Blog | Association of Naval Services Officers

Memorial Day 2022

ANSO Familia, Memorial Day is a special time to honor, reflect, and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Today, as we gather with family and friends, let us also take some time to remember the fallen, and honor their service. Service is demanding, and many of us get to eventually return home and start new lives. The many who gave their lives so we could continue to enjoy freedom and democracy should never be forgotten.

Today, we remember them, and we honor them for their service and sacrifice.

May 30, 2022

Mentorship Program

ANSO Familia,

Are you interested in providing mentorship and professional development to students interested in a career as an Officer?

ANSO San Diego Chapter’s LT Jonathan Daniel has created a virtual mentorship program for Hispanic and Latin students in high school, college, as well as recent graduates to be connected with ANSO members. The objective of this mentorship program is to provide students with information, pathways, and personal insight into pursuing a career as a USN/USCG Officer.

Source: MyNavyHR Assessment Library “Demographic Data Comparison”

As of 2022, the ethnic Hispanic makeup of Navy Enlisted closely mirrors the national population; however, there is a stark decrease in Hispanic Officer representation that is non-proportional with the national population. We want to close that gap and increase inclusivity and a sense of belonging in order to focus on warfighting. Creating a Navy and Coast Guard with a proportional and diverse leadership corps leads to innovation and organizational creativity.

If you are interested in signing up as a mentor, please use the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFNyjB941Ht4QurtiP1zkbwNy422_wljOr6j-uYoX3hbqvPw/viewform

If you are a student, recent graduate, or know someone who would be interested in receiving a mentor, please direct to the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYhiYyK-RYxPRCKPk27wA4LeY15Us-vokEP0tWXnh25vs-6Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you have any further questions or concerns, comment below or reach out to LT Jonathan Daniel at danieljb4545@gmail.com

May 22, 2022

April 2022 Message

April was a significant month for the ANSO familia. Our Atlantic Region Symposium (ARS) welcomed leaders, members, partners, volunteers, and participants from our naval forces to experience the power of connection, an intrinsic value among Latinos. Identifying with the stories shared, exchanging business cards, and establishing new mentoring relationships were just a few expressions of connectedness in action. The ARS was a celebration of connected leadership, assuring maritime superiority as a constant endeavor.

We build connectedness as we open spaces that foster belongingness, trust, and mutual respect. As we carefully and purposely cultivate these spaces, relationships become more meaningful, interdependence grows, and personal value intensifies. Connectedness creates environments for leadership to flourish and renew itself.

My first lessons in connectedness came from my mother. She had the gift to build connections almost anywhere she went. People knew about Doña Blanca, her humanitarian spirit, and compassionate care. Since my role was to be her companion, I had the privilege of seeing her build relationships with people at all levels with humility and confidence. Through those interactions, she conveyed a message of dependability and reliance. People knew they could trust her and call on her whenever there was a need in the community. She was generous with her time, talents, and limited resources.

The experience of connectedness reemerged as we received the invitation to remember and say “never again” at the end of April. Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, was an opportunity to stop and consider the systematic murder of Jews and other minorities by the Nazi regime during World War II. In a spirit of connectedness, we had the opportunity to grieve the loss of human lives during one of the most challenging times in recorded history and renew our commitment to uphold and defend human rights.

As we consider the value of connectedness, from the individual to the communal, from our ANSO chapters to the entire organization, let us recognize its relevance personally and professionally, as well as the value of connectedness in the full range of the human experience, from the times of joyful celebration to the grief that energizes change and transformation.

May 11, 2022

BANGOR THEATER EVENT CANCELLATION

We regret to inform you all that we had to cancel the ANSO event scheduled for this Thursday at the Bangor Theater. Please check back soon for more event updates!

May 8, 2022

March 2022 Message

In March of 2020, our typical world drastically changed. Streets were almost empty, traffic jams got reduced as workers and students stayed home, and even a roll of toilet paper along with cleaning supplies turned into gold. The reality of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) intrusively took hold of our existence as a world pandemic (as declared by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020) and a national emergency (13 March 2020). With COVID-19 came a wave of severe medical symptoms, the need for triaging patients who might receive further treatment, and ethical/moral decisions that stretched healthcare workers to the max. Uncertainty, fear, doubt, anger, and polarization abounded. Confirmed cases and deaths increased daily, and every new variant left us wondering about the future. At times, it seemed endless, with no practical resolution on sight.

To all these experiences, we add the challenges to mental health connected to isolation, social distancing, and masking. The experience of being away from our families during meaningful times and celebrations affected our core beliefs. Some experienced financial struggles as income declined, small businesses closed, and jobs changed value. A reidentification of spiritual toughness and connectedness became an implicit requirement to reengage with life. Creativity and intentionality turned out as the highest commodities to adaptation and resilient living.

As we come to this point in the “new normal” journey, take time to stop, go over the experiences lived through these two years of the pandemic, be thankful, and identify lessons learned about self, significant relationships, and values. We have grown in multiple areas and through challenging environments.

Above all, we have kept our hope alive.

April 12, 2022

ANSO 2022 Atlantic Region Symposium Registration Open

Registration is open for our 2022 Atlantic Region Symposium, which will be held 12 to 14 April 2022 onboard Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. A virtual option will also be available.

This year’s theme is ”Leadership Excellence: Assuring Maritime Superiority.” We have an impressive line up of speakers and all all are invited to participate.

The event is open to ANSO members and sponsored participants. Military services are sponsoring a number of spots which include a one year membership. Details on how to obtain a sponsorship can be found in the service specific messages posted in our event page.

Full details and the agenda can be found on our event page.

April 4, 2022

Ringing in 2022 with Ms. Angie Tucker

Hola Seattle Chapter Familia!

On Friday, March 4th, we held our first in-person event of the year.

We had an overall good turnout! Three new Chapter members were introduced a la familia. Then, our very own LT Graciela Fuller was selected to participate in the panel for the ANSO Eastern Symposium.

We welcomed our guest speaker Angie Tucker, who shared how her challenging upbringing fueled her desire to help others as a key figure in the Seattle area’s volunteer community. Her journey started when, on a decisive Christmas Day, she baked over 100 cookies for the homeless community. Within a few years, her generosity was the impetus for a community-wide event centered around giving back. Ms. Tucker also shared her experiences working in law enforcement at a prison, and her observations related to race, opportunities and challenges for minorities and our Latinx community.

Ms. Tucker structured her time and her words to inspire us to serve our community, which is one of the areas our chapter will be working towards to this year.

After the formal event, a group of us met at Sea Pine Brewery to connect and get to know eachother better.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events:

25 March- Volunteer Service at Maritime High School in Renton, WA

29 March- Seattle Chapter Luncheon at Bangor Trident Base

13-14 April: ANSO Atlantic Region Symposium, Norfolk VA

Ongoing: Volunteer training at Centro de la Raza

Check out some photos from our event!

Seattle Chapter members dig in! Buen Provecho.

Ms. Angie Tucker speaks about her work at our March 4th meeting.

Words of thanks before presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Ms. Tucker.

Ms. Tucker is presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for her time and contributions.

Seattle Chapter sits down to a meal to strengthen our ties.

March 16, 2022

February 2022 Message

My Colombian ancestors come from multiple shapes and colors. My father’s hair, skin, and facial features are those of a mulatto. His curly hair grew like an afro. My mother used to take care of haircuts every time. With no formal training, she knew how to make it work. The pictures of my great-grandmother reaffirm the fact that there is a large amount of Black in my family. The Afro-Latin blood is part of my heritage, even if the pigmentation of my skin doesn’t explicitly show it.

As we celebrate the contributions of Blacks to the sociocultural, political, scientific, and economic framework of America in the month of February, it’s also time to talk about the Afro-Latinos who have been a part of this process. The conversation about Afro-Latinos has been ongoing for years. One example comes from Roberto Angleró, a Puerto Rican artist. Satire and art aligned in 1979 with Angleró’s song “Si Dios fuera negro.” Recent years have brought a resurge in the multiracial dialogue in many countries in Latin America. These continue to raise awareness of the discrimination towards Blacks in such environments. There are still a lot of covert patterns of discrimination to address. The future of these conversations is promising.

While only 25% of Hispanics in the United States identify as Afro-Latinos according to a Pew Center report, Afro-Latino: A deeply rooted identity among U.S. Hispanics by Gustavo Lopez and Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, many of them live the experience of intersectionality as a byproduct of race and ethnicity in the shadows, buried in a limbo of disconnection. What are their family roots? Where do they belong? Still, through all these questions and experiences, many Afro-Latinos have shown resilience, overcame obstacles, and left a legacy that continues to transcend today.

Afro-Latinos like astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, historian Arturo Schomburg (founder of what is known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture), actress and dancer Sylvia del Villard, and television news anchor Gwen Ifill have been remarkable examples of the power of resilience and active engagement. Artists like Celia Cruz, “Machito” (born Frank Grillo), Mario Bauza, and Johnny Pacheco, among others, challenged the status quo and pushed the boundaries in the world of entertainment. In sports, some of the most significant examples of Afro-Latinos come from the world of baseball. Players like Estevan Bellan, Rafael Almeida, and Armando Marsans opened the door for waves of Afro-Latinos to make a difference on the diamond. These names only scratch the surface. There are many others we honor and emulate.

Considering my Afro-Latino heritage, Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos makes several strong points through the verses of “Ay, ay, ay de la Grifa Negra.” The lines and a reading of such a strong poem are available below. De Burgos masterfully carves the messages of resilience, identity, and strength.

Be proud of our Afro-Latino heritage!

Ay-ay-ay-de-la-Grifa-Negra-Translated-2 Download

March 8, 2022

January 2022 Message

Some people use the New Year to establish new goals, reset old ones, or identify a new vision for the future. Resolutions give us the chance to renew our vision boards and relaunch SMART personal and professional goals. This process is best accomplished when we keep these goals alive and new throughout the year.

Most of those who established any resolutions tend to forget them within weeks. Those who still remember them may find they are no longer applicable or relevant. Still, beginning with the end in mind is a practical way to prioritize our daily activities with a common goal.

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. is a prime example of this kind of living. His vision of a new society is sometimes reduced to the “I Have a Dream” speech. However, his message goes well beyond that. Dr. King challenged systemic racism, poverty, and war. He brought his words and teachings to action. Participating in marches, mobilizing teams, and engaging in significant conversations with leaders, Dr. King acted and taught us the way of non-violence and perseverance to build justice at all levels in society.

As we consider this year in the light of Dr. King’s example, I invite you to activate your vision and get engaged. For the last six years, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) followed that path and established the National Day of Racial Healing. The Tuesday after the celebration of Dr. King’s birthday, people from all walks of life gather to witness the vision of racial healing becoming real in individuals, groups, and communities around our country. Dr. King’s actual vision and celebration inspire many others to build healing in local communities here and now.

Each of us, part of the ANSO familia, has the chance to join the march for racial healing. One way to do so is by getting involved in the mentoring opportunities available through The Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA). January is National Mentoring Month. HISPA continues to open spaces for Hispanic professionals to be role models to youth around the nation. Our ANSO president, CAPT Roy Love, received the INSPIRE award, Champion of the Year, for all the outstanding support to the organization. Join these efforts and inspire others by sharing your story.

Detroit poet Reyes performed side by side with John Legend with a rendition of Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Felt To Be Free” and shared one of his transformational poems. Take a few minutes and remember this is #HowWeHeal.

January 30, 2022