ALCOAST 004/09
COMDTNOTE 5354
SUBJ: SOLICITATION OF NOMINEES FOR THE 2009 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
(DOD) AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH (AAHM) RECOGNITION AWARDS
A. COAST GUARD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANUAL, COMDTINST M5350.4
(SERIES), CHAPTER 3, SECTION G.
1. COMMANDANT (CG-00H) IS SOLICITING NOMINEES FOR THE 2009 DOD AAHM
RECOGNITION AWARDS UNDER AUTHORITY OF REFERENCE A AND WILL ACCEPT
COMPLETE NOMINATIONS THROUGH THE DEADLINE DATE OF 26 JANUARY 2009.
DURING FEBRUARY 2009, DOD WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL OUTREACH AND
OBSERVANCE PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
2009. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS EVENT IS THE RECOGNITION OF SERVICE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.
2. THE DOD WILL GIVE AAHM AWARD RECOGNITION TO ONE ACTIVE DUTY AND
ONE DRILLING RESERVE COAST GUARD MEMBER FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN
SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM AND THE IDEALS OF DUTY,
HONOR AND COUNTRY, THE COAST GUARD CORE VALUE ATTRIBUTES. NOMINEES
MUST HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES DURING THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY
2008 TO JANUARY 2009. WITH CONCURRENCE FROM THEIR COMMANDS AND
CONSISTENT WITH MISSION REQUIREMENTS, SELECTED NOMINEES ARE
EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE DOD RECOGNITION EVENT HELD AT ALABAMA A&M
UNIVERSITY IN NORMAL, ALABAMA ON 25 FEBRUARY 2009.  COMMANDANT (CG-
00H) WILL ISSUE TONOS FOR THE COAST GUARD AWARDEES ATTENDANCE AT
THE DOD RECOGNITION EVENT.
3. NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST INCLUDE:
 A. A BLACK AND WHITE OR COLOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH (.JPG FORMAT,
HEAD AND SHOULDERS) OF THE NOMINEE.
 B. TYPEWRITTEN, SINGLE-SPACED, ONE-PAGE NARRATIVE, DESCRIBING THE
NOMINEES ACCOMPLISHMENTS WARRANTING THIS RECOGNITION (MS WORD
DOCUMENT, 12-PITCH FONT WITH 1-INCH LEFT AND RIGHT MARGINS).
 C. TYPEWRITTEN, SINGLE-SPACED, ONE-PAGE BIOGRAPHY (MS WORD
DOCUMENT, 12-PITCH FONT WITH 1-INCH LEFT AND RIGHT MARGINS).
 D. TYPEWRITTEN, SINGLE-SPACED CITATION (MS WORD DOCUMENT, NOT TO
EXCEED 12 LINES OF NARRATIVE, 12-PITCH FONT, WITH 1-INCH LEFT AND
RIGHT MARGINS) HIGHLIGHTING THE NOMINEES  ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING
THE AWARD PERIOD.
 E. TYPEWRITTEN LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NOMINEES
COMMANDING OFFICER, WITH AN ENDORSEMENT FROM THE NOMINEES CHAIN OF
COMMAND TO COMMANDANT (CG-00H), (MS WORD DOCUMENT, ONE-PAGE, 12-
PITCH FONT) SENT VIA E-MAIL TO THE POC, DATED 21 JANUARY 2009 OR
EARLIER.
 F. TYPEWRITTEN AWARD NOMINATION TRANSMITTAL COVER SHEET (MS WORD
DOCUMENT, ONE-PAGE, 12-PITCH FONT) STATING THE FOLLOWING FOR BOTH
THE NOMINEE AND HIS/HER COMMANDING OFFICER: NAMES, POSITION TITLES,
GRADE/RANKS, ORGANIZATIONS, MAILING ADDRESSES, WORK AND FAX PHONE
NUMBERS AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES.
4. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO NOMINATE MEMBERS FOR THIS
RECOGNITION AND SEND ELECTRONIC NOMINATIONS (REQUIRED) AS
ATTACHMENTS VIA AN E-MAIL MESSAGE TO THE POC, WILLIAM.J.PORTER(AT)
USCG.MIL.
5. COMMANDANT (CG-00H) WILL CONDUCT AN AWARDS BOARD TO SELECT THE
COAST GUARD AWARDEES (1 ACTIVE MEMBER AND 1 DRILLING RESERVE
MEMBER) AND ANNOUNCE THE AWARD RECIPIENTS VIA ALCOAST.
6. T.A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.