R 111750Z SEP 12 ALCOAST 401/12 COMDTNOTE 3120 SUBJ: SECTOR COMMAND DUTY OFFICER IMPLEMENTATION A. U.S. COAST GUARD COMMAND CENTER MANUAL (CCM), COMDTINST M3120.20 (SERIES) 1. PURPOSE. THIS POLICY UPGRADES THE MINIMUM BASELINE COMMAND DUTY OFFICER (CDO) WATCH REQUIREMENT AT A SECTOR COMMAND CENTER (SCC) FROM A DUTY ON CALL WATCH POSITION TO DUTY ONBOARD WATCH POSITION. THIS CHANGE FUNDAMENTALLY INTEGRATES THE CDO WATCH POSITION ONTO THE WATCH FLOOR AND FULFILLS THE INTENT OF THE COMMAND CENTER WATCH CONSTRUCT. THIS MESSAGE ALSO ADDRESSES HOW THE CDO COMPETENCY WILL SUPPORT FUTURE ASSIGNMENT DECISIONS AND REPRESENTS PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES OF ACTIONS TO FINALIZE SECTORS. 2. BACKGROUND. IN 2007, REF (A) DEFINED THE CDO WATCH POSITION AND FORMALLY ESTABLISHED THE CDO AS A REQUIRED COMPONENT OF THE WATCH BASELINE FOR ALL COMMAND CENTERS WITH SAR RESPONSIBILITIES. AS PART OF THE TRANSITION FROM LEGACY GROUPS AND MARINE SAFETY OFFICES TO SECTOR COMMANDS, A NEW SCC WATCH CONSTRUCT WAS DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT A MORE INTEGRATED APPROACH TO CURRENT OPERATIONS. THE CONSTRUCT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT COAST GUARD MISSIONS, INTERAGENCY OPERATIONS AND TO FOCUS ON SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF SECTOR OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES. THE SECTOR WATCH CONSTRUCT, OUTLINED IN REF (A), INCLUDES AN OPERATIONS UNIT (OU), A SITUATION UNIT (SU), A COMMUNICATIONS UNIT (CU) AND IS LED BY THE CDO. THE CDO IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THIS CONSTRUCT, DESIGNED TO OPTIMIZE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE WATCH IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMANDS OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES, MAXIMIZE COORDINATION WITH SECTOR STAFF/DUTY ELEMENTS AND PORT PARTNERS, AND MITIGATE RISKS FOR ALL MISSION AREAS. 3. ORGANIZATIONAL VIEW. THE CDO IS THE DIRECT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECTOR COMMANDER FOR CURRENT OPERATIONS AND IS IN PLACE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO AND WORK WITH THE SECTORS DEPARTMENTS. THE SCC PQS PROVIDES A STANDARD QUALIFICATION BASELINE FOR THE CDO WATCH POSITION. THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO EARN THE CDO COMPETENCY CROSSES ALL MISSION AREAS AND PROVIDES A CORNERSTONE CAREER-BROADENING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL ASHORE SPECIALTIES. A. ENLISTED MEMBERS IN THE OS RATING ASSIGNED TO A SCC SHALL QUALIFY AND EARN THE CDO COMPETENCY AS AN OSC. EARNING THE CDO COMPETENCY WILL ENSURE THEY HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO CARRY OUT SCC SUPERVISORY DUTIES AND WILL FULFILL ONE OF THE REQUIRED COMPETENCIES FOR ADVANCEMENT TO OSCS. OS1(S) WHO DISPLAY THE JUDGMENT AND DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO EARN THE CDO COMPETENCY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED TO DO SO. B. CIVILIANS AT EACH SCC FILLING THE GS-12 POSITION SHALL BE CDO QUALIFIED AND SHALL MAINTAIN CURRENCY. THE GS-12 POSITION DESCRIPTION (PD) GS-0301-12 WAS APPROVED IN 2010 AND DEFINES THE CDO AS A PRIMARY DUTY OF THE GS-12. THE GS-0301-12 PD MAY BE OBTAINED FROM COMDT (CG-1212). C. OFFICERS WHO COMPLETE THE CDO QUALIFICATION PROCESS ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR FUTURE SECTOR ASHORE ASSIGNMENTS. THE CDO COMPETENCY PROVIDES A WELL ROUNDED KNOWLEDGE BASE AND CROSSES BOTH RESPONSE AND PREVENTION MISSION AREAS. RESPONSE OFFICERS WHO EARN THE CDO COMPETENCY WILL BE STRONG CANDIDATES FOR SECTOR RESPONSE DEPT HEAD. ALTHOUGH THE CDO COMPETENCY IS NOT A CRITERIA FOR SECTOR PREVENTION DEPT HEAD OR LOGISTICS DEPT HEAD, IT PROVIDES AN OUTSTANDING BROADENING OPPORTUNITY AND BETTER POSITIONS OFFICERS TO COMPETE FOR FUTURE ASSIGNMENTS TO SECTOR COMMANDER AND DEPUTY POSITIONS. 4. OPERATIONAL VIEW. THE CDO HAS TWO PRIMARY ROLES. A. THE CDO ENSURES THE SCC WATCH EXECUTES ITS FUNCTIONS EFFECTIVELY DURING SPECIFIED OPERATIONAL PERIODS AND SERVES AS THE INITIAL INCIDENT COMMANDER UNTIL RELIEVED. B. WHILE ON WATCH, THE CDO ENSURES DAY-TO-DAY PLANNED OPERATIONS ARE EXECUTED TIMELY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES. THE CDO DIRECTS COORDINATION WITH APPROPRIATE DECISION MAKERS AND PORT PARTNERS, AS REQUIRED, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGENT MISSION PLANNING, OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT, TO BALANCE MISSION OBJECTIVES AND SET OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES. 5. ACTION: SECTOR COMMANDERS SHALL TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THE CDO WATCH IAW THE FOLLOWING: A. THE MINIMUM WATCHSTANDING STANDARD FOR A CDO POSITION SHALL BE A DUTY ON BOARD WATCH AND SHALL NOT NORMALLY EXCEED A 24 HOUR PERIOD. DISTRICT AND SECTOR COMMANDERS MAY ESTABLISH THE CDO WATCH AS AN ALERT WATCH AS OUTLINED IN REF (A) IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THE PACE OR COMPLEXITY OF SECTOR OPERATIONS. B. WHEN DEDICATED CDO BILLETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, SECTOR COMMANDERS SHALL STAFF THE CDO POSITION ORGANICALLY CREATING A POOL OF QUALIFIED CDOS WITH THE SCC SUPERVISORY STAFF AT THE CORE AND BUILDING OUT USING CANDIDATES FROM PLANNING, INTELLIGENCE, RESPONSE, PREVENTION AND LOGISTICS STAFFS. THIS CANDIDATE POOL OF OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS AND SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS BRINGS A DIVERSE SET OF EXPERIENCES TO THE WATCH FLOOR AND THE COMMON TRAINING THREAD BROADENS EACH INDIVIDUALS SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE SET AND IMPROVES UNITY OF EFFORT. C. SECTOR COMMANDERS SHALL STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF SIX CERTIFIED CDOS AT ALL TIMES. SECTORS SHOULD AVOID LARGE POOLS OF CERTIFIED CDOS IN THE WATCH ROTATION AT ANY GIVEN TIME AS THIS PRACTICE DEGRADES PROFICIENCY OF INDIVIDUAL WATCHSTANDERS EFFECTIVELY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MONTHLY WATCH OPPORTUNITIES. SECTOR COMMANDERS SHOULD EXERCISE THEIR OWN JUDGMENT AND AUTHORITY IN DETERMINING HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR CDO POOLS AND PRIORITIZING OTHER MISSION WORKLOAD. D. THE CDO QUALIFICATION SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE SCC PQS. TO ENSURE PROFICIENCY IS MAINTAINED, CDOS MUST BE FULLY VESTED IN THE COMMAND CENTER, PARTICIPATE IN ALL COMMAND CENTER TRAINING EVOLUTIONS AND ADHERE TO THE CURRENCY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN REF (A). THE SECTOR DEPUTY COMMANDER SHALL ENSURE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED TO THE OFFICER REPORTING CHAIN TO ENSURE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICERS NOT PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND CENTER IS APPROPRIATELY CAPTURED. E. A SECTOR MAY CONTINUE THE USE OF PREVENTION OR RESPONSE DUTY OFFICERS. HOWEVER, THESE POSITIONS SHALL NOT BE PART OF THE SCC WATCH CONSTRUCT NOR SHALL THEY BE IMPLEMENTED IN LIEU OF OR AS A REPLACEMENT TO THE CDO WATCH POSITION. THESE DUTY POSITIONS SHALL ONLY BE IMPLEMENTED TO PROVIDE THE SCC A SOURCE OF EXPERTISE AS THE SECTOR COMMANDER DEEMS APPROPRIATE. F. ALL SCC SUPERVISORY STAFF POSITIONS AS DEFINED IN REF (A) SHALL BE CDO QUALIFIED AND SHALL MAINTAIN CURRENCY. 6. EXEMPTION TO THE ABOVE POLICY: A. WESTERN RIVER SECTORS MAY IMPLEMENT THE CDO WATCH POSITION AS A DUTY ON-CALL POSITION PROVIDED THE CERTIFIED INDIVIDUAL CAN MEET THE ONE HOUR RECALL REQUIREMENT OUTLINED IN REF (A). B. GROUP HUMBOLDT BAY AND GROUP NORTH BEND ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS CDO POLICY GUIDANCE AND SHALL REMAIN EXEMPT FOLLOWING TRANSITION TO SECTORS. C. PREVENTION STAFF QUALIFYING AS APPRENTICE MARINE INSPECTORS SHALL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE CDO POOL. D. PILOTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR FIRST OPERATIONAL COAST GUARD AVIATION TOUR AND STUDENT ENGINEERS SHALL BE EXEMPT UNTIL COMPLETION OF THEIR SYLLABUS AND DESIGNATION AS AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER. FIRST TOUR PILOTS WHO OBTAIN AN AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DESIGNATION MAY BEGIN QUALIFYING AS A CDO WITH A WRITTEN WAIVER FROM THE SECTOR COMMANDER. 7. WAIVERS: SECTOR COMMANDERS WHO DETERMINE THEY HAVE INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS HEREIN SHALL SUBMIT A WAIVER REQUEST TO THEIR DISTRICT COMMANDER FOR APPROVAL. A COPY OF APPROVED WAIVERS SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE AREA COMMANDER AND COMDT (CG-741) IAW REF (A). NOT HAVING RESOURCED CDO BILLETS IS NOT AN ADEQUATE BASIS FOR A WAIVER APPROVAL. SECTORS SHALL CONSIDER THE ENTIRE POOL OF JUNIOR OFFICERS AND SENIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AND COMMAND STAFF AS CDO CANDIDATES PRIOR TO SUBMITTING A WAIVER REQUEST. DISTRICT COMMANDERS MAY GRANT WAIVERS FOR UNITS WHICH, DESPITE EVERY EFFORT, CANNOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF CERTIFIED CDOS OR HAVE SUCH EXTREME CHANGES IN OPERATIONAL TEMPO (I.E. DURING PERIODS OF LOW SEASONAL CASELOAD) THAT A DEDICATED DUTY ON BOARD CDO IS NOT WARRANTED. WAIVERS BASED ON STAFFING SHORTAGES SHALL ONLY BE GRANTED ON AN INTERIM BASIS UNTIL THE SECTOR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO QUALIFY AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL TO STAFF THE CDO POSITION. ALL WAIVERS SHALL INDICATE AN EXPIRATION DATE AND BE GRANTED FOR NO LONGER THAN ONE YEAR. 8. THE REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN THE CDO WATCH ESTABLISHED IN 2007 BY REF (A) IS STILL IN EFFECT. THE POLICY UPDATES OUTLINED IN THIS ALCOAST WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE NEXT UPDATE TO REF (A) AND THE SECTOR ORGANIZATION MANUAL. VERIFICATION OF THE NEW CDO POLICY STANDARDS ANNOUNCED IN THIS MESSAGE SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY THE CC STANDARDIZATION TEAM (CCST) BEGINNING IN THE FY14 CCST VISIT CYCLE. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ALCOAST MAY BE DIRECTED TO CAPT ROBERT BURCHELL, COMDT (CG-741) OR LCDR MIKE FEREBEE, COMDT (CG-7412). 9. RADM W. D. LEE, DEPUTY FOR OPERATIONS POLICY AND CAPABILITY, SENDS. 10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.