Civil Rights Awards Program
Each year, the Coast Guard participates in national awards ceremonies to recognize both military and civilian employees for their accomplishments and contributions to civil rights and Equal Opportunity in underserved communities. ALCOASTs for each award will be published accordingly with detailed information and instructions on nominating individuals as well as announcing the recipients.
For more information about the Coast Guard’s Civil Rights Awards Program or for nomination forms, please contact Mr. Edward Stoker, (202) 372-4519, Edward.A.Stoker@uscg.mil.
Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) Uniformed Services Award
The FAPAC Uniformed Services Award honors servicemen and women who significantly contribute to the advancement of Asian Pacific Americans and the promotion of diversity/equal employment opportunity (EEO) in the federal workforce and the Asian Pacific American community.
Who’s Eligible: Military Members (Active Duty and Reserve)
Performance Period: 2022 Fiscal Year (Oct 1, 2021 to Sept 30, 2022) or Calendar Year (Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2022)
Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Criteria:
a. Fostered an innovative and harmonious environment between the military and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
b. Distinguished themselves by promoting the tenets of the U.S. Constitution, civil/human rights, equal opportunity, human relations, and/or public service.
c. Displayed exceptional character that distinguished them as an outstanding leader, role model, or mentor by promoting the development or advancement of members of the Uniformed Services. Assisted in overcoming discrimination and eliminating barriers that hinder equal opportunity for all members of the Uniformed Services, including the civilian workforce.
d. Contributed to the equal opportunity for selection, promotion or retention of women and minorities in senior grade positions and under-represented occupations.
e. Created opportunities that supported and contributed to the mentorship, development, advancement, or retention of all personnel, including women and minorities, in government service consistent with merit-based principles. Created job or training opportunities that will support and contribute to advancement of all members in the Civilian and Uniformed Services.
Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) National Leadership Training Program (www.fapac.org)
Date and Location: Award Recipients will be recognized at the FAPAC 38th National Leadership Training Program May 8 - May 12, 2023 in Long Beach, CA.
Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) Civilian Awards
The FAPAC Civilian Awards recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of Asian Pacific Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and to the promotion of diversity and inclusion among the Federal Government workforce and the AAPI’s communities.
Who’s Eligible: Civilian Employees
Performance Period: 2022 Fiscal Year (Oct 1, 2021 to Sept 30, 2022) or Calendar Year (Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2022)
Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, February 7th, 2023
Criteria:
a. Assisted the Agency in recruiting, promoting, establishing, and maintaining an effective and equitable participation of AAPIs in the workforce.
b. Promoted AAPIs' competencies, cultures, contributions, work ethic, and behavior related to the agency's employment.
c. Promoted AAPI career development through mentoring, leadership, and/or relationship building.
d. Organized activities that promote equal opportunity and cultural awareness of the AAPI community.
e. Displayed exceptional leadership that resulted in significant workplace changes or contributions.
One winner will be selected per category, per grade cluster (GS 1-12, GS 13-15, and Senior Executive Service) for a total of nine (9) awards.
1. Outstanding Individual Leadership: Individual has shown bold leadership and innovative ways to promote Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Affirmative Action, and Diversity.
2. Excellence in Individual Achievement: Individual has made significant contributions towards AAPI representation at all levels.
3. Diversity Excellence: Individual has shown a remarkable contribution towards diversity and inclusion through collaboration and against all odds.
Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) National Leadership Training Program (www.fapac.org)
Recognition: Award Recipients will be recognized at the FAPAC 38th National Leadership Training Program May 8 - May 12, 2023 in Long Beach, CA.
Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) Meritorious Service Award
The SAIGE Meritorious Service Award recognizes members of the workforce who demonstrate support for inclusion and promotion of all Coast Guard personnel to include American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Who’s Eligible: Military Members (Active Duty and Reserve) and civilian employees who are military veterans.
Performance Period: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
Deadline: April 3, 2023
Criteria:
1. Promoted a positive image of American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) in government service.
2. Contributed and encouraged a greater understanding of the AI/AN culture through activities, both on and off duty.
3 Supported federal, state, local, or tribal interactions with AI/AN people, tribes or events and activities.
4. Reflected attributes best epitomizing the qualities and Core Values of the Coast Guard.
Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) National Training Program (www.saige.org)
Date and Location: 23-25 June 2023, Tulsa, OK
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Excellence in Service Award
The LULAC Excellence in Service Award honors personnel who significantly contribute to the advancement of Hispanic Americans and the promotion of diversity/equal employment opportunity in the federal workforce and in the Hispanic community.
Who’s Eligible: Military Members (individual and/or team) and Civilian Employees.
Performance Period: A minimum of one year of service is required for consideration and the activity must have occurred during the 2022 calendar or fiscal year.
Deadline: 25 April 2023
Date and Location: TBD
Criteria:
1. Description of the Activity – The focus of the accomplishments must be on activities beyond a nominee’s job obligations. It should be on activities that involve community and/or work that affects the advancement of education, economic empowerment, health and diversity accomplishments, in the community. Briefly describe the situation or context of a project, program or challenge that was addressed and any relevant stakeholders. It should be on activities that involve community and/or work that affects the advancement of education, economic empowerment, health and diversity accomplishments, in the community. Use specific examples and not generalities. Indicate the date started and if completed, the end date.
2. Action Taken – Describe the specific actions performed by the nominee or team that made a significant contribution within the purpose of the award. Refrain from generalities, vague or ambiguous statements in the description of the actions taken.
Impact of Activity – Describe the results and impact of an individual or by a team’s action in their efforts (beyond the nominee’s job obligations), why what they did mattered, how it made a difference and/or whom it affected. Think about how the work performed is part of a bigger picture, if, and how it impacted a community.
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention and Exposition (www.lulac.org)
Date and Location: 21-25 July 2021, Albuquerque, NM
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award
The NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments of members of the workforce who support civil rights in the armed services and civilian workforce.
Who’s Eligible: Military Members (Active Duty and Reserve) or Civilian Employees
Performance period: April 2021 to December 2022
Deadline: May 18
Date and Location: 26 July 2023 - 1 August 2023, Boston MA
Criteria:
1. The nominee distinguished himself or herself by promoting the tenets of civil/human rights, equal opportunity, human relations, and/or public service.
2. The nominee displayed exceptional character that distinguishes an individual as an outstanding leader, role model or mentor by promoting the development or advancement of all personnel including women and minorities.
3. The nominee contributed to equal opportunity for advancement based on merit and fitness for all members of the Armed Forces and civilians, including women and minorities.
4. The nominee believed in and practiced the tenets of a democratic society, including the Declaration of Independence - the belief that all people are created equal, and that freedom is a right that must be protected at all times.
5. The nominee assisted in overcoming discrimination and eliminating barriers that hinder equal opportunity for all members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees including women and minorities.
6. The nominee supported the full integration and promotion of all personnel to include minorities and women within the Armed Forces and civilian workforce.
7. The nominee created opportunities that support and contribute to the mentorship, development, advancement or retention of all personnel including women and minorities in government service consistent with merit principles.
8. The nominee created job or training opportunities that will support and contribute to advancement of all Service members including women and minorities in the Armed Forces or civilian workforce.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Convention (www.naacp.org)
Date and Location: 26 July 2023 - 1 August 2023, Boston MA
Federally Employed Women (FEW) Military Meritorious Service Award
FEW’s Military Meritorious Award Program recognizes outstanding military service members within the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves with significant contributions to their service and our nation.
Performance Period: 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022
Nomination Deadline: 4 May 2023
Criteria:
1. Promoting a positive understanding of the armed forces among and between men and women, minority and non-minority members of the military and civilian population.
2. Fostering an innovative and constructive environment between the military and civilian community and men and women of all races and ethnic backgrounds that benefit employees and/or community residents.
3. Displaying exceptional character that distinguishes the individual as an outstanding leader and role model.
4. Supporting and working towards the advancement of women within the armed forces.
FEW National Training Program (www.few.org)
Date and Location: 11 July 2023, Columbus, Ohio
Blacks In Government (BIG) Military Meritorious Service Award
The BIG Meritorious Service Award honors military and civilian members of the federal workforce who have supported the DoD mission, overseas contingency operations, or who attributes best epitomized the qualities and core values of their respective Military Service or other DoD Component (including the Coast Guard).
Who’s Eligible: Military Members (Active Duty and Reserve) and Civilian Employees
Performance Period: April 2021 – April 2022
Deadline: May 13, 2022
Date and Location: 15-18 Aug 2022, Cleveland, OH
Criteria:
1. Demonstrated commitment for the full integration and promotion of African Americans within the Coast Guard military or civilian workforce.
2. Increased significantly the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Federal programs.
3. Fostered an innovative and harmonious environment between the military and African American civilian community.
4. Assisted the workforce in overcoming discrimination and eliminated barriers that hindered equal opportunity for service members and civilian employees including women and minorities.
5. Promoted the tenets of civil/human rights, race relations, equal opportunity, affirmative action, human relations, and public service programs within the Coast Guard.
6. Encouraged military and civilian personnel to participate in program activities that benefitted their career development.
7. Created job or training opportunities that supported and contributed to the advancement of all service members and civilian employees.
8. Managed and promoted a diverse workforce within the military service and the civilian workforce.
9. Served as a role model in the community and in the Coast Guard by reaching out to youth and participating in continued educational endeavors that set an example for others to follow.
10. Encouraged leaders to promote diversity/equal opportunity program activities that advocated fair treatment for all members of the Coast Guard civilian workforce and military population.
Blacks in Government (BIG) Training Institute (www.bignet.org)
Date and Location: 23-25 Aug 2021, National Harbor, MD
LATINA Style Distinguished Military Service Award
The LATINA Style Meritorious Service Award recognizes civilian personnel and military members who through their service enhance the role of Latinas in the federal workforce.
Eligible: Civilian employees, military members, and Coast Guard Academy cadets
Performance Period: June 2022 to June 2023
Deadline: 23 May 2023
Criteria:
a. Active Duty or Full Time Reserve nominee:
- Distinguished themselves as leaders, mentors, advocates of diversity and the full integration of Latina women in the Armed Forces.
- Embodying the qualities that are at the core of the Coast Guard’s mission.
- Well respected by superiors and peers as military and community leaders.
- Representing the Hispanic community with dignity and pride.
b. Civilian awardees:
- Embodying the qualities that are at the core of the Coast Guard’s mission.
- Aiding in creating opportunities and careers that support and contribute to the advancement of Hispanic Americans toward senior level positions.
- displaying exceptional character and representing the Hispanic community with dignity and pride.
c. Cadets
a. Distinguished themselves in leadership and academics and served as advocates of diversity and the full integration of Hispanic women / Latinas.
b. Embodied the qualities that are at the core of the Coast Guard's missions.
c. Are respected by superiors, peers, and community leaders.
d. Represented the Hispanic / Latino community with dignity and pride.
18th National Latina Style Symposium Virtual (www.nls.latinastyle.com)
Date: 21 September 2023, Arlington, VA