ALCOAST 058/18 - FEB 2018 2018 SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD - ANNOUNCEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON NOMINATION PROCEDURES

R 131041 FEB 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01650//
ALCOAST 058/18
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2018 SPIRIT OF HOPE AWARD - ANNOUNCEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON NOMINATION PROCEDURES
1. The Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and
Coast Guard, established the Spirit of Hope Award military program for outstanding
service to the United States to recognize distinguished Americans and organizations
whose patriotism and service reflect that of Mr. Bob Hope.
2. Eligibility:
   A. The Spirit of Hope Award is presented for outstanding service to the United States
of America. It is awarded to men and women of the United States Armed Forces,
entertainers, and other distinguished Americans and organizations whose patriotism and
service reflect that of Mr. Hope. For his decades of entertaining troops, both in
peacetime and in combat zones, Mr. Hope was designated the first honorary veteran of
the United States Armed Forces.
   B. The Spirit of Hope Award is awarded to any active duty, reserve, auxiliary, former
military service member or civilian who embodies the values of freedom, the
Constitution of the United States of America and the military. For military personnel
and civilian employees, the awards are part of the bona fide, regularly established
program of recognition.
   C. The award is presented annually to one recipient (either an individual or an
organization) from each of the following: the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the
Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Coast Guard. The recipients
must satisfy the following criteria: epitomize the values of Bob Hope (courage, honor,
duty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication), significantly enhance the
quality of life of service members and their families serving around the world, and
selflessly contribute an extraordinary amount of time, talent or resources to benefit
members of the United States Armed Forces. The recipient for 2017 was Trees for Troops.
Trees for Troops has provided more than 157,000 farm-grown Christmas trees to troops
in the United States and overseas. Since 2007 and every year since then, more than
90 Coast Guard commands have been involved in the receipt and distribution of more than
2,700 Christmas trees provided through the commitment of the Trees for Troops program.
3. Nomination guidelines: Nominations will be submitted to the respective nomination
panels no later than 27 April and shall include the following, as appropriate.
   A. Name of nominee, nominees address, nominees present position and/or status, and
name and address of nominees employer during the period of service.
   B. Summary of the act or service rendered, and how it epitomized the values of
Mr. Hope included in Paragraph 2c. (not to exceed two double-spaced pages, at least
12 Pitch font).
   C. Supporting documentation (optional).
   D. A proposed citation that provides specific examples of the act or service performed
(not to exceed 90 words).
   E. Name, address, and telephone number of the point of contact for the nominating
organization.
   F. For foreign nominees, a statement of concurrence by the U. S. Chief of Mission and
the U.S. Defense Attache (if one is assigned) to the country of the foreign nominee and,
a statement of concurrence from the DIA.
   G. Scanned copies of signed nomination packages may be sent by e-mail:
deborah.h.claiborne@uscg.mil. Address nominations mailed via USPS to Ms. Deborah Claiborne,
Commandant (CG-0923), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue,
SE, Stop 7103, Washington, DC, 20593. Commands using this method should allow sufficient
time for security screening to meet the 27 April deadline. Express mail deliveries are
preferred and should include room number 1i09-22.
   H. A selection panel will review the nominations and make recommendations to the
Commandant for approval.
4. The Spirit of Hope award will be presented in an appropriate ceremony and reception,
hosted by the designated award presentation authority in the Pentagon Hall of Heroes on
Thursday, September 27, 2018.
5. Funding: COMDT (CG-0923) will fund travel and per diem costs for the selected
recipient to attend the awards ceremony and provide official transportation between
lodging facilities and the place of ceremony.
6. Questions should be directed to Ms. Deborah Claiborne, COMDT (CG-0923), at
202-372-4640 or deborah.h.claiborne@uscg.mil.
7. RADM Peter W. Gautier, Director, Governmental and Public Affairs, sends.
8. Internet release authorized.