R 011329Z APR 11

ALCGPSC 051/11
SUBJ: COAST GUARD FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
1.  THIS MESSAGE HIGHLIGHTS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND
IMPROVEMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE COMMANDANTS DECLARATION THAT 2011 IS
THE YEAR OF THE COAST GUARD FAMILY.
   2.  OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMAND (CSC) LEADS THE WAY IN
IMPROVING
OUR COAST GUARD WAY OF LIFE WITH COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, SUCH
AS:
     A.  INCREASING THE MORALE, WELL-BEING, AND RECREATION (MWR)
DISTRIBUTION TO A TEN-YEAR HIGH OF 80 DOLLARS PER ACTIVE DUTY
MILITARY MEMBER.  THIS IS DOUBLE THE 2010 RATE AND OUR THIRD
CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF INCREASED MWR ALLOTMENTS - A DIRECT RESULT OF
HIGHER COAST GUARD EXCHANGE SYSTEM (CGES) PROFITS AS A RESULT OF
IMPROVED SALES TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.  EACH PURCHASE MADE AT A
COAST GUARD EXCHANGE OR VIA OUR ONLINE SITE, WWW.CG-EXCHANGE.COM,
LEADS TO MWR FUNDS FOR OUR MEMBERS, UNITS, AND FAMILIES.  THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATRONAGE TO OUR COAST GUARD EXCHANGE.
     B.  BUILDING AND IMPROVING NEW CGES STORES.  SEVEN MILLION
DOLLARS IN CGES PROJECTS ARE PLANNED, INCLUDING THE TRACEN PETALUMA
EXCHANGE REPLACEMENT, AND RENOVATIONS TO EXCHANGES AT ATC MOBILE,
AIRSTA CAPE COD, TRACEN CAPE MAY, AND BASE KODIAK.
     C.  TEAMING WITH OPERATIONAL PARTNERS.  THE CGES DEPLOYABLE
SUPPORT EXCHANGE (DSE) CAN FORWARD DEPLOY TO OPERATING AREAS AND
PROVIDE PERSONAL MISSION SUPPORT TO OUR RESPONDERS AND OUR MEMBERS
AND FAMILIES.  THIS SPRING THE DSE WILL CONDUCT TRAINING DEPLOYMENTS
TO CG UNITS IN D8, D7, AND D5.  SEARCH COAST GUARD EXCHANGE ON
FACEBOOK FOR A LOOK AT THE DSC AND ITS DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE.
     D.  PARTNERING WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA (BGCA).
WE HAVE QUALITY YOUTH PROGRAMS AT FOUR COAST GUARD-OPERATED BGCS AT
TRACEN PETALUMA, PSSU KODIAK, AIRSTA BORINQUEN, AND AIRSTA CAPE COD.
RECENTLY, THE CSC ACCEPTED A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE BGCA OF XBOX
CONSOLES AND GAMES TO SUPPORT OUR FOUR SITES.  CSC ALSO PROVIDES
ACCESS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY BGCS THROUGH THE BGCA ALL-SERVICES MILITARY
YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM.  NEARLY 400 COAST GUARD DEPENDENTS ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THESE AFFILIATIONS.
     E.  SUPPORTING YOUTH ACTIVITIES.  AIRSTA BORINQUEN RECEIVED A
TIDES FOUNDATION/GOOGLE GRANT OF 21 THOUSAND DOLLARS AS PART OF AN
ONGOING EFFORT TO INCREASE TEEN ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND CAREER
PREPARATION.  BASE PORTSMOUTH HOSTED THE SECOND-EVER BGCA/TOY
INDUSTRY FOUNDATION MILITARY DEPENDENT TOY DISTRIBUTION.  THIS EVENT,
OPEN TO ALL MILITARY FAMILIES, PROVIDED NEW TOYS TO ALMOST 300
DEPENDENTS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL - AND ADDITIONAL EVENTS ARE PLANNED
FOR 2011.
     F.  TEAMING WITH THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION (USTA).
THE USTA IS ON BOARD WITH US TO SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES ON BOTH OUR
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR FAMILIES
RESIDE BY PROMOTING TENNIS AS A FITNESS ACTIVITY.
     G.  ALLYING WITH THE DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY (DECA).  A CSC
LIAISON ON THE DECA STAFF PROMOTES COAST GUARD FAMILY INTERESTS,
RESULTING IN DECA COMMISSARY ROAD SHOWS.  THESE MOBILE COMMISSARY
VISITS PROVIDE OUR FAMILIES ACCESS TO THE QUALITY MERCHANDISE AND
SAVINGS IN THE COMMISSARY SYSTEM THAT THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE.
STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL COMMISSARY ROAD SHOWS PLANNED IN 2011.
     H.  TEAMING WITH DONOR PROGRAMS.  THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT FOUNDATION AND THE TREES FOR TROOPS PROGRAM, CSC
COORDINATED DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 225 HOLIDAY TREES AT NINE COAST
GUARD LOCATIONS.
     I.  USING SOCIAL MEDIA.  YOU CAN FIND CSC FEATURES ON BOTH
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, CUSTOM VIDEO PRESENTATIONS ON YOUTUBE, AND SOON
A PRESENCE ON LINKEDIN.  THESE OUTLETS SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT CGES
SPECIALS AND MWR EVENTS.
     J.  SETTING CG-WIDE MWR STANDARDS.  THIS PROJECT WILL HELP OUR
BUDGET REQUESTS AND ENSURE WE FAIRLY DISTRIBUTE MWR RESOURCES ACROSS
THE SERVICE.
3.  AS WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR THIS YEAR OF THE MILITARY FAMILY, YOUR
CSC REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES AND
BENEFITS TO THE ENTIRE COAST GUARD FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.  HOWEVER,
THESE COMMUNITY SERVICES TO OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FIELD COMMANDS AND THEIR
HARD WORKING, DEDICATED STAFFS.   I COMMEND ALL OF YOU FOR THE ROLE
THAT YOU PLAY TO SERVE THE WORLDS BEST CUSTOMER, THE MILITARY FAMILY.
4.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
5.  RDML DANIEL R. MAY, COMMANDER, CG PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER,
SENDS.