SUBJ: 2008 USCG ENLISTED PERSONS OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS
1. I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE SELECTION OF AMT2 STEPHEN M.
SANDERS OF AIRSTA ATLANTIC CITY AS THE ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED
PERSON OF THE YEAR AND MST2 JAMES K. WILKINSON OF SECTOR LOS
ANGELES-LONG BEACH AS THE RESERVE ENLISTED PERSON OF THE YEAR.
  A. PO SANDERS DEMONSTRATED RESPONSIBILITY FAR BEYOND EXPECTATION
FOR HIS PAY GRADE.  HE INITIATED AND OVERSAW 45K DOLLARS IN
RENOVATIONS TO SPACES AND TOOLS FOR THE AIR STATION CORROSION AND
METAL SHOPS. THESE MODERNIZATIONS IMPROVED THE QUALITY AND
EFFICIENCY OF COMPOSITE AND METAL REPAIRS AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
RESPIRATORY HAZARDS TO OUR MEMBERS.  A CONSISTENT INNOVATOR, PO
SANDERS WORKED EXHAUSTIVELY TO FABRICATE REPAIRS TO THE AFT CRUTCH
PAD ON CG6511, A MAJOR MAINTENANCE EVOLUTION NORMALLY ONLY
UNDERTAKEN DURING DEPOT-LEVEL MAINTENANCE.  FACED WITH A
TECHNICALLY COMPLEX AND TIME CONSUMING TASK, HE COMPLETED THE
REPAIR AND PROVIDED THE QUALITY ASSURANCE DIVISION WITH AN
OUTSTANDING PRODUCT.  HE TOOK EXTRA TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH AND DOCUMENT
EVERY STEP IN THE COMPLEX STRUCTURAL REPAIR.  A PRESENTATION WAS
DEVELOPED FROM HIS MATERIALS THAT ARE NOW USED FOR TRAINING MEMBERS
IN FABRICATION AND REPAIR PROCEDURES. ADDITIONALLY, PO SANDERS
SPEARHEADED A WINTER COAT DRIVE CAMPAIGN IN 2008 THAT SAW DONATIONS
INCREASE BY MORE THAN 6 PERCENT, ENABLING THE UNIT TO DELIVER MORE
THAN  130 WINTER CLOTHING ITEMS TO THE ATLANTIC CITY RESCUE
MISSION.
  B. PO WILKINSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING AND LEADING A TEAM
CONSISTING OF TWO RELATIVELY JUNIOR MST3 IN THE INSPECTIONS OF
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CONTAINERS AND SHORESIDE FACILITIES FOR
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.  ADDITIONALLY, HE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING ALL READINESS ISSUES, TRAINING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES RELATED TO HIS WEEKEND TEAM.  DURING
CALENDAR YEAR 2008 PO WILKINSON WAS SINGLE-HANDEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE SUCCESSFUL QUALIFICATION OF 11 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 3 CG
AUXILIARISTS AS HARBOR SAFETY OFFICERS (EK), FIVE HAZARDOUS
MATERIAL AND CONTAINER INSPECTORS (EC) AND FOUR FACILITY SECURITY
ASSISTANTS (SF-A).  THIS RESULTED IN A 100 PERCENT QUALIFICATION
RATE.  NOTABLE, DURING ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF INTERMODAL CONTAINERS
IN THE FALL OF 2008, PO WILKINSON IDENTIFIED A CONTAINER THAT
APPEARED TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY DEFICIENCIES.  HE
QUICKLY INSPECTED THE CONTAINER AND CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION OF THE
CONTENTS, LOCATING A SHIPMENT OF UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
AS A RESULT OF HIS THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICIES,
PROCEDURES AND LEGAL LIMITATIONS, A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONTAINER
WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND A SHIPMENT OF CONCEALED HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS WAS DETECTED.  PO WILKINSON ORGANIZED THREE COMMUNITY
BLOOD DRIVES WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN 2008.  HE IS ALSO AN
ASSISTANT SCOUT MASTER FOR A LOCAL BOY SCOUT TROOP AND REGULARLY
MAKES PRESENTATIONS AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS ABOUT GEOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.
2. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THEIR SUPERLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING
2008. AMT2 SANDERS AND MST2 WILKINSON ACTIONS ARE TRULY IN KEEPING
WITH OUR COAST GUARD CORE VALUES. THESE EXCEPTIONAL PETTY OFFICERS
WILL BE RECOGNIZED DURING CEREMONIES IN WASHINGTON, DC THE WEEK OF
8 JUN. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM.
3. THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE ALSO WORTHY OF SPECIAL
RECOGNITION, FOR THEY TOO HAVE PERFORMED SUPERBLY DURING 2008 AND
HAVE RIGHTFULLY EARNED THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION THROUGHOUT THEIR
RESPECTIVE AREAS:
  A. SK1 PATRICK GARVEY, CGC JUNIPER
  B. BM2 BRIAN CROSS, CG STA SAND KEY
  C. EM2 CHARLES NEWTON, CGC NEAH BAY
  D. DC1 NATHAN WISSMANN, CG SECTOR LOS ANGELES
  E. YN2 LAURA PRICE, CG ISC CLEVELAND
  F. DC1 JUSTIN KUXHAUSEN, CGC FIR
  G. MST1 JENNIFER THOMAS, CG SECTOR GUAM
  H. AET1 JAMES NICHOLS, CG AIRSTA SITKA
  I. DC1 NEIL GIBB, CG AST
  J. MST3 CHRISTOPHER SALOMONE, CG MSU BATON ROUGE
  K. BM1 JEREMY HANSEN, CG MSU PORT ARTHUR
  L. MK2 ADAM MOWBRAY, CG PATFORSWA/CG TACLET SOUTH
  M. EM1 JOSHUA BASSETT, CG NESU BOSTON
  N. ET2 CHARLES GARNETT III, CG ELC BALTIMORE
  O. SK1 JOMAR DUNHAM, CG ISC KETCHIKAN
  P. MK1 DANNY PITTS, CG SECTOR BOSTON
  Q. BM1 IAN BUCS, CG STA PHILADELPHIA
  R. PS1 DOUGLAS SOSA, CG SECTOR KEY WEST
  S. BM3 WESLEY KORAN, CG STA SHEBOYGAN
  T. MK3 JUSTIN FINNEY, CG STA SEATTLE
  U. MST1 AARON CAMREN, CG SECTOR HONOLULU
  V. PS2 SEAN PURCELL, CG SECTOR ANCHORAGE
  W. BM1 KEITH CUPPLES, CG PSU 305
  X. SK2 JESSICA LOFTUS, CG LANTAREA
  Y. SK2 STEFEN MONTAG, CG ESU SEATTLE
  Z. YN1 CHARLTON DAY, CG PPC
4. ADM T. W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.