R 021224Z APR 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN  0212/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2009 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG) NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE AND SOLICITATION FOR NOMINEES FOR THE BIG MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD//
POC/D. G. JACOBS/CAPT/UNIT:MPE/-/TEL:(703) 784-9371/TEL:DSN 278-9371//
POC/V. WHITE/CIV/UNIT:MPC/-/TEL:(703) 784-9385/TEL:DSN 278-9385//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES THE 2009 BIG NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE AND SOLICITS NOMINEES FOR THE 2009 BIG MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD.  BIG WILL HOST ITS 31ST ANNUAL NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE 24-28 AUGUST 2009 IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.  BIG WAS ORGANIZED IN 1975 AND INCORPORATED AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION UNDER THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JURISDICTION IN 1976.  BIG'S GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE, EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS.
2.  THIS YEAR, BIG WILL PRESENT MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS TO A MARINE (ACTIVE OR RESERVE) AND A MARINE CORPS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE. THE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED AT A DOD HOSTED AWARDS RECEPTION DURING THE BIG NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE.  SPECIFIC DATES WILL BE COORDINATED WITH AWARDEES.  NOMINEES FOR THE AWARDS MUST HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES TO THE MARINE CORPS AND THE NATION BY SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM THROUGH OUTSTANDING SUPPORT TO THE MISSION OF THEIR ORGANIZATION AND MEETING ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERION:
    A.  DEMONSTRATING SUPPORT FOR THE FULL INTEGRATION AND PROMOTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WITHIN THE ARMED SERVICES OR FEDERAL CIVILIAN WORK FORCE.
    B.  PROMOTING THE TENETS OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, HUMAN RELATIONS AND PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS.
    C.  CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE MENTORSHIP OR DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCEMENT OR RETENTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH MERIT PRINCIPLES.
    D.  ELIMINATING BARRIERS THAT HINDER EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS OR PROMOTING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ADVOCATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
    E.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE SELECTION, PROMOTION OR RETENTION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SENIOR GRADE LEVEL POSITIONS AND UNDER-REPRESENTED OCCUPATIONS.
    F.  DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER THAT DISTINGUISHES THE INDIVIDUAL AS AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, ROLE MODEL OR MENTOR IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY OR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.
    G.  INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY THE PARTICIPATION OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS) IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND ENHANCING THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OF
THESE INSTITUTIONS.
    H.  INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM DOD PROGRAMS INVOLVING CONTRACTS AND GRANTS, STUDENT AND FACULTY
EMPLOYMENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS.
    I.  MAKING PERSONAL SACRIFICES BY HIS/HER ACTIONS, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADVANCEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
    J.  DISTINGUISHING HERSELF OR HIMSELF AS A LEADER AND MENTOR FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH, ESPECIALLY PROMOTING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL CAREER FIELDS.
3.  COMMANDERS AND SUPERVISORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO NOMINATE DESERVING MARINES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES FOR THIS AWARD.  ALL MARINES AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ETHNICITY ARE ELIGIBLE. NOMINATION PACKAGES MUST INCLUDE A BLACK AND WHITE OR COLOR, HIGH RESOLUTION DIGITAL (.JPG FILE AT LEAST 1MB), HEAD AND SHOULDER PHOTO IN THE SERVICE "A" UNIFORM FOR MARINES, BUSINESS ATTIRE FOR
CIVILIANS; A TYPE WRITTEN, SINGLE-SPACED NARRATIVE (NOT TO EXCEED TWO PAGES) DESCRIBING THE NOMINEE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE BIG AWARD CRITERIA.  A TYPE WRITTEN CITATION (SINGLE-SPACED, NOT TO EXCEED SIXTEEN LINES OF NARRATIVE, 12 PITCH FONT, WITH 1 INCH LEFT AND RIGHT MARGINS) SUMMARIZING THE NOMINEE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.  A SINGLE-SPACED BIOGRAPHY (NOT TO EXCEED ONE PAGE) OF THE NOMINEE; AND A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NOMINEE'S COMMANDING OFFICER OR SUPERVISOR.  THE COVER SHEET SHOULD
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FOR BOTH NOMINEE AND PERSON PREPARING THE NOMINATION:  NAME, POSITION, GRADE, ORGANIZATION, MAILING ADDRESS, EMAIL ADDRESS, WORK PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.  ELECTRONIC PACKAGE SUBMISSIONS FOR MARINES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CMC (MPE) POC AT DAMIEN.JACOBS@USMC.MIL BY 12 JUNE 2009.  ELECTRONIC PACKAGE SUBMISSIONS FOR CIVILIANS MUST BE RECEIVED BY CMC (MPC) POC AT VIRGIL.WHITE@USMC.MIL BY 12 JUNE 2009.  HARD COPIES MAY BE MAILED TO 3280 RUSSELL ROAD, QUANTICO VA 22134-5103, OR FAXED TO 703-784-9814.
4.  CMC (MPE) WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL EMPHASIS AWARDS BOARD TO SELECT THE HONOREES.  THE AWARD RECIPIENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA MARADMIN. TRAVEL AND PER DIEM FOR THE MARINE AWARD RECIPIENT AND ONE FAMILY MEMBER WILL BE FUNDED BY CMC (MPE) AND TRAVEL AND PER DIEM FOR THE CIVILIAN AWARD RECIPIENT WILL BE FUNDED BY CMC (MPC).
5.  COMMANDERS AND SUPERVISORS MAY ALLOW DOD PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING THE EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF MINORITIES AND WOMEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS CONFERENCE. EXAMPLES OF PERSONS IN THESE CATEGORIES INCLUDE CIVILIAN AND MILITARY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DIRECTORS, SPECIALISTS, AND ADVISORS; SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAM MANAGERS; HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALISTS; AND INDIVIDUALS IN COMMAND, SUPERVISORY AND MANAGERIAL POSITIONS. COMMANDERS MAY AUTHORIZE TAD ORDERS TO COVER EXPENSES INCIDENT TO ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CONFERENCE INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, PER DIEM, AND REGISTRATION FEES.  BIG IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY AND IS NOT ENDORSED BY DOD OR THE USMC.
6.  THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES)MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION, M&RA.//