ALCOAST 421/18 - DEC 2018 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2018 WANDA ALLEN-YEAROUT OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

R 201156 DEC 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01754//
ALCOAST 421/18
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR THE 2018 WANDA ALLEN-YEAROUT OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
A. Coast Guard Ombudsman Program, COMDTINST 1750.4 (series)
1. COMDT (CG-1112) is soliciting nominations for the 2018 Wanda Allen-Yearout Ombudsman of the
Year Award.
2. This award recognizes the active duty or reserve unit ombudsman who has demonstrated the
greatest contribution to the Coast Guard and their families. To be eligible, an ombudsman must:
   a. Have served as an ombudsman for at least six months at the nominating command by
31 December 2018;
   b. Be registered and assigned in the Coast Guard ombudsman registry;
   c. Have successfully completed Coast Guard Ombudsman Training (CGOT) or approved alternative; and
   d. Be in good standing and in compliance with reports in accordance with REF (A).
3. Nominations should be in standard memorandum format using 12-point Times New Roman font with
one-inch margins, not to exceed two pages. The memorandum will specify how the nominee has
demonstrated the following:
   a. Enhancing communication between the command and families;
   b. Serving as a principal source of preparation, assistance and support to Coast Guard families
during times of local or national emergency, mobilization, deployment, or evacuation and individual
and command crisis;
   c. Assisting in identifying unit needs for support services and providing appropriate referral
services to address family concerns and issues;
   d. Being a positive role model and promoting a healthy sense of community for command, families,
and ombudsmen by performing noteworthy special projects and accomplishments that enhance the
ombudsman’s overall effectiveness and efficiency; and
   e. Demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.
4. All units within the geographic boundaries of a District who desire to nominate their ombudsman
shall submit nominations to their Regional Ombudsman Coordinator (ROC) by 15 January 2019.
Information, nomination criterion, and required documents for the District level are outlined at:
www.dcms.uscg.mil/ombudsman/OOY. ROCs will:
   a. Review nomination packages for alignment with policy and tracking;
   b. Screen nominations for eligibility and Ombudsman Program compliance; and
   c. Forward all packages to the appropriate District Command Master Chief (CMC) by 31 January 2019
for a panel selection of each District Ombudsman of the Year.
5. Each District nomination package must be received at COMDT (CG-1112) by COB on 15 February 2019
and must include:
   a. The District Commander’s endorsement signature that all eligibility requirements and selection
criteria have been met;
   b. The nomination, which addresses the selection criteria in Paragraph 3;
   c. Biographical information, to include information about the spouse and family; and
   d. A draft citation.
6. A Coast Guard Headquarters selection panel will meet to review the District nominations and select
the 2018 Wanda Allen-Yearout Ombudsman of the Year.
7. The Ombudsman of the Year and their spouse will be invited to Coast Guard Headquarters and will
be presented with the award.
8. Unit Commanding Officers are strongly encouraged to submit award nominations to recognize the
selfless service of their unit ombudsman. It is also recommended that commands take this time to make
sure information is updated in the ombudsman registry. This can be done at:
www.cgombudsmanregistry.org.
9. The POC for Wanda Allen-Yearout Ombudsman of the Year award is Ms. Christine Degraw, COMDT (CG-1112)
at 202-475-5142 or e-mail: Christine.M.Degraw@uscg.mil.
10. The POCs for the district nominations are Ms. Lori Carrington, Atlantic Area Regional Ombudsman
Coordinator, Lori.A.Carrington@uscg.mil, 757-323-1165 and Ms. Terri Johnson-Salter, Pacific Area
Regional Ombudsman Coordinator, Terri.Johnson-Salter@uscg.mil, 510-437-3782.
11. RADM Erica G. Schwartz, Director of Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
12. Internet release is authorized.