SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR THE 2009 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG)
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS
1.  BIG IS A NATIONAL GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES AND
SUPPORTS THE WELL BEING, EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL
SECTORS.  BIG PROMOTES EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE,
EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
AMERICANS.
2. THIS ALCOAST SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR THE BIG MERITORIOUS
SERVICE AWARD.  ONE MILITARY MEMBER AND ONE CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEE WILL BE SELECTED.  THE AWARD RECIPIENTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED
DURING THE BIG NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,
24-28 AUGUST 2009.
3. AWARDS CRITERIA. NOMINATIONS MUST DESCRIBE HOW NOMINEES
DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
 A. DEMONSTRATING SUPPORT FOR THE FULL INTEGRATION AND PROMOTION
OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WITHIN THE ARMED SERVICES.
 B. PROMOTING THE TENETS OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS,
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, HUMAN RELATIONS AND PUBLIC
SERVICE PROGRAMS.
 C. CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE
MENTORSHIP OR DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCEMENT OR RETENTION OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH MERIT PRINCIPLES.
 D. ELIMINATING BARRIERS THAT HINDER EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS OR PROMOTING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ADVOCATE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY.
 E. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SELECTION, PROMOTION OR RETENTION OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SENIOR GRADE LEVEL POSITIONS AND UNDER-
REPRESENTED OCCUPATIONS.
 F. DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER THAT DISTINGUISHES THE
INDIVIDUAL AS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, ROLE MODEL OR MENTOR IN
PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
MILITARY OR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.
 G. INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY THE PARTICIPATION OF HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS) IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND
ENHANCING THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF
THESE INSTITUTIONS.
 H. MAKING PERSONAL SACRIFICES BY HIS/HER ACTIONS, RESULTING IN
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS.
 I. DISTINGUISHING HERSELF/HIMSELF AS A LEADER AND MENTOR FOR
AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH, ESPECIALLY PROMOTING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICAL EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL CAREER FIELDS.
4. NOMINATIONS.
 A. ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE UNIT COMMANDING
OFFICER OR OFFICER IN CHARGE.  NOMINATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE:
  (1) NOMINATION MEMORANDUM (CG MEMO FORMAT), NO MORE THAN TWO
PAGES, DESCRIBING THE MERITORIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE
AWARD CRITERIA. NOMINATIONS SHOULD ADDRESS EACH OF THE CRITERIA
LISTED FOR THE AWARD AS A MICROSOFT WORD DOCUMENT.  PLEASE DO NOT
SEND A SCANNED OR PDF DOCUMENT.
  (2) ENDORSEMENTS FROM COMMANDING OFFICER.
  (3) A HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL (.JPG.FORMAT) HEAD AND SHOULDER
COLOR OR BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NOMINEE.
  (4) A ONE-PAGE BIOGRAPHY OF THE NOMINEE.
 B. ELECTRONIC COPIES OF ITEMS (1) THROUGH (4) ABOVE E-MAILED TO
THE POC DESIGNATED IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF THIS MESSAGE.
5. SUBMISSION DEADLINE. ORIGINAL NOMINATION PACKAGES SHOULD BE SENT
VIA COMMERCIAL COURIER SERVICE OR VIA REGULAR MAIL TO NICHOLE
MILLINE AT COMMANDANT (CG-00H) 2100 SECOND STREET SW ROOM 4404
WASHINGTON DC 20593-0001.  ALL NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST BE RECEIVED
BY COMDT (CG-00H) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 19, 2009.  ELECTRONIC COPIES OF
THE NOMINATION PACKAGE SHOULD BE SENT VIA E-MAIL TO
EMAIL: NICHOLE.S.MILLINE(AT)USCG.MIL, OR FAX: 202-372-4967.
6. SELECTION PROCESS. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL:
 A. APPOINT A SELECTION PANEL TO REVIEW NOMINATIONS AND RECOMMEND
AWARD RECIPIENTS BASED ON THE STATED SELECTION CRITERIA.
 B. FORWARD THE NOMINATION PACKAGES OF THE RECOMMENDED AWARD
RECIPIENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FINAL PROCESSING.
 C. NOTIFY THE AWARD RECIPIENTS SELECTED BY PANEL.
 D. FUND TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR THE AWARD RECIPIENTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE BIG AWARDS BANQUET IN BALTIMORE, MD DATE TO BE
DETERMINED BY DOD AT A LATER TIME.
7. CDR P. KOFI ABOAGYE, ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.