An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

My Coast Guard
Commentary | April 29, 2021

Bravo Zulu

By  Shana Brouder, MyCG Writer 

Congratulations to the 2020 Education Services Officer of the Year Award Winners: Bravo Zulu to Velma Vining and Chief Petty Officer Jordan Loeven on winning the 2020 Education Services Officer of the Year (ESOY) Award. 

Vining, the full-time ESOY award winner, is the main Partnership in Education liaison for Kodiak, Alaska. Vining went above and beyond the call of duty, ensuring 211 test- takers could safely take their exams during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as offering free exams to service members, dependents, retirees, and civilians by establishing Base Kodiak as an authorized Federal Aviation Administration Testing site. This has resulted in 28 individuals transferring their military skills to the civilian sector by earning certificates in the aviation industry. 

Loeven, a culinary specialist, the collateral duty winner, has significantly contributed to the professional development of over 1,500 Training Center Petaluma staff and students, in addition to the 100 members from tenant commands through his steadfast dedication to providing these individuals with opportunities to expand their education. Despite his full-time schedule as a culinary specialist, he provided tuition assistance counseling for seven members of the workforce, four of whom were taking their first steps towards earning a degree. His assistance garnered 24 completed semester hours of education and offset $5,800 worth of tuition costs. 

To read more about the award winners and their incredible hard work, please see the 2020 Education Services Officer of the Year (ESOY) and Inspirational Student of the Year (ISOY) Award Recipients ALCOAST 154/21.

Bravo Zulu to the 2020 Coast Guard Inspirational Students of the Year Award Co-Winners: Congratulations to Petty Officer First Class Adam Smith and Petty Officer Third Class James Himes on being awarded the 2020 Coast Guard Inspirational Students of the Year. 

Smith, a bosn's mate assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel, a patrol boat, spent 1,800 hours at sea in addition to his in-port work weeks taking charge of the Annual Capital Property Inspection. Taking the knowledge that he gained from his advance degree, Smith was able to account for $8 million worth of property with zero discrepancies. He also saved the Coast Guard more than $6,000 in equipment and inventory by streamlining purchasing processes, consolidating purchases, and maintaining a spotless inventory of supplies. Many of Smith’s peers have been inspired by his academic example—11 of whom took advantage of more than $133,000 in tuition assistance starting or completing their own undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. 

Himes, a marine science technician simultaneously earned an Associate of Science in Earth Science Studies and an Associate of Arts in Social and Behavior Sciences from San Diego Miramar College. To do this, Himes tackled 15 credit hours during the fall semester and 10 credit hours during a condensed summer semester, during which he maintained an exceptional 3.9 GPA. But Himes was not only focused on school—he deployed for 30 days to respond to a major maritime incident while going to school. He also earned two new qualifications and helped six other members earn required qualifications all while attending school. 

To learn more about the accomplishments of these inspirational students, please see the 2020 Education Services Officer of the Year (ESOY) and Inspirational Student of the Year (ISOY) Award Recipients ALCOAST 154/21

Coast Guard Academy Announces Eclipse 2021 Award Winners: On April 10, 2021 Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz named the recipients of the six Eclipse awards. These individuals answered the call to action posed by the Coast Guard Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for all members of the Coast Guard to preserve and promote dignity and respect in the service. Lt.j.g. Jacob Brown, Coast Guard Academy (CGA), was named the winner of the Manson K. Brown Genesis Award. Lt.j.g. Karida Harris assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Ibis, a coastal patrol boat, was named the winner of the Merele Smith Pioneer Award. Yolanda Jarmon-Williams was named the winner of the JoAnn Miller Community Award. Alex Eames, CGA, was named the winner of the Frances Neal Humanitarian Award. Cmdr. Hoon Park, CGA, was named the winner of the Joseph M. Vojvoditch Award. And Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Foster of the Thirteenth District was named the winner of the Dr. Hallie Gregory Respect Award. 

To learn more about the awards and their respective winners please see the Eclipse 2021 Award Winners ALCOAST 157/21, email the USCGA Office of Inclusion and Diversity, or visit the Eclipse website. Please read this MyCG article.

Reenlistment eligibility for selective reenlistment bonus information is now available: Reenlistment Eligibility for Selective Reenlistment Bonus ALCOAST 142/21 provides information regarding selective reenlistment bonus (SRB). In summary, members who previously extended their enlistment period due to obligated service requirements for transfer, training or advancement can cancel such extensions prior to their operative date in order to enact an immediate reenlistment are entitled to an SRB. Members who were previously denied SRB eligibility or who were improperly counseled and therefore did not apply for an applicable SRB may apply for eligibility determination and SRB entitlement. Members who have already commenced the extension of their enlistment, but otherwise would have been eligible prior to the operative date of that extension, may also apply for SRB eligibility determination. Questions about the these policies or other human resource management matters may email the Office of Military Personnel Policy (CG-133). Read this MyCG article