Two Members of the Jamaica Defence Force are first-ever appointed to United States Coast Guard Academy: Bravo Zulu Shawna Marie Sinclair and Nicholas Folkes on being the first Jamaica Defence Force members to be appointed to the Coast Guard Academy as part of the international cadet program. Soon-to-be Cadet Sinclair and soon-to-be Cadet Folkes received two of the six slots available for all international cadet appointments. The Coast Guard and the Jamaica Defence Force have long enjoyed a close partnership, standing side-by-side in the Caribbean to face transnational criminal organizations conducting crimes upon the high seas and coastal zones. With these two pioneers of Jamaican sea service, we forge the next chapter in that partnership. Congratulations again to Sinclair and Folkes on this momentous achievement!
2021 Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship Program Winners: Congratulations to the winners of the Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship Program, Lydia Sweeney, daughter of retired Coast Guard Cmdr. John Sweeney and Quinlin Haglund, son of Evan Haglund, Coast Guard civilian employee. Both Sweeney and Haglund will receive a $2,000 scholarship in recognition of their superior academic achievements, accomplishments, interests, and demonstrated leadership in both school and volunteer activities. More about the awardees and the scholarship can be found in the Announcement of the 2921 Coast Guard Exchange System (CGC) Scholarship Program Winners ALCGPSC 050/21. Bravo Zulu Lydia Sweeney and Quinlin Haglund on receiving your scholarships!
2021 Armed YMCA Angels of the Battlefield Award Winner: Bravo Zulu Petty Officer 1st Class Trevor Salt, an aviation survival technician at Coast Guard Sector North Bend on winning the 2021 Armed Services YMCA Angels of the Battlefield Award! This award recognizes one enlisted medical professional annually from each branch of the armed forces. Salt was awarded this honor in recognition of his superior actions which saved a woman who had fallen over 1,500 feet from the summit of Grayback Mountain and received multiple injuries. Salt stabilized the patient and began construction of a stable and level snow platform to create a safe working area for himself, the injured woman, and her uninjured hiking partner. Salt, along with the uninjured hiker, dug a path over 80-feet long to create a way to a safe hoisting area. In total, Salt moved over 300 cubic feet of snow to be able to successful hoist the injured woman and her hiking partner. To read more about Salt’s actions that day, and read about the other four membe
rs nominated for this honor, please see the Announcement of the 2021 Armed Services YMCA Angels of the Battlefield Award Recipient ALCOAST 205/21. Congratulations again Petty Officer 1st Class Trevor Salt on receiving this honor!
Solicitation – 2021 Society of American Indian Government Employees Military Meritorious Service Award: The 2021 Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) Military Meritorious Service Award honors members of the military and military veterans in government service for the period of January 2019 to March 2021. This makes all Coast Guard servicemembers, active duty and reserve, as well as Coast Guard civilian employees who are veterans, eligible for the SAIGE Military Meritorious Service Award. Nominees who contributed to the following areas will be evaluated. Those who have supported the Coast Guard’s government-to-government interaction with American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) tribes, promoted great understanding of the AI/AN culture through their personal actions, promoted a positive image of AI/AN in government service, and/or reflected attributes best epitomizing the qualities and core values of the Coast Guard. Nomination packages must include a narrative describing the nominee’s accomplishments with regard to award criteria (no longer than two pages), a citation highlighting the accomplishments of nominee (not exceeding 12 lines), a biography of the nominee (no longer than one page), a digital photo of the nominee, a command cover memo, and an award nomination transmittal form. For more information regarding this solicitation, please see the 2021 Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) Military Meritorious Service Award ALCOAST 207/21.
2021 Feds Feed Families Campaign: You should have received an email this past week announcing the kick-off of the 2021 Feds Feed Families Campaign. It will run until August 31, 2021. There are several ways to get involved including donating food online, dropping off donations to a local food pantry or food bank near you, volunteering at a local food bank, and/or planting an extra row of produce in your own garden or another’s garden that will be harvested specifically for donation. Please consider participating in this challenge if you are able. For more information, check out the Feds Feed Families website!