R 121430Z JAN 12

ALCOAST 021/12
COMDTNOTE 1750
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR 2011 WANDA ALLEN-YEAROUT OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR
AWARD
1. EACH YEAR THE COAST GUARD RECOGNIZES THE EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
OF A COAST GUARD OMBUDSMAN THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED THE MOST TO IMPROVE
COMMAND MISSION READINESS THROUGH FAMILY READINESS. ALL ACTIVE DUTY
AND RESERVE UNIT OMBUDSMEN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS AWARD.
2. COAST GUARD OMBUDSMEN ARE THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN COMMANDS AND
FAMILIES THEY:
     A. ENSURE COAST GUARD FAMILIES HAVE THE INFORMATION AND
RESOURCES
NECESSARY TO MEET THE EVER-CHANGING CHALLENGES OF A MILITARY
LIFESTYLE.
     B. ASSIST COMMANDING OFFICERS/OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE IN HAVING A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WELL-BEING OF COMMAND FAMILIES.
3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: ALL ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE UNIT
OMBUDSMEN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS AWARD. TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS
AWARD AN OMBUDSMAN MUST HAVE:
     A. DEMONSTRATED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND
CONFIDENTIALITY.
     B. BEEN A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR UNIT MEMBERS AND FAMILIES.
     C. ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMAND AND ITS FAMILIES
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROVIDING DIRECT COMMUNICATION TO
FAMILIES THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, E-MAILS, ETC.
     D. ASSISTED IN IDENTIFYING UNIT NEEDS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AND
PROVIDING APPROPRIATE REFERRAL SERVICES TO ADDRESS FAMILY CONCERNS
AND ISSUES.
     E. FACILITATED AND PROMOTED A HEALTHY SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG
COAST GUARD MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHIN THE UNIT.
     F. SERVED AS A PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO
COAST
GUARD FAMILIES DURING TIMES OF LOCAL OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY,
MOBILIZATION, DEPLOYMENT, EVACUATION.
4. AWARD RECOMMENDATION MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO
COMDT (CG-00B) BY 15 FEBRUARY 2012. THE AWARD NOMINATION SHALL BE IN
LETTER FORMAT FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER OR OFFICER-IN-CHARGE. THIS
LETTER SHALL SPECIFY HOW THE NOMINEE HAS DEMONSTRATED THE SIX
CHARACTERISTICS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 3 ABOVE AND HOW THE NOMINEE HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO IMPROVE BOTH MISSION AND FAMILY READINESS. LETTERS
SHALL BE LIMITED TO NOT MORE THAN 2 PAGES, USING 12-PITCH ARIAL FONT,
WITH ONE-INCH MARGINS. A COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS SELECTION PANEL
WILL MEET TO REVIEW THE NOMINATIONS AND SELECT THE OMBUDSMAN OF THE
YEAR.
5. THE OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR WILL BE INVITED TO COAST GUARD
HEADQUARTERS IN MARCH 2012 TO MEET WITH THE COMMANDANT AND BE
PRESENTED WITH THE AWARD. COMDT (CG-111) WILL FUND THE TRAVEL
EXPENSES OF THE AWARD RECIPIENT AND THEIR SPOUSE.
6. UNIT COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT AWARD
NOMINATIONS TO RECOGNIZE THE SELFLESS SERVICE OF THEIR UNIT
OMBUDSMAN.
7. COMDT (CG-00B) POC FOR THIS AWARD IS YNCM BOBBIE SISTO AT
202-372-4433 OR E-MAIL: BOBBIE.J.SISTO(AT)USCG.MIL. COMDT (CG-1112)
POC FOR OMBUDSMAN ISSUES IS CHRISTINE DEGRAW AT 202-475-5142 OR
E-MAIL: CHRISTINE.M.DEGRAW(AT)USCG.MIL.
8. RADM M. K. DOLLYMORE, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.