R 151823Z JUL 09

ALCOAST 401/09
COMDTNOTE 5230
SUBJ: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2009 NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MEXICAN
AMERICAN RIGHTS MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 111513Z JUN 09/ALCOAST 349/09
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LT JUAN RIVERA OF THE CG
RECRUITING COMMAND AND MS. AIDALIS MILLS OF ISC CLEVELAND ARE THE
RECIPIENTS OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS
(NOMAR) MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD.  REF A OUTLINES THE CRITERIA FOR
THIS AWARD.
2. LT RIVERA HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY INITIATING A LANGUAGE
SKILLS PROGRAM IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION, THEREBY REDUCING
COMMUNICATION BARRIERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.  SPECIFICALLY, HE
SPEARHEADED A SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM LEADING TO 19 COAST GUARD
MEMBERS LEARNING TO SPEAK SPANISH, RESULTING IN IMPROVED
COMMUNICATION AND WORK FORCE EFFICIENCIES.  LT RIVERAS COMMITMENT
TO DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE IS SUPPORTED BY HIS EFFORTS
HIGHLIGHTING THE COAST GUARD AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.  HE
CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGES IN RECRUITING EVENTS AT DIVERSE
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS: FLORIDA A AND M, INTER-AMERICAN
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, UNIVERSITY OF
CENTRAL FLORIDA, FLORIDA STATE, AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
IN ADDITION, HE CONDUCTED LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO OVER 1200 STUDENTS
AT THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HACU),
ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL SERVICES OFFICERS (ANSO), AND THE SOCIETY OF
HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS (SHPE).  LT RIVERA ALSO ACHIEVED
HISTORIC RECRUITING AND ACCESSION EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC REGION.  SPECIFICALLY, HE INCREASED FEMALE RECRUITING AND
ACCESSIONS RESULTS BY 15 AND 29 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY COMPARED TO
THE PREVIOUS YEAR.  LT RIVERA EMBODIES THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK FORCE
DIVERSITY.  HIS SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO THE COAST GUARD AND HIS
SHIPMATES IS A TESTAMENT TO HIS CHARACTER.
3. MS. MILLS LEGACY OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IS UNPARALLELED.  SHE
IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE CLEVELAND CHAPTER OF ANSO, THEREBY
INSPIRING AND INCREASING HISPANIC MEMBERSHIP TO UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS.  MS MILLS ALSO CHAIRS THE CLEVELAND FEDERAL HISPANIC
HERITAGE COMMITTEE.  THROUGH HER EFFORTS, SHE HAS GARNERED
COMMUNITY ACCOLADES FOR HER ACHIEVEMENTS IN ESPOUSING THE
IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY.  MS MILLS IS ALSO ACTIVE IN THE
CLEVELAND FEDERAL WOMENS PROGRAM, HAVING CONDUCTED MANY SUCCESSFUL
EVENTS.  AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, SHE ENGAGED NUMEROUS HISPANIC
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS EL BARRIO AND WEST SIDE ECUMENICAL
MINISTRY, FOSTERING A PARTNERSHIP WITH STATION CLEVELAND HARBOR TO
MENTOR DISADVANTAGED MINORITY STUDENTS FROM THE CLEVELAND AREA.  AS
A MENTOR, SHE ROUTINELY ENCOURAGES WOMEN OF ALL RACES AND ETHNIC
BACKGROUNDS TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYMENT
EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES.  MS. MILLS HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED HER
ABILITIES AS A LEADER, MENTOR, AND ROLE MODEL WITHIN THE CLEVELAND
COMMUNITY AND THE COAST GUARD.
4. THE NOMAR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO LT
RIVERA AND MS. MILLS AT THE 12TH ANNUAL NOMAR TRAINING CONFERENCE
AND BUSINESS MEETING IN LAS VEGAS, NV ON 26 AUG 09.  DETAILS ON THE
CONFERENCE CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.NOMARINC.ORG.
5. CAPT E.G.FAUX, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED