ALCOAST 363/17 - DEC 2017 2017 PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS

R 221456 DEC 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC //CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05700//
ALCOAST 363/17
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: 2017 PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS
A. Coast Guard External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5700.13 (series)
B. COAST GUARD MILITARY MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1650.25 (series)
1. This ALCOAST solicits submissions for the 2017 Chief Journalist
(JOC) Alex Haley and CDR Jim Simpson Public Affairs Awards. These
awards are designed to encourage and formally recognize Coast
Guard-wide participation in conducting our important public affairs
mission. Per REF (A), the Coast Guard’s success depends in great
measure upon the American public understanding and supporting our
missions. Consequently, our service needs every member to continue to
tell the Coast Guard story.
2. Per REF (B), the JOC Alex Haley Award, named for the renowned author
and Coast Guard journalist, recognizes achievements of Coast Guard
communicators whose published works have helped raise service
visibility. All Coast Guard published works submitted to the Defense
Visual Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) in calendar year 2017 are
eligible. However, for published works to be considered, individuals
must access the awards function of DVIDS where products can be entered
in individual categories. Information on establishing a DVIDS account
and entering products is available at www.dma.mil/Services/Defense-Media-
Awards. Public affairs specialists, officers and civilian
employees filling full time public affairs positions may compete in 18
categories. All other active duty, reserve, civilian employees and
Coast Guard family members, may compete in 15 categories. Participants
will have until 1MAR2018 to make submissions. Any individual who
submitted a product to DVIDS under another individual’s or unit’s
account as a courtesy photo or story should contact the below POC for
additional guidance.
3. The CDR Jim Simpson Award is named in honor of the first press
assistant to the Commandant, and recognizes excellence in an
all-encompassing unit public affairs program. All Coast Guard units
are eligible and encouraged to participate. Units with assigned public
affairs specialists will be evaluated separately. Those units
with a co-located public affairs detachment will be considered
as units without assigned public affairs specialists as long as unit
personnel are primarily responsible for the public affairs
achievements cited in the award submission. Award submissions for the
CDR Jim Simpson Award are due to COMDT (CG-09225) NLT 1MAR2018.
4. Awards program guidelines including eligibility, specifications,
submission criteria, categories, and judging can be viewed at
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg092/CG-0922/CG-09225/SitePages/CG-
09225%20Awards.aspx
5. Questions should be directed to COMDT (CG-09225) POC CWO2 Kurt
Fredrickson at (202)372-4638.
6. RADM Peter W. Gautier, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs,
sends.
7. Internet release authorized.