Association of Naval Services Officers

A 501c3 nonprofit supporting Latinos/Hispanics of all ranks in the U.S. Sea Services!

Public Affairs Officer

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! 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=YyKEK-nn4sw

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

ANSO Events Calendar

Adelante con ANSO!
Un fuerte abrazo,
CAPTAIN Roy Love, USN (Ret)
Presidente, ANSO
president@ansomil.org
Photo Source: National Archives Detail of Hispanic Heritage Select Photos, by David Valdez.

Incoming President’s Message

CAPT Roy Love, USN (Ret)

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
13 Fallen Heroes – Photo Source: US Naval Institute

Congratulations to Carlos Del Toro, the 78th Secretary of the Navy

Photo Source: SBG Technology Solutions Website

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!

The Honorable Edward Hidalgo at the 1994 DC Chapter Founding Ceremony with then LCDR Del Toro.
Secretary Del Toro participating in a 2019 DC Chapter Mentoring Session at the US Naval Academy.

Sources:

Happy 231st US Coast Guard Birthday!!

Treasury Department HQ – USRC Harriet Lane firing the first naval shot of the Civil War (Source: USCG Historian’s Office)

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!!

Source: The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration

July 2021 Message

Photo Source: Naval History and Heritage Command

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.

Photo Source: yesterdaysamerica.com

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

Photo Source: Military.com

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!!

– CDR Sergio Villaverde, USCGR (ret)

June 2021 Message

This work, June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: Not All Scars are Visible, by Allison Conti, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Capt Lloyd Williams

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

Photo Source: GettyImages

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.