ALCOAST 108/09
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR 2009 HIGGINS AND LANGLEY MEMORIAL AWARDS IN
SWIFTWATER RESCUE NOMINATIONS
A. MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1650.25(SERIES)
1. THE SWIFTWATER RESCUE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR
SEARCH AND RESCUE IS SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2009 HIGGINS AND
LANGLEY MEMORIAL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF
SWIFTWATER RESCUE. THE AWARDS RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN
THE FIELD OF SWIFTWATER AND FLOOD RESCUE. IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUAL
RESCUE INCIDENTS AND SWIFTWATER AND FLOOD RESCUE TEAM EFFORTS,
THOSE WHO HAVE DEDICATED YEARS OF SERVICE TO DEVELOPING AND
IMPLEMENTING SWIFTWATER OR FLOOD RESCUE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY-MEDIA-EDUCATION EFFORTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR
NOMINATION. THE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE ANNUAL
CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE, 28-30
MAY 2009, IN LITTLE ROCK, AR.
2. THE AWARDS HONOR CIVILIAN RESCUER EARL HIGGINS WHO LOST HIS LIFE
IN FEBRUARY 1980 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SAVE A CHILD BEING SWEPT AWAY
IN THE FLOOD-SWOLLEN LOS ANGELES RIVER, AND FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC
JEFFREY LANGLEY OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO LOST
HIS LIFE IN A HELICOPTER ACCIDENT IN MARCH 1993.
3. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS 1 MARCH 2009 (REQUESTS FOR
EXTENSIONS MUST BE REQUESTED FROM THE SECRETARY, HIGGINS AND
LANGLEY AWARDS COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED IN PARAGRAPH 4). ONLY ACTIONS
AND ACHIEVEMENTS PERFORMED DURING THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD OF 1
JANUARY 2008, TO 31 DECEMBER 2008, WILL BE CONSIDERED. COAST GUARD
PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THESE AWARDS DURING THE LAST 15
YEARS AND A SELECT NUMBER HAVE BEEN HONORED AS RECIPIENTS.
4. THE NEXT SENIOR PERSON IN EACH NOMINEES CHAIN OF COMMAND SHOULD
SUBMIT NOMINATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE HIGGINS AND LANGLEY AWARDS
COMMITTEE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND NOMINATION FORMS ARE
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT HTTP://HIGGINSANDLANGLEY.ORG. QUESTIONS SHOULD
BE DIRECTED TO MATTHEW MAUZY, SECRETARY, HIGGINS AND LANGLEY AWARDS
COMMITTEE, P.O. BOX 335, CHAPEL HILL, NC 27514-0335, TEL:
919-967-1515X1, FAX: 919-967-1515X1.
5. MR. CURTIS B. ODOM, ACTING DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT,
SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.