R 121543Z JUN 09 

SUBJ: 2009 LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC)
EXCELLENCE IN MILITARY SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
1. IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT LT ANTONIO DONIS OF
COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS AND PS3 JIMMY RODRIGUEZ OF TACTICAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TEAM SOUTH HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE COAST GUARD
RECIPIENTS FOR THE 2009 LULAC EXCELLENCE IN MILITARY SERVICE AWARD.
LULAC FOCUSES HEAVILY ON EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND EMPLOYMENT
FOR HISPANICS AND FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS LULAC HAS WORKED HARD TO
BRING FORTH POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES FOR HISPANIC
AMERICANS.
2. AS THE ACTIVE DUTY RECIPIENT, LT DONIS IS COMMENDED FOR HIS
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AS THE COMPASS PROGRAM MANAGER. THE
COMPASS PROGRAM LINKS COAST GUARD VOLUNTEERS TO MINORITY
COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
WITHIN OUR SERVICE.  LT DONIS MANAGED A TEAM OF 500 ACTIVE COMPASS
MEMBERS, INCREASING COAST GUARD VISIBILITY IN OVER 68 LOCATIONS
WORLDWIDE.  THROUGH HIS WORK WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL
SERVICES OFFICERS (ANSO), LT DONIS HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES THAT
SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTE TO MENTORSHIP, DEVELOPMENT, ADVANCEMENT AND
RETENTION OF HISPANICS IN THE COAST GUARD.
3. AS THE RESERVE RECIPIENT, PS3 RODRIGUEZ PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NAVAL TRAINING TEAM IN UMM QSAR, IRAQ WHILE
DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.  HE CONDUCTED MORE
THAN 45 VESSEL INSPECTIONS, SAFEGUARDING HIGH INTEREST TARGETS
WHICH SERVE AS THE BACKBONE OF THE IRAQI ECONOMY.  HE ALSO TRAINED
MORE THAN 30 IRAQI MARINES IN COMPREHENSIVE PROCEDURES AND
PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH MARITIME BOARDINGS AND TACTICAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT DUTIES.  HIS EFFORTS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE
TRANSITIONAL ROAD MAP STRATEGY FOR COALITION FORCES IN THE REGION.
PS3 RODRIGUEZ ALSO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A HUMANITARIAN,
SKILLFULLY ORGANIZING A TWO DAY COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT FOR JOINT
FORCES DURING A PORT CALL IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA.  THIS MULTI-
NATIONAL FORCE TEAM REPAIRED THE FAILING ROOF AT A NON-PROFIT
SCHOOL, LEAVING A FAVORABLE IMPRESSION WITH ISLAND RESIDENTS.
4. LT DONIS AND PS3 RODRIGUEZ WILL BE PRESENTED THE LULAC
EXCELLENCE IN MILITARY SERVICE AWARDS AT THE AWARDS BREAKFAST
DURING THE 80TH LULAC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND EXPOSITION IN SAN
JUAN, PR ON 16 JULY 2009.
5. DETAILS REGARDING THE LULAC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND EXPOSITION
CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.LULAC.ORG.
6. CAPT E. FAUX, DEPUTY, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.