Association of Naval Services Officers

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

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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.

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

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

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)

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.

ANSO 40th Anniversary

Please join us in celebrating the 40th anniversary of ANSO, the premier Hispanic organization of the sea services since 1981.

About ANSO