The NFL and USAA, the Official NFL Salute to Service Partner, announced that Oakland Raiders running backs coach Jemal Singleton is the team's nominee for the eighth annual Salute to Service Award. The Salute to Service Award annually recognizes NFL players, coaches, personnel and alumni who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community, as nominated by NFL clubs. Finalists for the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA will be announced in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Feb. 2, 2019, the night before Super Bowl LIII.
In just his first year with the Raiders, Singleton, who played and coached at the Air Force Academy, has already stepped forward in his support of veterans. After learning that the Raiders Foundation was gifting container homes to six veterans at Veterans Village in Las Vegas, Singleton took time from a family vacation to fly to Las Vegas to be there for the presentation. Not only was Singleton at the presentation, but he met with the veterans of Veterans Village and went on a tour of the model container home.
The Salute to Service Award is part of the NFL and USAA's year-round commitment to recognize and honor the military community. Each year, the NFL and its 32 teams come together to honor, empower and connect with members of the military as part of the NFL's Salute to Service. The league's year-round military appreciation efforts culminate in November with NFL Salute to Service games and other special events honoring and thanking veterans, active duty service members and their families.
The Raiders Foundation will host a select group of around 50 local veterans and their guests at the team's Alameda Facility while commemorating the NFL's Salute to Service initiative. The esteemed veterans and their guests will be treated to dinner in the same location as where the current players dine, receive an exclusive tour of the Raiders Alameda Facility and interact with current Raiders players and Alumni. Honor Flight Bay Area recognizes American veterans for their sacrifices and achievements.
