Association of Naval Services Officers

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

Blog

Invitation to Surface Navy Association’s 34th National Symposium Virtual Panel

The Surface Navy Association (SNA) has extended an invitation to ANSO for a panel discussion on Thursday, 13 Jan, 1430 – 1630, which is part of the SNA’s 34th National Symposium in Washington, DC. Participation is virtual and FREE. Our President, CAPT Roy Love, USN (Ret), will be one of the panelists.

Registration to participate is not required. Simply click on the link below at 1430 EST on Thursday, 13 Jan.

https://www.snanational.com/ssla

A few notes:

*Unlike Zoom hosted sessions, the audience will be cameras off, and muted.  However, participants can still submit questions by typing them in. There will be someone moderating the questions.  

*Due to COVID precautions and travel restrictions, our panel members have adapted.  As of right now, three panel members will be virtual (V) and three will be live in person (P), on stage with me and VADM (ret) Mary Jackson:

  • (V) RADM Yvette Davids, USN, COS, USSOCOM, former Commander, CSG11
  • (V) CAPT Rob Francis, USN: CDRE, DESRON 50, former CO (DDG 82), former RO (CVN 76)
  • (P) CAPT(ret) Roy Love, USN, President, Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO)
  • (P) CAPT Jean Marie Sullivan, USN, Division Chief, Joint Staff, Deputy Director Global Operations
  • (V) CDR Alexa Jenkins, USN: XO, USS Carney (DDG-64), former President SSLA
  • (P) CMDCM Jeanette Hafer, USN: NLEC, former CMC (DDG 51)

For more information on the full three day event, please visit https://www.navysnaevents.org/national-symposium/

December 2021 Message

2021 marks the 50th anniversary of a simple tune that has been the delight of many, young and old during the holiday season. It celebrates the magic of the season with a bilingual message. The song repeats six words in Spanish and 14 in English. It happens to be one of those songs that stick to the unconscious of anyone listening, echoing, again and again, this refrain: “Feliz Navidad; Feliz Navidad; Feliz Navidad, Prospero Año y Felicidad. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas; I want to wish you a Merry Christmas; I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.” This catchy beat is as new today as it was five decades ago. 

It’s hard to believe that this meaningful holiday song was released two years after José Feliciano faced one of the most controversial moments in his professional career as he performed the Star-Spangled Banner during the 1968 World Series. His soulful interpretation was met by boos, yelling, and disapproval from some people in the crowd. Feliciano faced strong criticism outside the ballpark as well. Many people back then were not used to hearing different versions of the national anthem. 

The Puerto Rican musician and composer didn’t let his career go sour. After all the mixed messages in response to this performance, he remained true to himself. Trusting his skills, he devoted himself to his mission as an entertainer. He maintained one foot grounded on his Latin roots and the other crossing over to the American market. Two years after so many had turned against his performance of the national anthem, he found a way to break through the ice of criticism, reopening the door to new opportunities to explore his creativity. Every stroke of his acoustic guitar brought the island spirit across people from different cultures.  

Feliciano, visually impaired from birth, loved music since he was a child and didn’t let glaucoma become a label to hold him from reaching his highest potential. 

Thinking about this journey, I wonder: what is our glaucoma? What is our ballpark or performance? What is our guitar? What is the new song that inspires new hearts every day? 

May we continue to celebrate the New Year en familia.

For more of José Feliciano’s music check out his YouTube channel

Previous En Familia messages

November 2021 Message

Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, The First Thanksgiving,1914, Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, The First Thanksgiving, 1914, Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, MA, USA.

Cooking, traveling, cleaning, decorating, sharing, a little dancing, laughing. Perhaps, we participated in some of these activities in the last week as we celebrated Thanksgiving Day. I remember my first Thanksgiving Day after arriving in the United States in 1991. Some friends told me about the celebration. The portrait of pilgrims and natives enjoying a meal together was the picture-perfect image in my mind for years. Time and time again, I remember sharing this with friends and family. It was a tragic story with a happy ending.

Recently, I became aware of the National Thanksgiving Proclamation, the first of its kind, released by President George Washington. The idealistic image of the meal gained historical perspectives with this written document, a declaration signed in New York City, 26 November 1789, and calling for a public day of prayer and thanksgiving. Washington’s proclamation didn’t call for a permanent observance. It connected well with the sociopolitical environment of the time and was a voice in a chain of leaders who called for days of thanksgiving throughout the years. It wasn’t until President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation in 1863 that the National Day of Thanksgiving became a permanent celebration.

Washington invited all citizens to join in thanksgiving and prayer (1) for the new government; (2) for God’s protection before and after the war; and (3) for the future of the nation. What are you thankful for today? What inspires your heart to gratefulness? As we embark on the holidays, express your thanksgiving and pray as you name your blessings this year, both personally and professionally.

President Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation reads as follows:

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Photo Source: Mount Vernon Website

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be– That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

(From https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-sources-2/article/thanksgiving-proclamation-of-1789/)

ANSO Featured on NBC Nightly News Report

ANSO was featured in a Nightly News report that aired on November 10, 2021, which talked about Hispanic/Latino representation at the upper levels of our military services. Our President, CAPT Roy Love (USN ret), was interviewed and his comments are featured at the 2:44 mark. 

As CAPT Love mentions in the interview, we/ANSO are blessed to have the support of, and access to, many senior leaders that make themselves available to our membership. Perfect example is our current Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, who has been an active ANSO member and who recently participated in our Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) and 40th Anniversary virtual celebration. His remarks at the event can be found in our new ANSO Lens page. Other highlights of the event can be seen on our YouTube Channel Playlist.

The NBC report is a great opportunity for ANSO to get national level visibility and we must build on the momentum by educating people on our organization, and continue our mission dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Hispanics and Latinos across all ranks of the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard, and US Merchant Marine. To that end, we continue to actively work to provide opportunities for our members to obtain the career guidance, mentorship, and professional development necessary to prepare and successfully compete for those challenging assignments and opportunities. Nothing is impossible with the right attitude and support network.

Some of our new initiatives/features include:

As we continue to focus on the Lines of Effort (LOEs) outlined in our ANSO Strategic Plan 2021, we ask members to participate in our local chapters, consider taking on leadership roles at the chapter or national level, and take advantage of the opportunities made available. We will continue to provide updates via emails, our website, and our social media channels. Please contact us if you have any questions, comments, or recommendations. We are at your service, thank you for your continued support, and Adelante con ANSO!! 

Happy 246th Birthday United States Marine Corps

Happy 246th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps and to all our ANSO Marines! 

Since 10 Nov 1775, you have fought in every clime and place and consistently demonstrated to be one of the finest fighting forces in history! 

And as President Reagan stated “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in this world. The Marines don’t have that problem.” 

Semper Fi Marines and Happy Birthday!


New Professional Development Opportunity

ANSO members have been offered the opportunity to obtain the BlueDragon Hyper-Integrated Causal Analysis (HCA) Analyst Certification training, a value of over $1k, for FREE. Participants must be ANSO members in good standing for the duration of the course, and must commit to completing the training within the required time.

Course details and registration instructions can be found in the Professional Development section of our Resources page. Note that you must be logged in to our website to access the page. If you need help logging in to the site, please send an email to membership@ansomil.org.

Adelante con ANSO!

October 2021 Message

Our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations gave us a framework of Esperanza, a sparkle to embrace new strategies to achieve our mission as ANSO family. As we heard from leaders, both from low and higher echelons in our naval services, much has been done in recruitment, promotion, and retention of Hispanics and minorities, and still, there is much more to do. ANSO familia, we have been and continue to be part of that answer. Let’s always remember that.

During the month of October, our country grieved the loss of General (Ret.) Colin Powell, a military leader and statesman, who served our country for many decades. General Powell came from humble beginnings. He knew well the challenges of migration, as his parents moved from Jamaica to New York City. From the South Bronx, Powell rose to serve our country as a four-star Army General, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the U.S. first Black Secretary of State. His legacy of dedicated and honorable service left us a set of 13 rules for leadership crafted in his memoir It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership. The following version comes from Share America (a website managed by the Bureau of Global Public Affairs within the U.S. Department of State):

  1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. Leaving the office at night with a winning attitude affects more than you alone; it also conveys that attitude to your followers.
  2. Get mad, then get over it. Everyone gets mad. It’s a natural and healthy emotion. My experience is that staying mad isn’t useful.
  3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Accept that your position was faulty, not your ego.
  4. It can be done. Have a positive and enthusiastic approach to every task. Don’t surround yourself with instant skeptics.
  5. Be careful what you choose: You may get it. You will have to live with your choices. Some bad choices can be corrected. Some you’ll be stuck with.
  6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. Superior leadership is often a matter of superb instinct. When faced with a tough decision, use the time available to gather information that will inform your instinct.
  7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours. Make sure the choice is yours and you are not responding to the pressure and desire of others.
  8. Check small things. Leaders have to have a feel for small things — a feel for what is going on in the depths of an organization where small things reside.
  9. Share credit. People need recognition and a sense of worth as much as they need food and water.
  10. Remain calm. Be kind. Few people make sound or sustainable decisions in an atmosphere of chaos.
  11. Have a vision. Be demanding. Followers need to know where their leaders are taking them and for what purpose. Good leaders set vision, mission, and goals.
  12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Those who do risk wasting their time and energy.
  13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. If you believe in the likelihood of success, your followers will too.
  • Childhood Photo From Back Cover of General Powell’s My American Journey Biography
  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Oct. 1, 1989 – Sept. 30, 1993
    Photo Source: JCS website
  • General Colin Powell Visits Deployed Troops at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov 18, 2007
    Photo Source: DVIDS
  • Photo Source: US Department of State

ANSO President’s Monthly Message

ANSO Familia,  

Saludos a todos!   I hope everyone is well, and that you continue to be blessed. We are still in the midst of this Pandemic, and many have been affected by this and other things. These are tough times. If you need anything, please know that we are here for you. All you need to do is reach out and let us know how we can support you.    

As I wrap up my second month as your President, I wanted to update you all on the wonderful things ANSO has done in the last two months, especially through Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) celebrations.    

Some of the highlights:

1. ANSO New England held a wonderful HHM event on the 5th of October.  I was able to fly to Boston and spend some time with Berto Perez and his chapter, eat some great food, drink some amazing Coquito, and say a few words about ANSO to all the CG personnel present. Over 200 people attended that event!  See more details on the chapter page. A very well executed event.  

2. On the 6th of October, we hosted the ANSO HHM and 40th Anniversary event online.  The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, The Commandant of the CG, Admiral Dennis Velez, and many others took part in our event.  Overall we had about 60 participants online.  Although most of the participants were not ANSO members, I think it was a great event.  You can find the videos of the speakers on our new YouTube channel.   We also ran a series called ANSO Members in the highlight.  We have uploaded all those videos on our YT channel now.  These are excellent interviews with some of our members.  Please make some time to watch these 15-20 minute videos.    

3. This month, we worked with Mr. Rob De La Espriella, owner of BlueDragon HCA.  Mr. De La Espriella has offered ANSO access to an online course on critical thinking.  This course, normally over $1000, is available to all ANSO members free of charge!  This is in line with our Line of Effort (LOE) to increase benefits to all of our members, and helps us provide greater opportunities through learning courses.  We will open registrations very soon, so keep an eye out on the Resources section of our website for the link to sign up!  Courses like this help you while on active duty,  but also will provide certification (through a post course process) for post military life.  And its free right now!  

4.  Our efforts in supporting the Sea Services continue to bear fruits.  In the last few weeks I have been working with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. More to follow on this!  Progress is being made!  

5.  On 4 October, I was invited to the US Naval Academy for an Annual Conference.  It was great to see Admiral Velez, CAPT Then, LCDR Machado, and many others at the conference (see picture below).  I also participated in one of the Panels and was able to talk about ANSO and the work we are doing.   We are being invited to the table and asked to speak more and more.  This is how we advance our LOE to bring greater visibility to our organization on behalf of all our members.

Pictured left to right, LCDR Machado, CAPT Love (ret), RDML Velez, and CAPT Then at the US Naval Academy Diversity and Inclusion Conference, 4 Oct 2021.

6.  On 13 October, CDR Tico Valenzuela and I attended the Naval History and Heritage Command Navy birthday celebration with SECNAV.  A great event highlighting  Admiral Farragut and his legacy.  

SECNAV cutting the cake at the Naval History and Heritage Command Navy birthday celebration, 13 October 2021.

7.  Two days ago I was the guest speaker for an OPNAV N17.  It was another great opportunity to talk about ANSO.    

8.  Yesterday we had session two of two Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) ANSO role model training events.   Thanks to Karen Gonzalez, Diego Londoño, and Javy Medina for leading ANSO as our first volunteers for this.  Would love to see some CG and Marines join this effort.    

9.  Today I am on my way to San Diego for the NAVAIRFOR summit.  I hope to see some of our ANSO West Coast members there!  More to follow on the conference.

We are doing great things, but we can do more.  Your participation is critical to our success.  We need to resume in person meetings as soon as possible.  Our online events are all being posted for all to see, but few attend and fewer go back and watch them after they are posted. Please get involved. Take advantage of the things we are offering, and help us make ANSO better. There is strength in unity, and we need everyone to help us succeed.   

Feel free to contact me anytime. 

Un abrazo,
Roy

CAPT Roy Love, USN (Ret)
Presidente, ANSO
president@ansomil.org