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CLARIFICATION OF AUXILIARY ROLES IN HOMELAND SECURITY
ALCOAST 033/06
R 192016Z JAN 06 ZUI ASN-A00019000035 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-OCX//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N03120//
ALCOAST 033/06
COMDTNOTE 3120
SUBJ: CLARIFICATION OF AUXILIARY ROLES IN HOMELAND SECURITY
A. MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT MANUAL, COMDTINST M16247.1D
B. AUXILIARY OPERATIONS POLICY MANUAL, COMDTINST M16798.3
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 011734Z APR 05
1. AUXILIARY INVOLVEMENT IN PORTS WATERWAYS AND COASTAL SECURITY MISSIONS (PWCS) AT THE OPERATIONAL COMMANDER LEVEL HAS BEEN VARIED AND WARRANTS CLARIFICATION. REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN REFERENCE A AND FOR OPERATION NEPTUNE SHIELD (ONS) STIPULATE THAT PATROLS AND MOST OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THIS MISSION AREA ARE CONSIDERED FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, DUE TO THE OBVIOUS INHERENT DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PATROLS AND THE LACK OF AUTHORITY FOR THE AUXILIARY TO ENGAGE IN DIRECT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, NO AUXILIARY FACILITIES WILL BE USED FOR THE PWCS MISSION. HOWEVER, AUXILIARY PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN SIMILAR NON-LE MISSION AREAS WILL CONTINUE AS DISCUSSED BELOW.
2. AUXILIARY FACILITIES MAY BE USED TO CONDUCT THE NEWLY RENAMED MARITIME OBSERVATION MISSION (MOM), FORMERLY DESCRIBED AS PWCS IN SECTION 4.A.8.B OF REF B. THIS IS A NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT MISSION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE INCREASED MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS BY OBSERVING AREAS OF INTEREST AND REPORTING FINDINGS TO THE OPERATIONAL COMMANDER WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAFETY OF AUXILIARY PERSONNEL. SHOULD AUXILIARISTS OBSERVE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL MULTI-MISSION PATROLS, THEY SHOULD RECORD AND REPORT THE SAME IMMEDIATELY VIA MEANS OTHER THAN VHF IF FEASIBLE BUT TAKE NO ADDITIONAL ACTION.
3. ALTHOUGH MOM WILL INCREASE THE COAST GUARD OVERALL PWCS POSTURE, MOM HOURS CANNOT BE CREDITED ON THE ONS SCORECARD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AVIATION HOURS. AUXILIARY SURFACE FACILITIES ARE UNARMED PLATFORMS THAT CANNOT BE UTILIZED TO CONDUCT ONS MISSIONS THAT SPECIFICALLY REQUIRE ARMED COAST GUARD PATROLS. BECAUSE AIRCRAFT CAN MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM POTENTIAL MARITIME THREATS IN THE VICINITY OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND UNARMED COAST GUARD AVIATION CAPABILITIES NORMALLY CONDUCT ONS MISSIONS, AUX AIR MAY BE UTILIZED FOR AN OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS ONS SCORECARD WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL OBSERVATION UNDER MOM.
4. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL AUXILIARY FACILITIES BE USED AS PICKET BOATS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, VESSEL ESCORTS, OR NATIONAL SPECIAL SECURITY EVENTS. SURFACE FACILITIES ARE STILL AUTHORIZED AND ENCOURAGED FOR USE DURING REGATTAS, PARADES, AND PUBLIC EVENTS WHEN THE RISK OF AN AUXILIARIST ENCOUNTERING A MARITIME THREAT IS NO GREATER THAN THAT TO THE BOATING PUBLIC.
5. AUXILIARISTS MAY SUPPORT MARINE SAFETY COMPLIANCE VISITS AND/OR SPOT CHECKS TO SHORESIDE MARINE FACILITIES OR SUPPORT OTHER MISSIONS FOR WHICH THEY ARE QUALIFIED. HOWEVER, COMPLIANCE VISITS MUST NOT BE CONFUSED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ASHORE AT FACILITIES WHICH IS ONLY TO BE CONDUCTED BY ARMED ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS. 6. THE AUXILIARY MARITIME OBSERVATION MISSION IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL COAST GUARD MANUALS AND DIRECTIVES AND WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE NEXT CHANGE TO REFERENCE B. OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS ARE OBLIGATED TO ENSURE THEIR ASSIGNED AUXILIARY RESOURCES ARE PROPERLY TRAINED, EQUIPPED AND MAINTAINED FOR ANY AUTHORIZED MISSION. A CAREFUL ASSESSMENT MUST BE MADE OF AUXILIARY CREW AND EQUIPMENT CAPABILITIES AGAINST THE OPERATIONAL SCENARIO WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER AND HOW TO EXECUTE A GIVEN MISSION. OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS AND AUXILIARISTS SHALL UNIFORMLY AND CONSISTENTLY APPLY PROPER RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES PRIOR TO AND DURING ALL OPERATIONS.
7. THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY CONTINUES TO BE A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR COAST GUARD OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS IN MANY MISSION AREAS. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE AUXILIARY ASSETS AND PERSONNEL TO FULFILL NON LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AORS.
8. POC IS LCDR KATHRYN DUNBAR (G-OCX-2) AT 202-267-1002.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
10. RDML C.E.BONE, DIRECTOR OF INSPECTIONS AND COMPLIANCE SENDS.
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