R 311833Z OCT 14
MARADMIN 563/14
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/MPE//
SUBJ/OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/M. J. SHEPPARD/CIV/UNIT: MPE/-/TEL: (703)784-9371/TEL: DSN 278-9371// TEL: COMM (703)784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  AS THE FIRST PEOPLE TO LIVE ON THE LAND WE ALL CHERISH, AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES HAVE PROFOUNDLY SHAPED OUR COUNTRY'S CHARACTER AND OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. TODAY, AMERICAN  INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES ARE LEADERS IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR SOCIETY. NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH IS CELEBRATED TO RECOGNIZE NATIVE CULTURES AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HERITAGE,HISTORY, ART, AND TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES. THE 2014 NATIONAL THEME IS "NATIVE PRIDE AND SPIRIT: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER."
2.  AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES HAVE PARTICIPATED WITH DISTINCTION IN U.S. MILITARY ACTIONS FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS. THEIR COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND FIGHTING SPIRIT WERE RECOGNIZED BY AMERICAN MILITARY LEADERS AS EARLY AS THE 18TH CENTURY. TODAY, 22,248 AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES, MAKING UP 1.7 PERCENT OF THE MILITARY POPULATION.
3.  DURING NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH, COMMANDERS ARE  ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES HAVE PROVIDED TO OUR COUNTRY AND CORPS. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS AT THEIR COMMANDS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
4. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//