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DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSITION UPDATE NUMBER TWO
ALCOAST 026/03
R 160150Z JAN 03
ALCOAST 026/03
COMDTNOTE 5740
SUBJ: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSITION UPDATE NUMBER TWO
1. THIS ALCOAST IS AN UPDATE FOR TEAM COAST GUARD ON THE PROGRESS OF THE COAST GUARDS TRANSITION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORATION (DOT)TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS).
2. ON 01 MAR 03, THE COAST GUARD WILL BE OPERATING UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. WITH THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE APPROACHING, THE COMMANDANT ADDRESSED COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS PERSONNEL ON 10 JAN 03 ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE COAST GUARD TRANSITION TO DHS. HE REPORTED THAT THE TRANSITION IS GOING "INCREDIBLY WELL" AND THAT THE COAST GUARD HAS PROVIDED LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEW DEPARTMENT. IN THIS UPDATE, HE SHARED HIS GUIDING PRINCIPLE, "OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE", WHICH WILL GUIDE TEAM COAST GUARD AS THE TRANSITION BECOMES REALITY. ADDITIONALLY, HE TOOK QUESTIONS THAT ARE ON MANY MINDS THROUGHOUT TEAM COAST GUARD AS WE ENTER THIS CHALLENGING AND EXCITING PERIOD OF TRANSFORMATION, TRANSITION, AND GROWTH. I SHARE WITH YOU HIS GUIDING PRINCIPLE AND THE SMART QUESTIONS OF YOUR HEADQUARTERS SHIPMATES.
3. GUIDING PRINCIPLE: OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE TO THE NATION AS A MULTI-MISSION, MARITIME, AND MILITARY ORGANIZATION HERETOFORE AND MUST MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE DURING THIS PERIOD OF TRANSITION. OUR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE IS ROOTED IN OUR BIGGEST STRENGTH: THE MEN AND WOMEN OF TEAM COAST GUARD. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING OUR PEOPLE, WE MUST SUSTAIN FUTURE READINESS. WITH OUR EYE ON FUTURE READINESS, FOCUSED ON THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND WELL BEING OF OUR PEOPLE, WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR REPUTATION FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND STRENGTHEN OUR STEWARDSHIP OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.
4. THE COMMANDANT FIELDED QUESTIONS FROM COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS PERSONNEL. THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDE GREAT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ISSUES HANDLED BY THE TRANSITION TEAM. QUESTIONS:
Q1. WHAT ABOUT THE COAST GUARD MISSIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR HOMELAND SECURITY DUTIES, SUCH AS SAR AND MARINE POLLUTION? WILL OUR EFFORTS IN THESE AREAS BE REDUCED?
A1. THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT PROTECTS THESE MISSION AREAS AND SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE CAPABILITIES OF THE COAST GUARD TO PERFORM ITS MISSIONS SHALL BE MAINTAINED INTACT AND WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION AFTER THE TRANSFER OF THE COAST GUARD TO THE DEPARTMENT. IN FACT, IF THE CGS FY03 BUDGET IS FULLY FUNDED AT THE PRESIDENTS REQUESTED LEVEL, IT WOULD RESULT IN A 21 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PRESIDENTS FY02 REQUESTED LEVEL. FUNDING FOR OUR TRADITIONAL HOMELAND SAFETY MISSIONS LIKE SAR ARE NOT JUST PROTECTED, THEY ARE ENHANCED.
Q2. IS THE COAST GUARD TRANSFERING ANY OF ITS FUNCTIONS OR ASSETS AS WE TRANSITION?
A2. NO. THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT REQUIRES THAT WE TRANSITION INTACT. OUR MISSIONS AND ASSETS MOVE WITH US TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT INTACT AS WELL.
Q3. WILL THERE BE ANY CHANGE TO THE COAST GUARD DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE?
A3. THERE PROBABLY WONT BE A WHOLESALE REORGANIZATION, BUT I ANTICIPATE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AT THE BOUNDARIES AND MARGINS OF OUR DISTRICTS TO ALIGN WITH THE NEW DEPARTMENTS ORGANIZATION.
Q4. WILL COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS BE MOVING?
A4. THERE ARE NO PLANS TO MOVE COAST GUARD HQ IN THE NEAR TERM, AND THIS IS A GOOD THING. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF CHANGE AND TRANSITION OCCURRING ACROSS TEAM COAST GUARD, AND MOVING OUR HQ IN THE MIDST OF THESE CHANGES WOULD ADD TO OUR CHALLENGES INSTEAD OF ENHANCING OUR CAPABILITIES.
Q5. WILL THE COAST GUARD SHARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSETS WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES OF DHS?
A5. WE OF COURSE WILL SUPPORT DHS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSETS WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO DO SO - WE WILL ALL BE A PART OF THE NEW TEAM. INNOVATIVE TEAMWORK WITH OUR FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE NORM.
5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS FOUND ON COAST GUARD TRANSITION TEAMS INTRANET WEB SITE HTTP://DEV.MLCA.USCG.MIL/TRANSITIONTEAM/DEFAULT.CFM. THE SITE CONTAINS GENERAL AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRANSITION AND WILL BE UPDATED AS THE TRANSITION PROGRESSES, AND AS INFORMATION BECOMES RELEASEABLE.
6. THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES FOR THE COAST GUARD. THE COAST GUARD IS INCREASINGLY VISIBLE AND VALUED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS, AND AMERICAN PEOPLE. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, OUR SERVICE WILL HAVE MORE AND BETTER SHIPS, BOATS, AND PLANES. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE NOT ONLY OUR FUTURE, BUT ALSO THE FUTURE OF THE NATION. THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BE A PART OF THE COAST GUARD. I NEED EACH ONE OF YOU TO STRIVE FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE; TO COMMUNICATE WITHIN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND; TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER; AND TO ADVOCATE CHANGE WITHIN CONTINUITY AS WE FACE THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US. SEMPER PARATUS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
8. VICE ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, CHIEF OF STAFF, SENDS.
BT
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