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September 2021 Message
The ANSO family celebrates with joy and enthusiasm Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 with the theme “ESPERANZA: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” Our celebration began with our ANSO Presidente’s powerful message. This was the first step leading to a series of interviews, available through our social media channels, sharing the meaning of ESPERANZA in their lives and through this observance.
As I consider ESPERANZA, the sound of Latin pop rings to the core of my being as a powerful song comes to my memory. Color ESPERANZA (The Color of Hope), a song popularized by Diego Torres a decade ago and recently released as a united collaboration of various Hispanic/Latinx artists, brings the message to heart (see lyrics and watch the video below). According to the song, we follow a cognitive process (to know that it is possible) of assurance and validation that leads us to a desire to make things happen (to want it to happen). Then, we must take time to identify our apprehensions and challenges and develop plans to deal with them (to get rid of our fears). After that, it is time to bring hope to the forefront. The song uses a powerful image: paint our faces with the color of hope. This image recalls the face painting used by some of our forces to cover their faces before missions or trainings. In this case, hope is what we are wearing for the world to see. Then, we step into the future with our hearts, with passion, ready to meet new horizons and believe in what we do.
ESPERANZA is a lifestyle, a way to face challenges in life, whether personal, with our families, our teams, or professional, taking steps with confidence and projecting hope. As we celebrate this observance, it is time to renew our ESPERANZA and challenge ourselves to be ESPERANZA for our teammates.
September is also a time to remember the many lives lost to suicide, as we renew our commitment to being there for anyone who struggles with mental health or depression. In some cases, we may have to recognize it is time for us to take a knee and rest. ESPERANZA speaks to that. Instead of considering the great fight against suicide and depression, I invite you to consider the personal opportunities to walk with one another, listen with the intent to understand, and respond when your brother or sister in uniform needs you the most. Be ESPERANZA.
If you have not heard the most recent release of Color ESPERANZA, take some time, and check it out below. The lyrics are great material for personal reflection or group discussion as we continue our Hispanic Heritage observance. Remember to join us for ANSO’s virtual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and our 40th Anniversary on Wednesday, 6 October starting at 1300 (see more details on our events calendar).
Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-off
Dear ANSO Familia,
Today begins our month long Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) Celebration. The theme this year is “Esperanza. A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.”
The Association of Naval Services Officers comprises men and women from all of our Sea Services, the majority of which are Hispanic/Latino. This month, let us be deliberate as we celebrate the many contributions Latinos and Hispanics have made to our extraordinary world and our country. Our ancestors and our parents have done much, and we must continue their legacy.
Each of us carries within us hopes of a better tomorrow, of a brighter future, of equality, joy, and happiness. It is what I learned from life. To hope for better things to come and do all we can to turn those hopes into reality.
As an organization, ANSO is here to ensure that we don’t just hope but that we achieve. A good friend of mine said, “La Esperanza es el combustible para llegar al Destino.” “hope is the fuel that propels us to our destiny.” Life is our ship. Every ship needs a Captain, a Master, and Commander. We are the Masters of our lives. And I know from experience that every Captain needs a good Navigator. ANSO is here to be your navigator. Let us move forward together to make our hopes our reality.
Let us then celebrate our heritage, propelled by the hope that our actions and work together will continue to ensure our community is respected. We will strive to make sure our contributions are valued and our people trusted and uplifted, and that we will always be able to reach our highest potential. That our representation at the highest ranks will be equal to or greater than our representation within the junior ranks so that our young service members can look up with not just the hope but the certainty that one day they too can make it.
To that end, I want to share with all of our members the new ANSO strategy. Please read it. A huge thank you to Tico Valenzuela for making this real, to Blanca, Rolando and Jaime for all their work on the content, and to everyone else who was involved. ANSO is great because of you!
And lastly, to celebrate our heritage this month, every week, we will share with you a short interview with an ANSO role model and Hispanic star! Our first video interview is with our very own LCDR Eric Driggs, USCGR, Coast Guard Representative, ANSO Board of Directors. Thanks Eric for a great first interview!
Additional HHM Related Sites for Events and Information:
National Hispanic Heritage Month Web Portal - This Web portal is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
National Archives and Records Administration HHM Page
National Endowment for the Humanities HHM Page
National Park Service HHM Page
Smithsonian Education HHM Page
Adelante con ANSO! Un fuerte abrazo, CAPTAIN Roy Love, USN (Ret) Presidente, ANSO president@ansomil.org
Incoming President’s Message
Dear ANSO Familia,
I want to thank Ms. Blanca Rosas for everything she and all of the other ANSO leaders who served our organization for the last several years have done for all of us. Their hard work and dedication have paved the way for significant progress for Latinos and Hispanics in the Sea Services. Those of us who are blessed to follow them have a much easier task because of all they have already done. Thank you Blanca, Jose, and the Board of Directors (BOD) members who preceded us. We are in your debt.
It is an honor for me to have been selected as your new President. Having just retired, I was hoping I would find a great hobby to keep me from being bored everyday! I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to continue to give back to our Service members. Thank you for putting your confidence in me. I am fully committed to making ANSO the premier Hispanic and Latino Resource Group in any Service. It is an honor to have Rolando Machado as our Vice President. Together with the other members of the BOD, we will make ANSO even greater than it has been.
As your President, I intend to focus on four lines of effort, all tied to ANSO’s Five Pillars (Resources, Membership, Recruitment, Professional Development, and Community Outreach).
- LOE 1: Increase the Resources we provide our members. (Resources and Professional Development) - We will provide our members better Leadership Training, Mentoring, and career management opportunities, as well as help identify and provide learning opportunities through partnerships and sponsorships.
- LOE 2: Grow our Community ( Membership and Recruitment) - We will increase our internal membership, and support the Service’s outreach and recruiting programs to increase the number of Latinos/Hispanics in service, especially in retaining our top talent to see them reach the highest ranks possible.
- LOE 3: Increase external Community Outreach and partnerships. (Community Outreach, Professional Development) - We will work with outside organizations, like HISPA, Hispanic Star, HACR, and other ERGs to increase our external engagement, to offer our members increased visibility, and give them opportunities to engage outside in support of underrepresented Latino/Hispanic communities.
- LOE 4: Increase ANSO Brand Recognition - Too few service members know what ANSO is and does. We will aim to increase awareness of our name and brand, while working to become a premier Hispanic and Latino Resource group in the United States Sea Services. We will ensure we are fully engaged with our members and all the Sea Services Leadership, and to provide the highest value to our members, and the highest levels of support to our Services.
I need your support to do all of this. ANSO was established by the Honorable Secretary of the Navy Eduardo Hidalgo in 1981 to reach out to Hispanic/Latino communities and attract qualified Hispanics/Latinos to apply to the Sea Service’s Officer programs. This mission is still applicable today. While the enlisted community has grown significantly, our Officer Corps have not. We need to continue the mission. Today, Secretary Hidalgo would be exceedingly glad to see Secretary Del Toro in his seat. We have come a long way, but there is still much to do. Let’s do this, together.
My first request to all of our members:
In two weeks, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations and activities will begin across the US. ANSO should be part of as many events as possible. We have posted several of these on our webpage calendar. I encourage everyone to visit ansomil.org, follow us on LinkedIn, and if you have it, Facebook, and try to participate in as many Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) events as you can. Whenever the opportunity arises, please talk about ANSO. We will have our own HHM event in Late September/Early October. As you all may know, the new Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, is a lifetime ANSO member. He will be at our HHM event. We are waiting to confirm his availability before we set a date. All ANSO members should be present, if able.
There are a few other events taking place that we should attend if at all possible.
- HISPA Virtual Recruiting Event Oct 7 1700-1900 - This is a great opportunity to give back to our community and for outreach
- Hispanic Star HHM Opening Ceremony Sep 15th 1530 – Virtual – Hispanic Star has been a strong supporter of ANSO in the past year.
- NHHC Panel “Latinx: A question of Indentity” Sep 15th 1200-1300 Washington Navy Yard.
Details on these are/will be posted on the ANSO events page and our social media.
I am at your service, always. Please do not hesitate to reach out directly to me with any questions, concerns, or recommendations. Please feel free to connect with me on LINKEDIN.
With the utmost respect,
Roy Love, CAPT USN, (Ret)
President, Association of Naval Services Officers
August 2021 Message
En Familia
We honor the memory of the 13 U.S. Service Members - eleven Marines, one Sailor, and one Soldier- who gave their lives on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. They are part of the 2,461 casualties and 20,000 wounded during the almost 20-year war in that country. As the ANSO Familia, we honor all the Service Members and their families who paid the ultimate sacrifice all these years. The images of the last planes involved in the 18-day evacuation retriggered the memories of brothers and sisters in arms lost in combat, untreated trauma and grief, and uncertainty of the future.
General Frank McKenzie, Commander, U.S. Central Command, during the Pentagon briefing on the end of the mission, said, “I would like to offer my personal appreciation to the more than 800,000 service members and 25,000 civilians who have served in Afghanistan, and particularly to the families of those whose loved ones have been lost or wounded. Your service, as well as that of your comrades and family members, will never be forgotten.” Latinos recognize the meaning of sacrifice and hard work. The lives and sacrifices of these honorable warriors spread seeds of hope in a situation that seems confusing, uncertain, and messy. We remember the lives of our country’s heroes and the lives of the innocent victims who died during the September 11 attacks in NYC 20-years ago. Today, we particularly remember the lives of these 13 Service Members killed by the suicide bomber during humanitarian ops at the Kabul airport.
Take some time and say their names as you send your thoughts and prayers to families, friends, and communities that remember them with love.
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
- Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, California
- Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Utah
- Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee
- Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyoming
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
- Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha
- Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25, Lawrence, Massachusetts
- Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Indiana
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri
- Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
Congratulations to Carlos Del Toro, the 78th Secretary of the Navy
Forty years after ANSO was founded by the first Secretary of the Navy of Hispanic descent, the Honorable Edward Hidalgo, one of our members has been sworn in as the second Secretary of the Navy of Hispanic descent. Secretary Carlos Del Toro was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Saturday August 7, 2021, and was sworn in on Monday August 9, 2021.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Secretary Del Toro immigrated to the U.S. with his family as refugees in 1962. Raised in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, he attended public schools and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering, and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer upon graduation in 1983.
His 22-year naval career included a series of critical appointments and numerous tours of duty at sea. After retiring at the rank of Commander, Secretary Del Toro founded SBG Technology Solutions, Inc. in 2004. As its CEO and President, he supported defense programs across a host of immediate and long-term Department of Navy issue areas, including shipbuilding, AI, cybersecurity, acquisition programs, space systems, health, and training.
In an August 10, 2021 Message to the Fleet, Secretary Del Toro outlined his vision and priorities for the service, listing the current challenges, and promising to advocate for the necessary resources crucial to the Navy Marine Corps Team's preparation and mission success.
Secretary Del Toro is an active ANSO member, a founding member of the ANSO DC Chapter, and a former member of our National Board of Advisors. Even though running a successful business has kept his schedule super busy, he has always made time to support our organization. We are proud and excited to be witness to his journey and hope our members find inspiration in his achievements. Adelante con ANSO!
Sources:
Happy 231st US Coast Guard Birthday!!
We wish all our USCG brothers and sisters a happy 231st birthday. Please take a moment to check out the tribute video below from the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, as well as the birthday post from the Council on Foreign Relations webpage which contains the history and some recommended reading. Lastly, the Coast Guard Historian has a page dedicated to the history of Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard. Thank you for 231 years of service to the nation, Semper Paratus!!
July 2021 Message
Naval archives tell the stories of the first visit to South America by an American President. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) visited Cartagena, Colombia on July 10, 1934, while riding the USS Houston (CA-30). The visit was a short stop on a working vacation that began at the beginning of the month in Annapolis, Maryland. FDR’s destination was Portland, Oregon, after a short visit to Hawaii. The trip, close to 12,000 nautical miles, was one of a few unique cruises for the Houston, a ship that had joined the Fleet in 1930. Her entryway was as a light cruiser, and soon after she was reclassified as a heavy cruiser. Little did she know that just a few years after becoming the flagship of the United States Fleet, she was going to be involved in serious World War II battles. Houston, known as “The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast,” and her crew fought valiantly during the Battle of Makassar Strait. While ordered to leave the area, she was sunk, along with the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth, during the Battle of Sunda Strait. Out of the crew of 1,082 Sailors, only 366 survivors became POWs and endured cruel physical treatment according to records of the U.S. Naval Institute.
A light cruiser that took FDR for the first time to South America, Houston fought courageously and didn’t turn her back when tested by fire. Similarly, our service in the Naval Services provides both, enlisted and officers, with the opportunity to serve in times of peace and in times of war, showing courage and commitment when matters most. Our Latino heritage is one of the greatest assets available in these fights. The efforts to do and be our best is intrinsically ingrained in our spirits. The sense of family and comradery opens doors to cohesive and stronger teams. Our imaginative and creative thinking brings fresh looks and new considerations to old dilemmas. Houston fought hard and to the end. As we remember the first presidential visit to South America 87 years ago, may we continue to renew the spirit of Houston and her crew projected in the words of FDR when the “Houston Volunteers” responded to the call to replace the lost crew of the Houston: “Our enemies have given us the chance to prove that there will be another USS Houston, and yet another USS Houston if that becomes necessary, and still another USS Houston as long as American ideals are in jeopardy”
Happy 4th of July, 2021
Today, as we take time to celebrate July 4, 2021, we must pay homage, on such an auspicious occasion, to those who keep the American Experiment alive: Our military, law enforcement, journalists, members of all institutions of government/civil society, and most importantly everyday citizens that step forward when needed. In these preceding years our country has been tested by internal strife, an erosion of trust, and a pandemic.
As it has never been in the past, it is not a forgone conclusion that we will overcome the present crisis. All patriots can do is defend our nation at moments of crisis. Having the honor of taking a military oath to our Constitution, I feel it appropriate to share a part of it: "I, _________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;…" All patriots should envision their name in that blank space. That blank space is reserved for each of us.
As patriots did at the inception of our nation, that July 4th in Philadelphia, we are all called on to do our part to protect this union and work towards making it a ―more perfect place for all of us.
In the words of President Ronald Reagan:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
As we enjoy our holiday we should evaluate how we can be of service to perfecting our union and protecting our Constitution. History will not look kindly upon the generation that let’s freedom fade from this American Experiment.
Latinos have played an important role in the defense of this nation from its inception. Scholars Raoul Lowery Contreras and Frank D. Gomez gave us a list of some of the contributions made on the battlefield by
- Troops from Mexico, Cuba and Spain totaled 8,000 during the revolutionary war. This amount of troops equaled those of France and was in addition to the material support provided.
- More than 20,000 Hispanics served in the Civil War from private to general and admiral, and Hispanics have continued to distinguish themselves serving in America’s armed forces. The wartime honor roll includes:
- Boxer Rebellion — Marine Pvt. France Silva became the first Mexican-American to be awarded a Medal of Honor.
- World War I — Army Pvt. David B. Barkeley Cantu from Texas was awarded a Medal of Honor posthumously; the Army did not know he was Mexican-American until decades later. Army Private Marcelino Serna, born in Mexico and living illegally in the United States, was the first Mexican to earn the Distinguished Service Cross. He was also Texas’ most decorated veteran of the war.
- World War II – Seventeen Hispanics were awarded the Medal of Honor including the war’s second most decorated fighting man, Texan Cleto Rodriguez, the most decorated fighting Mexican-American ever. Two of those honored were actually Mexican citizens.
- Korean War – Fifteen Hispanics were awarded the Medal of Honor, including 10 Mexican-Americans and five Puerto Ricans.
- Vietnam — Twenty-two Hispanics, including four Puerto Ricans, three Mexican citizens and 15 Mexican-Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Que Viva La Independencia!!
June 2021 Message
Throughout June 1918, the Marine Corps fought along with Allied forces in the Battle of Belleau Wood. This battle was a strategic win for the Allies during World War I as it injected new strength to the fight, stopped the German advance, and increased the levels of confidence and experience in our troops. The toughness and resilience demonstrated by our Marines led to the title of Teufelshunde or “Devil Dogs.” The intentional pursuit of mental, physical, spiritual, and social toughness was tangible among those fighting this battle. When Allied forces were ready to call defeat, Capt. Lloyd Williams -company commander of the 51st Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and graduate of Virginia Tech-, said, “Retreat, Hell! We just got here!” Capt. Williams fought intensely with his Marines and died a few days later. Wounded in battle, he told the docs, “Don’t bother with me. Take care of my good men.” In the face of difficulties, toughness keeps us relentless, resilient, and focus on the mission.
June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month . PTSD is a mental health condition that develops in some individuals that have been exposed to or experienced a life-threatening event. Such events can be combat, natural disasters (such as fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more), accidents, or sexual or physical assault. Statistics indicate that 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Even with all the public discourse and the prevalence of people developing this condition, the number of people seeking treatment is limited. One sign of toughness is the ability to ask for help when needed. Increased toughness comes we build interdependence, working together to establish cohesiveness and support to one another.
As we celebrate toughness in the memory of the 103rd anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood, let us take time to keep an eye on ourselves and others on our united fight against PTSD.
For more info please visit the US Department of Veteran Affair's National Center for PTSD page.
May 2021 Message
We come to the end of the month of May, a month filled with observances in honor of Service Members and their families: Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Military Appreciation Month, and Memorial Day among others. All these expressions of intense appreciation are opportunities to exercise our humility, a value that to some is opposed to our military nature and drive while recognized by many leaders as a valuable attribute in professional development. Instilling humility, as a core attribute, increases the ability to work as a team, recognizes our limitations, and considers options from the perspective of the most junior to the most senior in the team. As we take time to reflect on our fallen heroes this Memorial Day, I pray we may recognize in humbleness their contributions to our nation and proudly celebrate their lives with appreciation and gratitude. Learning to live our lives knowing their sacrifices is the energizing force that keeps us committed to our cause. That was the energy that kept our naval forces ready to engage in the Pacific 79 years ago in the Battle of Midway. Only six months after the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. Navy turned the tide in the Pacific. The memory of the 2,403 U.S. personnel killed and the 19 U.S. Navy ships destroyed or damaged during the Pearl Harbor attack provided the vision and commitment to our nation to turn the page during this crucial time in World War II.
Memorial Day 2021
As we gather to celebrate the holiday with our friends and families, let us take a moment to reflect on the holiday and commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and liberties.
Some ways we can do that is by attending a ceremony and/or parade, decorating with flags, participating in our moment of remembrance at 3pm your local time, or buying a poppy.
For more background on the holiday, please visit our post from last year.
2021 Eastern Region Symposium Registration is Open!
Registration is open for the 2021 Eastern Region Symposium, which is being coordinated by the Washington DC Chapter and will take place via Zoom on 5 May 2021. Please visit our event page for more details and to register.
2021 ANSO National Elections
ANSO has several executive leadership opportunities available!
We are seeking nominations for the following Board of Director positions currently up for elections:
- President
- Secretary
- Membership Coordinator
- Judge Advocate
- Public Affairs Officer
We are also seeking to fill current vacancies via special elections on the same day for the following:
- Executive Vice President
- Master-at-Arms
- Merchant Marine Service Representative
- USCG Enlisted Representative
- USMC Enlisted Representative
The deadline for nominations is COB Wednesday, 31 March, 2021.
Nominees must be ANSO members in good standing. If you would like to run for one of these positions, or if you would like to nominate someone for the position, please visit the Elections Page on our website to submit your nomination(s). Note that you will need to be logged-in to our website to submit your nominations.
Election rules, eligibility, and duty descriptions are outlined in Articles III and IV of the ANSO By-laws.
Once we compile the list of nominees, we will send out an announcement with instructions for the vote.
If you have any questions please reach out via the Contact ANSO form on our website.
Thank you for your participation and support!
Best regards,
ANSO Board of Directors
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ANSO 40th Anniversary
Please join us in celebrating the 40th anniversary of ANSO, the premier Hispanic organization of the sea services since 1981.
41st Anniversary of the Sinking of the USCG Cutter Blackthorn
Today marks the 41st anniversary of the sinking of the 180' buoy tender, US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) BLACKTHORN. On January 28, 1980, USCGC BLACKTHORN sank in Tampa Bay and 23 Coast Guard personnel lost their lives after colliding with the the 600' tanker S.S. CAPRICORN. One of the 23 crew members lost that day was 19-year-old Seaman Apprentice (SA) William Ray Flores, the namesake of our Tampa Chapter. SA Flores paid the ultimate price after locating the life jacket locker, ensuring all survivors in the water received a life jacket, and staying with the sinking ship determined to save the lives of his shipmates trapped in the sinking hull. 27 crew members survived. Today we remember and honor his sacrifice and all the lives lost during this terrible accident.
Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance: The Story of Rudy Martinez, The First Latino Killed in World War II
On this 79th anniversary of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, we remember and pay tribute to the more than 2,400 American service members who lost their lives during the attack. One of the first lives lost during the attack was that of 21 year old Rudolph Machado Martinez, a Mexican-American U.S. Navy sailor stationed on the battleship USS Utah. His story is captured in the Pearl Harbor National Memorial video below. We are eternally grateful to all those who lost their lives on that fateful day, December 7th, 1941.
Blanca Rosas, CDR, USCG (Ret)
Saludos! I have been a member of ANSO since 2007. Back then I was a Lieutenant; a friend invited me to one of the annual conferences in San Diego, CA. I was excited for having the opportunity to network with senior officers who took the time out of their busy schedule to mentor enlisted members and junior officers like me. I remember sitting down with Admiral Jody Breckenridge, USCG (Ret.) for a mentorship session; that was the first time I had ever had a one-on-one conversation with an admiral about my career goals. I greatly benefited from her advice and the mentorship from all the other members that attended that conference. In addition, I came out with a few mentors who provided me with guidance during my 23 years in the Coast Guard, and a network of professionals who helped me succeed in my career.
ANSO helped me develop skills in the following areas:
- Leadership – ANSO offers opportunities to excel as a leader (e.g. be part of the Board of Directors or serve as a member of a Chapter). I have had the pleasure of serving as a Chapter President, National Membership Coordinator and now, as the ANSO National President.
- Mentorship – ANSO provides a network of mentors who can provide advice/coaching on how to accomplish your personal and professional goals.
- Workplace Climate – ANSO promotes cultural awareness. Cultural awareness is essential to improve work relations and communication. Reference: Study On Hispanic Professionals Reveals Low Productivity And Engagement In The Workplace
- Public Speaking – ANSO provides plenty of opportunities to improve your public speaking skills. Talk to senior flag officers and peers to discuss career goals, provide presentations and briefs to promote ANSO, volunteer to speak during our conferences or during our community outreach events.
- Planning – ANSO provides plenty of opportunities to improve your planning skills. Help the organization plan conferences and events that can benefit our members.
- Initiative – get involve and provide ideas that can make our organization grow and stay relevant within the Sea Services and the community.
Throughout the years, I have continued to attend conferences and events not only to seek professional development but also to serve as a mentor and contribute to the ANSO mission: “To assist the Sea Service Chief’s efforts in Hispanic workforce recruitment and retention by fostering the personal growth and professional development of officers, enlisted and civilian personnel; providing mentorship, networking, training and educational opportunities; and engaging the Hispanic community through outreach initiatives.”
In 2015, I had the privilege to serve as the President of the BM1 Carlos Valdivia Molina ANSO Chapter, San Francisco, CA. I was the only member in the Chapter at the time. Through partnership with Leadership Diversity Advisory Council (LDAC), Coast Guard Enlisted Association (CGEA), National Naval Officers Association (NNOA), Civil Rights Office and others, the San Francisco Chapter grew to be a 10-member Chapter responsible for the coordination of the Hispanic Heritage Month and two professional development events a year for officers, enlisted and civilian members. After this great opportunity, I volunteered to serve as the Board of Director – Membership Coordinator. This position gave me the opportunity to contribute to the organization at a higher level and have an impact in the future of ANSO. Currently, I have the pleasure to serve you as the 15th National President. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to lead ANSO for the next few years and work with the Board of Directors (BOD), and all ANSO members to make this organization even more successful.
I encourage you to join ANSO, take advantage of all the opportunities it provides, and help us accomplish ANSO’s mission.
Very respectfully,
CDR Blanca Rosas, USCG (Ret.)
La Presidenta de ANSO
AHORA ES, ANSO!
ADELANTE CON ANSO!
Opinion on Hispanic Americans in the Senior Ranks of the Armed Forces
By William D. Rodriguez
Rear Admiral, United States Navy, Retired
Board Member, Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance (HVLA)
Past President, Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO)
The continuing focus on Diversity and Inclusion has become more of a "Race issue" and a "Gender issue" than an "Ethnicity issue". The Hispanic American population has grown to be the largest minority group in this country, and yet, comparatively speaking, our Armed Forces still do not reflect “the face of the nation” with regard to the Hispanic American population. This is particularly true in the Flag and General Officer, senior officer and senior enlisted ranks. This is NOT Diversity and Inclusion! As you will remember, forty-five years ago the emphasis to increase the number of African Americans in key colleges, universities and other educational and business institutions was through Affirmative Action and Quota Control. This program which was deemed as successful had its flaws. It had very little, if any, regard for any ethnic community, and there was little concern for meritocracy. Of note, however, the program eventually produced a significant number of African American Flag and General Officers. These senior officers then served as examples and potential mentors to those who came behind them. Similar to what was done for the African Americans over forty-five years ago, there should be a renewed emphasis and focus on the ethnic communities, specifically, the Hispanic American Community. Furthermore, there should be an in-depth analysis of the demographics of Hispanic Americans in the Armed Forces and specifically in its senior ranks, and the DoD and the Services should take an approach towards tracking and mentoring of Hispanic Americans in order to advocate for them, ensure they are fully qualified for promotion into the senior ranks of the Armed Forces, and are given a fair and objective opportunity for promotion without prejudice or discrimination.
Full version of the Op-Ed can be found here.
Happy Veterans Day 2020!
On Veterans Day we honor all of those who have served our country in war or peace and thank all veterans for their sacrifices.
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, the day when the fighting stopped during World War I. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. A Congressional Act in 1938 made the 11th of November a legal holiday. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” in 1954, and Nov. 11 became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. (Source)
The videos below, although a few years old, provide the history and some statistics. We cannot forget our brothers and sisters of the newly formed US Space Force, most of which transferred from the US Air Force.
We wish all veterans and their families a safe and happy Veterans Day!
Visit the VA page for more history.
Happy 245th Marine Corps Birthday
On behalf of the entire ANSO membership, we wish a happy 245th birthday to all our Marine Corps brothers and sisters.
In the video below, Gen. David H. Berger reminds us how the Corps' legacy lives on in every Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Staff Sgt. Erik Estrada)
Devil dogs and leathernecks are two of the names used to describe these fierce defenders of liberty.
World War I, At the Battle of Belleau Wood, Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly, USMC, led a legendary charge against the German line, rallied his Marines by yelling “Come On, You Sons of Bitches, Do You Want to Live Forever?”
Unless you are on the wrong side of the charge, you have got to love that!
https://www.military.com/marine-corps-birthday/marine-corps-history-early-years.html
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/edward-gomez
Semper Fidelis!
Department of the Navy Launches New Naval STEM Education and Outreach Program – Naval Horizons
On Tuesday, October 27, the Department of the Navy launched Naval Horizons, a new Naval Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education and outreach program. It is a virtual effort designed to inspire college students by raising awareness of the real-world science and technology challenges of today. The program will introduce students to cutting-edge topics impacting the Navy and Marine Corps through online videos covering nearly 20 research areas. Students learn about naval topics by watching the videos—and submitting a report on the state of the art and a futurist vision of the Navy and Marine Corps in 2040. The first 3,000 submissions to meet the evaluation criteria will be awarded a $200 stipend.
To be eligible for the Naval Horizons program applicants must be:
- Community College students
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Majors
- Must be enrolled at an accredited college/university
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- You must be at least 18 to apply to this program
Those interested in participating in Naval Horizons should visit https://navalhorizons.asee.org/.
Happy 245th Navy Birthday!
We want to wish a happy 245th birthday to all our Navy members!
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 to October 15, 2020
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
Below are links to different websites that contain the history, current facts, and details for events taking place throughout the month. Please support these events and celebrate our National Hispanic Heritage.
- National Hispanic Heritage Month Website - Hosted by the Library of Congress
- Census Bureau: Hispanic Heritage Month 2020
- National Archives: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Pew Research Center: Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month
- The Library of Congress, Veterans History Project: Hispanic Americans Service to the Nation
Also checkout our events calendar and our social media where we share different networking and professional development opportunities.
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Adelante con ANSO!!