ALCOAST 091/09
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR 2009 IMAGE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
1. NATIONAL IMAGE INC. (IMAGE), IS A NETWORK OF PROFESSIONALS WHOSE
OBJECTIVE IS FINDING POSITIVE AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE
CHALLENGES FACING THE HISPANIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED
STATES. IMAGE IS COMMITTED TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND CIVIL
RIGHTS. EACH YEAR IMAGE HONORS THE CG AND THE OTHER ARMED FORCES
DURING A SALUTE TO HISPANICS IN THE MILITARY AWARDS BANQUET.  THIS
YEAR, THE AWARDS CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
ANNUAL TRAINING CONFERENCE, MAY 11-15, 2009, IN SAN ANTONIO,
TEXAS.  NOMINEES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE AWARDS BANQUET ON MAY
14, 2009 WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THEIR COMMAND AND CONSISTENT WITH
MISSION REQUIREMENTS.
2. THIS YEAR, THE AWARD WILL RECOGNIZE ONE ACTIVE DUTY, ONE
RESERVIST, AND ONE CIVILIAN MEMBER WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED
THEMSELVES IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM OR WHOSE ATTRIBUTES BEST
EXEMPLIFIED THE COAST GUARD CORE VALUES OF HONOR, RESPECT AND
DEVOTION TO DUTY.  THE FOLLOWING SELECTION CRITERIA ARE LISTED AS
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE
AWARD.  NOMINATION LETTERS MUST DESCRIBE HOW NOMINEES HAVE
DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH EXEMPLARY AND SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR SERVICE AND THE NATION BY:
  A. PROMOTED THE TENETS OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS,
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, HUMAN RELATIONS AND/OR
PUBLIC SERVICE.
  B. ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND
MINORITIES.
  C. ENDORSED THE FULL INTEGRATION AND PROMOTION OF MINORITIES
AND WOMEN WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES.
  D. PROMOTED A POSITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ARMED FORCES AMONG
AND BETWEEN WOMEN, MINORITIES AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND
CIVILIAN POPULATION OF THE NATION.
  E. FOSTERED AN INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT BETWEEN THE
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ALL RACES AND ETHNIC
BACKGROUNDS, THAT BENEFITED EMPLOYEES AND/OR RESIDENTS.
  F. PROMOTED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ADVOCATED EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES WITHIN THE FEDERAL WORKPLACE.
  G. DISPLAYED EXCEPTIONAL QUALITIES THAT DISTINGUISHED THE
INDIVIDUAL AS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER.
  H. DEMONSTRATED BELIEF IN AND PRACTICED THE TENETS OF THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY THAT ALL
PERSONS ARE CREATED EQUAL, AND THAT FREEDOM AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT
IS A RIGHT THAT MUST BE PRESERVED.
3. NOMINATIONS.
 A. ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE UNIT COMMANDING
OFFICER OR OFFICER IN CHARGE.  NOMINATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE:
  (1) NOMINATION MEMORANDUM (CG MEMO FORMAT), NO MORE THAN TWO
PAGES, DESCRIBING THE MERITORIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE
AWARD CRITERIA. NOMINATIONS SHOULD ADDRESS EACH OF THE CRITERIA
LISTED FOR THE AWARD.
  (2) ENDORSEMENTS FROM COMMANDING OFFICER.
  (3) A RECENT HEAD-AND-SHOULDERS, 5X7 OR 8X10, PHOTOGRAPH OF THE
NOMINEE IN SERVICE DRESS BLUE BRAVO. THE PHOTOS OF THE WINNERS WILL
BE USED IN THE AWARDS BANQUET PROGRAM. PHOTOS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
  (4) A ONE-PAGE BIOGRAPHY OF THE NOMINEE.
  (5) ELECTRONIC COPIES OF ITEMS (1) THROUGH (4) ABOVE E-MAILED TO
THE POC DESIGNATED IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF THIS MESSAGE. BOTH A PRINTED
PHOTO AND A HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL PHOTO (GRAPHIC FILE FORMAT,
FOR EXAMPLE .JPG) IS PREFERRED.
 B. ORIGINAL NOMINATION PACKAGE(S) SHOULD BE SENT VIA COMMERCIAL
COURIER SERVICE SINCE ALL MAIL RECEIVED AT CG HEADQUARTERS IS
SUBJECT TO X-RAY, WHICH COULD DAMAGE CONTENTS. DO NOT SEND
NOMINATION PACKAGES VIA REGULAR MAIL.
4. SUBMISSION DEADLINE. ALL NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST BE RECEIVED BY
COMDT (CG-00H) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 13, 2009.  ELECTRONIC COPIES OF
THE NOMINATION PACKAGE SHOULD BE SENT VIA E-MAIL OR FAXED TO MS.
NICHOLE MILLINE AT COMMANDANT (CG-00H), 2100 SECOND STREET, SW,
ROOM 4404, WASHINGTON, DC, 20593-0001, 202-372-4504 (VOICE), E-
MAIL: NICHOLE.S.MILLINE(AT)USCG.MIL, OR FAX: 202-372-4504.
5. SELECTION PROCESS. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL:
 A. APPOINT A SELECTION PANEL TO REVIEW NOMINATIONS AND RECOMMEND
AWARD RECIPIENTS BASED ON THE STATED SELECTION CRITERIA.
 B. FORWARD THE NOMINATION PACKAGE OF THE RECOMMENDED AWARD
RECIPIENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FINAL PROCESSING.
 C. NOTIFY THE AWARD RECIPIENTS SELECTED BY PANEL.
 D. FUND TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR THE AWARD RECIPIENTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE IMAGE AWARDS BANQUET.
6. T. A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.