[Aux-enews] Special eNews from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - 5 SEPT 2006
USCG Auxiliary e-News
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Tue Sep 5 21:20:32 EDT 2006
eNews from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
5 SEPT 2006
CONTENTS:
HYPERLINK \l "BM_01"Commandant's Intent SITREP #2
HYPERLINK \l "BM_02"NACO's Banquet Remarks
HYPERLINK \l "BM_03"NACO Remarks NACON 2006
HYPERLINK \l "BM_04"NACON 2006 Continuing Coverage on SITREP
HYPERLINK \l "Help"HELP WANTED POSITIONS
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_____
Commandant's Intent SITREP #2
To the Men and Women of the Coast Guard:
When I assumed the duties of Commandant in May, I communicated to each of
you my intent to focus our entire organization on improving and sustaining
Mission Execution. I will continue to communicate directly with you on
important matters and am doing so again today. In the first “100 Days” of
my tenure I traveled to field units in all but two of our Coast Guard
Districts across the country and met many hundreds of Coast Guard active,
reserve, civilian and auxiliary men and women. I have talked with many of
you, often with Master Chief Skip Bowen at my side, aboard VIGILANT in the
Caribbean, from the buoy deck of the STORIS in Kodiak, aboard MACKINAW in
Grand Haven, at Air Stations Sitka and Kodiak, on GANNETT and VALIANT with
President Bush in Miami, at Station Little Creek VA, and in the footprint of
where Station Gulfport MS once stood. I have explained my goals and
priorities and sought your input. In turn, you have informed me and
inspired me, and I thank you for your honest comments and insightful
questions. As I passed during those unit visits there are three knotty
issues I am taking on as Commandant that currently do not have a
sufficiently clear solution or path ahead. They are (1) the future of the
polar icebreaking fleet, (2) the status of the inland and intercoastal short
range aids to navigation mission and the recapitalization of those fleets,
and (3) the condition of our shore facilities. As we delve deeper into
these issues to determine the way ahead, you will be hearing more about them
from me in subsequent SITREPs.
In my first SITREP outlining my Commandant’s Intent, I indicated that we
would take immediate steps to reorganize our operational forces, improve our
service and support systems, better align with our departmental and
interagency partners, and make our logistics and financial systems more
efficient and accountable. Shortly after my change of command I issued six
“Commandant Intent Action Orders.” The following is a status report for
each of these Action Orders:
(1) Develop plans for establishing a new Deployable Operations Group
(DOG) that will integrate our special deployable forces into the third and
final leg of our trident force structure (in addition to shore-based Sector
forces and maritime patrol and interdiction Deepwater forces).
Status: A DOG command element will stand up in summer 2007 (approx. 100
billets) and will assume program-level responsibility for the MSSTs, MSRT,
PSUs, TACLETs, and the National Strike Force. This is a first step in
reshaping our capability to provide adaptive force packaging and will be
accomplished within existing resources at this stage of its development.
(2) Develop and publish a comprehensive Coast Guard Maritime Strategy
(CGMS) that provides a strategic framework for planning maritime Safety,
Security and Stewardship responsibilities of the Coast Guard through the
next 4-5 years.
Status: The senior leadership will complete its review and approval of the
CGMS by 31 October and it will be published shortly afterward.
(3) Realign the Coast Guard’s logistics organization to reduce the burden
on our field units, control costs and improve accountability.
Status: Significant progress has been made planning this complex realignment
and I expect to approve the final plan later this month.
(4) Complete the reorganization of HQ staff into numbered staffs (CG-1,
CG-2, CG-3, etc) to improve the way we develop policy and manage resources
for the Coast Guard, and better align with DoD.
Status: I have approved a plan that will be executed by the end of the year.
(5) Consolidate the Acquisition Directorate (G-A) with the Integrated
Deepwater System Directorate (G-D) to improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of our total acquisition system.
Status: Consolidation of acquisition functions into a single Headquarters
Directorate will be implemented over the next year.
(6) Review our financial accounting system to improve its accuracy,
accountability and alignment with the Department of Homeland Security.
Status: A Task Force established to spearhead this initiative has already
identified 25 items that are being implemented to improve our financial
accountability.
I have also approved four additional Action Orders:
(1) Develop a new operational framework for the Coast Guard to execute our
missions more effectively and efficiently. This effort will focus on the
command and control structure needed to effectively execute our missions
through our new force structure.
(2) Create a new human resource strategy to support our organizational
changes.
(3) Conduct a comprehensive review of our Reserve Component mission
support system.
(4) Implement a service oriented architecture (eCG) to better serve the
needs of all of our internal and external customers. We must address
connectivity issues with our patrol boats and small ATON cutters.
We are aggressively working on all of these and other initiatives in close
coordination with Area and District staffs. I realize that some of these
initiatives are Headquarters focused and field personnel may not immediately
identify with their potential impact. However, the policy and
organizational changes that these orders produce will affect each and every
Coast Guard member: active, reserve, civilian and auxiliary. Some will
occur more quickly than others based on the availability of existing
resources and new requirements. Ultimately, our success in implementing
these changes will directly impact the way we plan, support and execute all
of our missions. I will keep you informed of significant progress and
milestones as we move forward via SITREPS and updates posted online.
I traveled with President Bush during his recent visits to Sector Miami and
the Gulf Coast, and Secretary Chertoff visited units in the Thirteenth,
Eleventh and Fifth Districts recently as well. There are no stronger
supporters of our Service than these two leaders. They understand that
America depends on its Coast Guard to protect our security, to preserve our
freedoms and to save the lives of those who can’t save themselves. I
reported to them at my change of command that the Coast Guard was mustered
and on watch. We must never lose sight of the importance of excellence in
Mission Execution. We are all in the business of protecting the Nation and
saving lives. From the Auxiliarist conducting a vessel safety check, to the
procurement specialist acquiring personal protective equipment, to the
rescue swimmer, the boat crewmember, the cutter coxswain and the command
center operations controller, each of you is vital to our ability to execute
our missions. We work as a team and we succeed as a team.
Finally, I want to reiterate the importance of taking care of our shipmates
as we end a busy summer season and complete our yearly transfers. The
recent commemoration of hurricane Katrina, the tragic events aboard HEALY,
and the grounding of the MSST New Orleans RB-S remind us of the dangerous
operating environment we often find ourselves in during the normal course of
our busy lives in the Coast Guard. I want each of you to reassess your
activities, both on and off duty, and look after those who live and work
around you. Take care of yourself, take care of your family, and take care
of your shipmates. We need you!
Stay safe and stay focused.
Admiral Thad Allen
Semper Paratus!
All Threats…All Hazards…Always Ready
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_____
NACO's Banquet Remarks
Good evening and what a perfect evening it is! Every face I see is a
memory, some more perfect than others but all so very good. Tonight is a
celebration and recognition of the culmination of what YOU, the membership
have accomplished over the past 2 years.
My personal congratulations to my friend, shipmate and partner over the past
2 years, COMO Steven Budar and the newly elect bridge, for I know they will
do great things and further the Coast Guard Auxiliary over the next 2 years.
Yesterday, I gave my report at our National Board Meeting that outlined the
accomplishments of our National Board and dedicated staff. We talked about
where we started just 2 short years ago, how far we have come and what yet
need to be done. We talked about the importance of “Staying the Course”,
that “WE” collectively have charted. I need not reiterate any of this
tonight.
Instead, I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of
the many members of our team, whom without their contributions and
dedication, we could not have been as successful.
Sir Isaac Newton credited his scientific break throughs to the work of those
that had gone before him in the field of science by saying, “If I have seen
further it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
So it is only fitting that we acknowledge the contributions of our past
National Commodores and their colleagues. Each have made key contributions
to the Auxiliary and set the stage for continued mission excellence. Each
of them has shared insights on the Auxiliary and how we should plan for the
future. Therefore, it can truly be said: “if WE have seen further, it is
only by standing upon the shoulders of these giants”. So, Henry, Joe, Ev,
Viggo and Bill, I extend to you my personal gratitude and thanks for all
that you have done and continue to do.
Next I would like to acknowledge the contributions of our National Executive
Committee and our Executive Staff. These members have helped to chart our
course for the past two years and, I hope, well into the future. Their
continuing good humor and willingness to roll up their sleeves has been
remarkable. I sometimes wish that our membership could have listened in on
our meetings and monthly conference calls—they truly would have been proud
of our outstanding leadership team, as I have been.
The same can be said of our wider leadership team, the District Commodores,
Vice Commodores and the Directors of Auxiliary. They have played a key role
in helping to forge our strategic plans at the national level and to
formulate sound plans at the District level. To each of them, thank you.
There is a Spanish proverb which states to the effect, “that success has a
thousand fathers, while failure dies an orphan”. Well, I’m proud to
acknowledge the many fathers and mothers of our success—our National Staff.
I have always been and remain very impressed with the quality, energy, and
commitment of this staff and hope that our new bridge will take advantage of
these highly competent, professional individuals.
I want to thank Captain Smith and his staff for all of their continued
support. With all of the changes over the past 2 years, within the Coast
Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, (AuxMan, OPS Policy, Congressionals, the
day-to-day issues in general), they truly were and remained Semper Paratus.
To the Coast Guard Flag Corp, I thank you for your acceptance, your
partnership, your council and most importantly, for your friendship.
And how can I not thank our membership, for without them, we would have
accomplished little. For it is they at the deck plate, that implement and
executed our missions in support of the Coast Guard and the Recreational
Boaters. To use one of Admiral Allen’s key terms, they symbolize, Mission
Excellence.
Lastly, I want to thank my family, specifically my wife Maria for allowing
me to fulfill a dream. I thank you for the understanding and the
sacrifices; the missed family events; not being able to spend as much time
with our children and grandchildren as we would have liked to; the travel;
missed dinners and late nights working on various projects. Most of all,
thank you for your continued support for allowing me to do what I wanted, to
focus and to contributed to the best of my ability, to the greatest
volunteer organization anywhere. Dear, you are truly one of a kind and I
love ya!
To take a quote from Admiral Collins, “Great organizations don’t just
happen; they evolve from sound visionary leadership, willingness to change
what needs to be changed and the commitment to safeguard those guiding
principles most critical to organization success”. I firmly believe this
is true of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and each of you here tonight should be
proud of what you have accomplished.
In closing, I wish you could all have a life as lucky as mine; that you can
wake up one morning and say, I do not want anything more. Furthermore, I
want you to promise me something, that you will live each day to its fullest
and have no regrets!
Again, I thank you, for allowing me the privilege and honor to serve you,
the members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
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_____
NACO Remarks NACON 2006
This is my last opportunity as National Commodore to personally report to
you, the National Board of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Therefore, I feel it is only fitting to pause a moment and summarize where
WE collectively started 2 years ago, how far we have come and the direction
we must continue to follow.
I feel it is important for us to recognize that as members of the Auxiliary,
we were and continue to be, participating in both revolutionary and
evolutionary times, with our internal organization being affected by the
many external changes in our world.
The changes experienced by the Auxiliary precipitated just 5 years ago by
the events of September 11th, and last season’s devastating hurricanes,
paralleled changes in the Coast Guard.
We have both risen to the challenges and in so doing, raised the bar for
both the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
In his touchstone document, Admiral Allen hit the nail on the head when he
said, “The good news for the Coast Guard is that we’ve never been more
relevant. And yet the challenge is that we’ve never been more relevant.
Highly visible, successful performance yields higher expectations and
increased responsibilities and public trust.”
The same can be said about the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Over the past 2 years, we have had more opportunities and greater demands
for service – largely rising from new or enhanced Coast Guard operations and
support missions.
Yet the demands related to our traditional missions, particularly those
related to Recreational Boating Safety — missions we share with the Coast
Guard — did not decrease.
In fact, the total demand for our services had increased because of steady
growth in Recreational Boating Safety needs and opportunities and the
potentially explosive growth in Operations and Marine Safety related
missions.
We recognized that we had to become an organization focused not only on
maritime safety but also maritime security on our waterways.
Two years ago, we were facing new challenges and as the surge operations
calmed, it become obvious that we needed to develop a set of realistic
strategic plans; we needed to “take a fix” and lay out a track line.
It became very clear, that unless the Auxiliary could balance its missions,
it wouldn’t be in control of its destiny.
We recognized that the Auxiliary needed to be able to toggle back and forth
successfully between sometimes competing missions without burning ourselves
out.
To be effective in meeting those demands, it became clear that we needed to
balance and prioritize our missions and develop a viable blueprint for the
future.
That is where we started just a short 2 years ago.
Developing strategic plans was certainly not glamorous work, but was clearly
essential to our continued viability. Through research we increased our
understanding of our environment, our customers, our opportunities, our
resources, and our challenges.
We then translated those insights into concrete actions at various levels in
the Auxiliary. We established a vision, mission, and objectives and wrote
our strategic plans for their accomplishment.
In addition, the districts and the national departments completed
operational plans, aligned with the strategic objectives of the national
plan.
I have read them all, over and over, and I am convinced, that our strategic
plans, national, districts and departments, are sound and provide a “way
forward” for the upcoming years, necessitating only minor course corrections
as circumstances require. This has been a monumental accomplishment, for
which you are all to be commended.
Completion of the strategic and operational plans positioned us well to
embark on the contingency planning.
Last year your districts began to work with your Sectors to establish
emergency preparedness procedures. In eight short months, every district has
a plan in progress.
Furthermore, to support our readiness planning efforts and our integration
with Coast Guard Forces, ADM Allen has signed the U. S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary Policy Statement. This one page statement clearly outlines our
goals and charges the active duty and reserve components to fully engage the
Auxiliary, at every command level.
This statement was a long time coming and, finally, firmly places the
Auxiliary in Coast Guard mission planning and execution.
Yet to be effective, we further realized that our strategic plans had to be
communicated to the membership. We posted the draft form on the NACO
website, presented highlights at district meetings, and published articles
in the Navigator and other publications – all part of a communications
initiative to solicit feedback from our senior leadership and members at
large.
Being responsive to that input, we refined and finalized the strategic plan.
We also recognized that we needed to modify our communication with the Coast
Guard itself.
Today, we no longer are asking them what they need, but rather we are
informing their leadership where we are headed, how we intend to get there,
what we’re capable of and what resources we have and need in order to carry
out our missions.
This is a major change in how we conduct business.
Today, we have a plan and the way to communicate it.
Now, as never before, we need to have capable leaders, to be ready to
continue to further refine and to continue ahead with the execution of our
strategic plan. In practical terms this means that our leaders need to be
competent, well trained, well informed, and willing to put in the necessary
effort to do their jobs.
To that end, we have updated all of our leadership courses in an effort to
provide our senior leadership with all the tools they need to be outstanding
leaders.
Our efforts at increased professionalism are not limited to Auxiliary
leaders. We are continuing the development of personal skills and
competencies for individual growth and life-long learning.
In addition to our focus on leadership training and professionalism, we have
also been and continue to be RESOLUTE in our commitment to be good stewards
of our resources.
Among so many initiatives completed and underway, we are in the process of
reviewing and recommending changes to the Auxiliary Budget Model in an
effort to gain the needed capital to carry out our missions.
Additionally, we have established a partnership with the Coast Guard
Foundation with a negotiated line item for Auxiliary needs in the
Foundation’s list of grant-eligible activities of $10 Million.
We also continue to be RESOLUTE in our commitment to provide valued added
support for Coast Guard programs and missions.
However, we no longer simply stand at the ready. Where we see a good fit
for our assets and people, and most importantly, where we can take action in
support of our strategic plans, we must be proactive and professional in
offering our support.
As I look out into the audience, I see the people whose commitment to this
organization has made our successes possible. My thanks go to the members
of the National Board and Staff, who have made hard decisions … good
decisions …. that have helped to chart our course; who have worked
diligently on our planning processes and the implementation of our programs.
We are now approaching another event that characterizes our organization.
That is the election of our future leaders, from national to our flotillas,
who will lead us on the next leg of our journey. These incoming leaders
will inherit an organization, from the national to the flotilla level, that
has a plan - knows where it is going - and how to get there.
Looking at you, I see our future elected and appointed, national and
district leaders.
You will soon take the helm.
In a few months, we, who come before you, will be proud to pass to you an
organization fully engaged in the support of safety and security on our
waterways.
The Auxiliary’s transformation is not complete, but we do know our
destination and how to get there, and we must continue to move forward.
In the months before you take office, take time to study the strategic and
tactical plans already in place and determine how best to apply your
leadership talents to enhance the Auxiliary’s goals and course ahead.
Much has been accomplished, but it is not time to relax and revel in our
successes. Our successes merely illustrate what can be accomplished and
what still needs to be done.
The sense of urgency that we began with 2 yeas ago, must still prevail.
We must continue to build on the passion of our members; who are the
foundation of our capability. We must continue to evaluate new
opportunities for program development that are consistent with our strategic
plan.
Our destination is set, appropriate waypoints mark our course, and timelines
dictate our speed.
The near-future challenge is to properly and fully execute the journey.
In closing, let me just say that I firmly believe, that changing the course
that we have set over these past 2 years, need only be done, to avoid
dangerous shoals or to take advantage of following seas.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for the tremendous opportunity and honor
to be able to serve our great organization, and to serve the Coast Guard and
the recreational boaters, but most importantly, to serve the membership of
the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Thank you and …
… Semper Paratus
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NACON 2006 Continuing Coverage on SITREP
Coverage of the Auxiliary's National Conference (NACON 2006) has started and
additional articles and photos, including the business meetings, training,
awards, and fellowship activities will be added throughout the coming week.
Be a part of NACON 2006, now on SITREP, the Auxiliary’s National e-magazine.
HYPERLINK
"http://teamcoastguard.org/2006/NACON06/nacon06.htm"http://teamcoastguard.or
g/2006/NACON06/nacon06.htm
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HELP WANTED POSITIONS (from the National Web Site)
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8/22/2006
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