R 041804Z FEB 10

ALCOAST 064/10
COMDTNOTE 16010
SUBJ: LEADERSHIP FOR SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BOAT OPERATIONS
1. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO
TRAGIC MISHAPS WITHIN THE BOAT FORCES COMMUNITY.  THESE
INCIDENTS INVOLVED ONE DEATH, SERIOUS INJURIES AND PUT OUR
CREWS AND THE PUBLIC AT UNNECESSARY RISK.  FURTHERMORE, THEY
THREATEN TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND DAMAGE OUR
REPUTATION AS COMPETENT AND PROFESSIONAL BOAT OPERATORS.
PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO GUIDE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, HONE JUDGMENT AND GAUGE THE ABILITY OF EACH
CREWMEMBER TO EXECUTE OUR MISSIONS SUCCESSFULLY.  CLEARLY,
EACH MEMBER OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND PLAYS A VITAL ROLE.
THOSE IN COMMAND ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE AND
ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND
COMPLIANCE WITH ESTABLISHED COAST GUARD PROCEDURES.
2. PUB 1 OUTLINES THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE OUR
OPERATIONS.  I EMPHASIZE, IN PARTICULAR, THE PRINCIPLES OF
MANAGED RISK AND ON-SCENE INITIATIVE.  THE LEADERSHIP
CHALLENGE IS TO TRAIN AND DEVELOP HIGHLY PROFICIENT BOAT
OPERATORS WHO DEMONSTRATE SOUND JUDGMENT DURING THE
MOST TRYING OF CIRCUMSTANCES.  WE MUST HAVE CREWS WHO CAN
EXECUTE OUR MISSIONS, WITHOUT WAITING FOR DIRECTION FROM
HIGHER LEVELS WITHIN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, WITHIN THE SCOPE
OF THEIR AUTHORITY.  WE MUST INSTILL IN OUR CREWS THE ABILITY
TO BALANCE MISSION EXECUTION AND SOUND OPERATIONAL RISK
ASSESSMENT. THEY MUST REMAIN VIGILANT IN IDENTIFYING AND
MITIGATING RISK IN EVERY MISSION AND IN ALL OPERATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTS. THAT CRITICAL BALANCE BETWEEN ON-SCENE
INITIATIVE AND RISK MANAGEMENT IS ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH
RIGOROUS TRAINING AND DIRECT COMMAND INVOLVEMENT.
3. AREA, DISTRICT AND SECTOR COMMANDERS, STATION
COMMANDING OFFICERS/OFFICERS IN CHARGE, AND OUR SENIOR
ENLISTED BOAT FORCES LEADERS MUST BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
DEVELOPING THESE ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN ALL OUR GUARDIANS. THERE
IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR STRONG LEADERSHIP.  I REQUIRE EACH LEADER
WITHIN THE BOAT FORCES CHAIN OF COMMAND TO MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE. EVERY
LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP MUST ENSURE OUR OVER 4000 BOAT OPERATORS
HAVE THE TIME AND FOCUS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE SKILLS
NEEDED TO SAFELY ACCOMPLISH THEIR VERY DEMANDING MISSIONS.
4. OUR SHARED OBJECTIVE IS OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THE TIME WE
INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE WILL PAY DIVIDENDS NOT ONLY IN SAFE,
EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS BUT WILL SERVE TO STRENGTHEN THE
PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHOS THAT GUIDE US AS AMERICAS
MARITIME GUARDIANS.
5. WE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE IN EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSES
AND ADDRESS UNDERLYING ISSUES IN BOAT FORCES MISHAPS.
ACCORDINGLY, THE VICE COMMANDANT HAS DIRECTED THE FORCE
READINESS COMMAND (FORCECOM) TO CONDUCT A SYSTEMIC
REVIEW OF SMALL BOAT OPERATIONAL DOCTRINE, TACTICS,
TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES, AND TRAINING.  THIS
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WILL BE COMPLETED ON 1 AUGUST WITH
KEY UPDATES ON 1 MARCH, 1 APRIL AND 1 JULY.  FORCECOM WILL
PUBLISH THESE UPDATES ON THE COAST GUARD PORTAL.  THE VICE
COMMANDANT HAS ALSO DIRECTED THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR
OPERATIONS TO ESTABLISH A BOAT FORCES ADVISORY COUNCIL
(BFAC), CHAIRED BY THE JOSHUA JAMES ANCIENT KEEPER, TO PROVIDE
A COMMUNICATIONS CONDUIT BETWEEN THE FIELD AND HQ THAT
WILL ENSURE SERVICE LEADERSHIP IS CONTINUALLY LINKED TO FIELD
REALITIES.  THIS COUNCIL WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
POLICY, DOCTRINE, TRAINING, SUPPORT AND ACQUISITION ISSUES
AFFECTING THE BOAT FORCES COMMUNITY.
6. RELEASED BY ADM THAD W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, U.S. COAST
GUARD.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.