2026 Cochise County Veteran of the Year Award - Sky Islands Regional Partnership

Program Overview

Sky Islands Regional Partnership’s (SIRP) Military Community Alliance (MCA) is sponsoring the Cochise County Veteran of the Year Award, recognizing and honoring a U.S. military veteran residing in Cochise County who has demonstrated exceptional post-service contributions to the community, professional excellence, civic engagement, and patriotism. The awardee will be recognized at the annual SIRP "Bring a Vet to Lunch" event and potentially other engagements across the county throughout the calendar year.

Eligibility Criteria

Must be a U.S. military veteran with honorable discharge (Redacted DD-214 required)
Resident of Cochise County
Demonstrated outstanding service to the community in civic, volunteer, business, education, healthcare, or other sectors.
Cannot be a current member of the selection committee

Nomination Process

Nomination Period: September 1 – September 30
Selection Period: October 1 – October 31
Official Recognition: Sky Islands Regional Partnership Bring a Vet to Lunch, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Who Can Nominate:

Community members
Veterans’ organizations
Local agencies, schools, or civic groups

Nomination Packet Includes:

Completed nomination form
Minimum of 1 letter of recommendation
Optional: Supporting documents such as photographs, news, articles, or awards.

The top candidates will be contacted by the selection committee and be required to submit the following documents prior to final selection.

Copy of redacted/sanitized DD-214 (or proof of honorable service)
Proof of Cochise County residency

Nomination Evaluation Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated in the following categories:

Community Service/Civic Engagement - Volunteer work, leadership, impact on community, advocacy, board participation, public service roles

Professional Accomplishments - Post-service success, mentorship, business/community leadership.

Character & Legacy – Integrity, humility, and lasting influence

Selection Committee Process

A 3-person selection committee of Military Community Alliance members will review packets independently and select 5 finalists using a pre-established rubric.
A member of the selection committee will reach out to the finalists to receive the required documentation.
The top five finalists' nomination forms will be shared with the MCA to score in order from 1 to 5. The top candidate will be selected as the annual Veteran of the Year.
All deliberations are confidential.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Nominee Information
First and Last Name: *

Address, City, State, Zip: *

Phone: *

Email: *

Branch of Service: *
Choose up to 6

Army

Air Force

Coast Guard

Marines

Navy

Space Force

Years of Service:
From: To: Total Years: *

Rank: *

Is the nominee aware of this nomination? *

Yes

Please Note: If selected as a finalist, the nominee will need to provide proof of Cochise County residency and an honorable discharge (Redacted DD-214).

Nominator Information:
First and Last Name: *

Relationship to Nominee: *

Phone: *

Email: *

Summary of Service and Achievements
Provide a brief description or examples of the nominee's service and achievements in the following three areas. Maximum 100 words per area.

Community Service/Civic Engagement: List the nominee’s leadership roles, impact on the community, board participation, or Veterans advocacy. *

(Word limit: 100)

Professional Accomplishments: List post-service successes, mentorship roles, business/community leadership. *

(Word limit: 100)

Character & Legacy: How does the nominee display integrity, humility, and lasting influence? *

(Word limit: 100)

The Veteran of the Year award is determined by the quality and depth of the information provided in the nomination form, rather than the number of times an individual is nominated. Please initial to indicate your understanding. *