ALCOAST 002/21 - JAN 2021 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2020 WANDA ALLEN-YEAROUT OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

R 051226Z JAN 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST

UNCLAS
ALCOAST 002/21
SSIC 1754
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR THE 2020 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 2020
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 2020;
    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. Command cadre spouses serving in the role of ombudsman
are not eligible for award consideration.
4. Previous Wanda Allen-Yearout recipients are eligible for
consideration after five years and may be nominated by the
same unit from which they previously won.
5. 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.
6. All units within the geographic boundaries of a District
who desire to nominate their ombudsman must submit nominations
to their Regional Ombudsman Coordinator (ROC) by 01 February 2021.
Information, nomination criterion, and required documents for
District level are outlined at: www.dcms.uscg.mil/ombudsman/OOY.
ROCs are responsible for:
    a. Reviewing nomination packages for alignment with policy
and tracking;
    b. Screening nominations for eligibility and Ombudsman
Program compliance; and
    c. Forwarding all packages to the appropriate District
Command Master Chief by 16 Feb 2021 for a panel selection
of each District Ombudsman of the Year.
7. Each District nomination package must be received at COMDT
(CG-1112) by COB 05 Mar 2021 via the respective ROC 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 5;
    c. Biographical information, to include information about
the spouse and family; and
    d. A draft citation.
8. A Coast Guard Headquarters selection panel will meet to
review the District and select the 2020 Wanda Allen-Yearout
Ombudsman of the Year.
9. The Ombudsman of the Year and their spouse will be will be
invited to Coast Guard Headquarters to be presented with the
award, conditions permitting.
10. 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 update information in the ombudsman registry. This can
be accomplished at: www.cgombudsmanregistry.org.
11. 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.
12. The POCs for the district nominations are Ms. Lori Carrington,
Atlantic Area Regional Ombudsman Coordinator,
Lori.A.Carrington@uscg.mil, 757-670-5886 and Mr. Ryan Fahlenkamp,
Pacific Area Regional Ombudsman Coordinator,
Ryan.J.Fahlenkamp2@uscg.mil, 510-437-3782.
13. CAPT John G. Rivers, Acting Director, Health, Safety, and
Work-Life (CG-11), sends.
14. Internet release is authorized.