noting their longevity year Achievement, at no cost to the member or his Base,

Been a member for 25 years? You will receive your 25 Year Pin and Certificate of that Achievement this year and a Pin and Certificate every five years thereafter as our gift to you in recognition of your loyalty, continuing support of SubVets and being a sustaining member for so many years.

It's our way of saying, "Thank you Shipmate, thanks for your membership in, and your support of, the largest and, arguably, the best Submarine Veterans organization in the world, bar none!"

How this new recognition program will be administered.

1. National will provide a Master list of our members who joined USSVI during or before 1984 which marks 20 years or more of membership. The list will be sent to the three Regional Directors, for confirmation with their Base Commanders for all members who have achieved or will achieve 20 or more years of membership during 2004. After review and confirmation the Regional Directors will send the approved list for their Region to the National Awards Chairman.
2. The National Awards Chairman will prepare a Certificate and Pin for the highest number of years achieved at no cost to the member or the Base, for each qualifying member and send them to the appropriate Base Commander. For any qualifying MALs, the Pin and the Award will be sent to their last home address of record.
3. The Base Commander may frame the Certificate presenting both the Certificate and the Pin to the member at a membership meeting. As a result, every member in USSVI that has achieved 20 or more membership years will be recognized this year.

1. At the beginning of all subsequent years, the Regional Directors will receive a new Master list from National for review with their Base Commanders (regarding transfers in, out, MALs joining, changes, etc.), sending their approved list for their Region to the National Awards Chairman.
2. The National Awards Chairman, will then prepare and send a Certificate and Pin for the highest number of years achieved, at no cost to the member or the Base, to the appropriate Base Commander. For qualified MALs, the Pin and Certificate will be sent to their last home address of record.
3. The Base Commander may frame the Certificate, presenting both the Certificate and the Pin to the member at a membership meeting.

NOTE: Don Bassler of the Bremerton Base contributed to the initial concept of this program