Association of Naval Services Officers

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Hispanic Heritage Month Block Party- Boston

On October 5th, our ANSO New England Chapter members held their first Hispanic Heritage Month Block Party at Base Boston. Over 200 people showed up and shared in fellowship, games, food, music, and coquito. There was music, piñatas, competitions, and food sampling stations. This event was a fun way to share a little bit of the Hispanic culture with coworkers and friends from the surrounding area. A Venezuelan food truck and a Puerto Rican caterer ensured that no attendee left hungry.

The spotlight event for the day was the Coquito Competition. In total, 10 competitors prepared their special recipes and put together short descriptions about their coquitos- many of these competitors got creative with their write-ups. Event attendees sampled the different recipes and voted on their favorite. The creator of the winning recipe, Navidades Caribe (Caribbean Christmas), was dubbed the 2021 Boston Coquito Champion.

USO New England helped with set up, and provided some of the beverages and outdoor games. A huge thank you to USO New England for their support.

New England is one of our newest ANSO Chapters – if you’re interested in learning more about the New England Chapter, reach out at NewEngland@ansomil.org.

Read the creative “Stories of the Bottle” from the Coquito Competition.

  • One of the many fun activities at the Block Party was a piñata filled with candy, gift cards, and special liberty passes.
  • Block Party attendees got to sample some authentic Venezuelan cuisine.
  • The Venezuelan food truck had plenty of options including tequeños and arepas.
  • Coquito Competition volunteers served up small portions of the 10 different coquitos. Attendees sampled and voted on their favorite recipe.
  • The 2021 Boston Coquito Champion recipe was “Navidades Caribe.” It was a combination of family recipes perfected over the years.
  • One of the many coquito recipes.
  • There were 3 piñatas filled with prizes.
  • Shown above is “Ceviche Peruano” with a placard describing the origins of the dish.
  • Shown above is “Pastel Tres Leches” with a placard describing the origins of the dish.
  • Shown above is the “Ropa Vieja” placard describing the origins of the dish.
  • Shown above is the “Cuban Arroz Imperial” placard describing the origins of the dish.

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

President’s Farewell Message

CDR Blanca Rosas, USCG (Ret)

Dear ANSO Familia,

It has been an honor and a tremendous pleasure to have served this amazing professional organization!

I am proud of ANSO’s achievements, particularly in our ability to provide meaningful professional development and outreach opportunities. With that in mind, I would like to highlight some of our accomplishments over the last two years:

  • Increased ANSO’s membership by 200%.
  • Completion of ANSO Strategic Plan.
  • Improved ANSO’s website and effectively increased social media communications.
  • Contributed to the Coast Guard Underrepresented Minorities (URM) study by providing feedback about challenges in the U. S. Coast Guard.
  • Contributed to Services’ Recruiting efforts.  ANSO identified speakers and participated in a myriad of recruiting, educational, and community outreach events promoting the Sea Services as employers of choice.
  • Coordinated numerous professional development events such as two annual symposiums and 20+ virtual leadership and mentoring events.
  • Partnered with other sea services and professional organizations to mentor cadets, officers and enlisted members, and civilian personnel.
  • Nominated 10 members for ANSO and Latina Style awards.
  • Directly contributed to future Hispanic officer selections/acceptances to programs within the Sea Services.
  • Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month and created awareness about the Hispanic’s culture.

All these accomplishments were possible thanks to the support of our volunteers! I want to thank our members, Board of Advisors, Chapters, Lifetime supporters, partners, and sponsors for your support and guidance. I would also like to give a special shout-out of appreciation to CDR Jose Rosario, National Vice President, and members of the Board of Directors (2019-21), for their tireless work, guidance, and support. I want to also extend a special thank you to my predecessor, Rear Admiral (Ret.) William Rodriguez, for his leadership and mentoring. Our organization continues to grow in exciting ways, and I am humble for the opportunity to be a part of it. Thank you all!

As I come to the end of my term as National President, I am excited to welcome our new cadre. They are eager to continue our mission and I am certain they will successfully fulfill their predecessors’ shoes!  Over the next couple of weeks, CDR Rosario and I will do a complete turnover to ensure a smooth transition. Please join me in welcoming:

National President: CAPT (Ret.) Roy Love, U. S. Navy
National Vice President: LCDR Rolando Jesus Machado, Jr., U. S. Navy
National Treasurer: LCDR Edwin Ortiz, U. S. Coast Guard
USMC Enlisted Representative: Alfonso Ramos Jr., Veteran, U.S. Marine Corps
Master-At-Arms: CAPT James Kirby, U. S. Navy
U. S. Coast Guard Executive Champion: Dr. Gladys Brignoni

Again, I cannot thank you all enough for your support and dedication to me and ANSO.  I hope that you will give Roy and Rolando the same support and dedication! I wish them the best in their future journey as part of our growing familia! 

As a Lifetime member, I will continue to support ANSO and will be available to assist and mentor anyone that desires it. Do not hesitate to reach out to me via email or social media.

Ahora es, ANSO! Adelante con ANSO!

CDR (Ret.) Blanca Rosas, USCG
La Presidenta de ANSO, 2019-21

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”