R 261800Z MAY 10 ALCOAST 271/10 COMDTNOTE 16010 SUBJ: SHIPMATES 2: MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 251853Z MAY 10/ALCOAST 265/10 1. SHIPMATES, THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE YOU FURTHER DETAIL ON THE FOUR PRINCIPLES THAT WILL GUIDE MY WATCH AS COMMANDANT. THESE PRINCIPLES, AS SET FORTH IN MY VISION STATEMENT IN REF A, ARE STEADY THE SERVICE, HONOR OUR PROFESSION, STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND RESPECT OUR SHIPMATES. 2. FIRST, I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BACKGROUND WHICH INFORMS MY FOUR PRINCIPLES. DURING THE PAST NINE YEARS, WE HAVE HEROICALLY RESPONDED TO THE TRAGIC 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS, HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA AND A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI AND WE ARE CURRENTLY RESPONDING TO THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT OUR MANY AND EVER-EXPANDING DUTIES. THIS HIGH OP-TEMPO PUT OUR SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC LIGHT LIKE NEVER BEFORE. IT ALSO PROVIDED SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED. WE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, IMPROVE OUR MISSION SUPPORT DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECAPITALIZE OUR AGING ASSETS. THESE SPAWNED INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE SECTOR CONCEPT, MODERNIZATION AND UNDERTAKING THE LARGEST ACQUISITION PROJECTS WE HAVE EVER ATTEMPTED. WHILE THESE WERE UNQUESTIONABLY THE RIGHT INITIATIVES TO MAKE THE COAST GUARD MORE CAPABLE, MORE EFFICIENT AND STRONGER, THEY ALSO PRODUCED A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE. LOOKING FORWARD, I SEE A NEED TO BRING THE SECTOR AND MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES TO CLOSURE, SO THAT OUR PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND CAN REFOCUS ON THEIR MISSIONS. MY DESIRED END STATE IS TO PUT IN PLACE AN ORGANIZATION THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS. OUR PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY WORK FOR, WHAT THEIR AUTHORITIES ARE AND WHO TO CALL TO GET THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO GET THEIR JOB DONE. 3. MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES DEFINED A. STEADY THE SERVICE - I AM COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON OUR CORE ROLES AND MISSIONS AS DEFINED IN PUB ONE. TO REDUCE STRESS ON OUR SERVICE AND MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF READINESS WE MUST EMPHASIZE OUR STATUTORY MISSIONS, FINISH ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT AND PRIORITIZE DEMANDS FOR OUR SERVICES WITHIN THE BUDGET. WE MUST CONTINUE TO PURSUE REPLACEMENT ASSETS FOR THE FUTURE. WE MUST RETURNTO A SUSTAINABLE STATE. B. HONOR OUR PROFESSION - I AM COMMITTED TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE BY DEMONSTRATING THE HIGHEST COMPETENCE IN EXECUTION AND SUPPORT OF OUR VARIED MISSIONS. AT ALL TIMES, WE ARE A MILITARY ORGANIZATION GUIDED BY RESPONSIBILITY, AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. MISSION EXCELLENCE IS OUR NORTH STAR. HONORING OUR PROFESSION REQUIRES INSPIRED LEADERSHIP TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, PRIDE AND EXPERIENCE, IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT, BUILT FROM A FOUNDATION OF CLEAR DOCTRINE AND TRAINING. I WILL NOT ASK YOU TO DO MORE THAN OUR RESOURCES ALLOW, BUT WE MUST DO OUR ABSOLUTE BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE. C. STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS - I AM COMMITTED TO PARTNERSHIPS. THEY ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIER. AS DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICE CONTINUES TO EXPAND, AND THE THREATS IN THE MARITIME ENVIRONMENT INCREASE IN COMPLEXITY, A UNILATERAL APPROACH WILL NOT BE THE BEST OR THE MOST EFFICIENT MEANS TO ACHIEVE MISSION SUCCESS. WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDE GREATER VALUE TO OUR COUNTRY WHEN WE FORGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, TRIBAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES. FOR THE SAME REASONS, STRENGTHENING APPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS IMPERATIVE. ULTIMATELY, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL TO ENHANCING OUR CAPABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND CREDIBILITY IN THE MARITIME DOMAIN. D. RESPECT OUR SHIPMATES - I AM COMMITTED TO A CLIMATE OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR SHIPMATES, ACTIVE, RESERVE, CIVILIAN, AUXILIARY, FAMILIES, AND RETIREES, ON A DAILY BASIS. OUR PEOPLE ARE THE COASTGUARDS GREATEST ASSET AND OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM OUR MISSION ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON YOUR HEALTH, VIBRANCY, TRAINING AND CAPABILITIES. WE MUST PROVIDE THE BEST IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE MAINTAINING A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. OUR SERVICE MUST ALSO DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION. I WANT THE COAST GUARD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE PROFESSION OF CHOICE FOR AMERICANS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. 4. YOUR DAILY HARD WORK AND DEDICATION ENSURES THAT OUR NATIONS WATERS ARE SAFE AND SECURE. MY PRINCIPLES ARE INTENDED TO ENABLE AND SUSTAIN THESE EFFORTS. 5. RELEASED BY ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT. 6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.