CAPT Daniel J. McLaughlin
Commanding Officer, USCGC MELLON
My
command philosophy is based on three core tenets and five main principles. To best
serve our cutter, crew, and country, I believe that our individual and collective
effort must be rooted in the fundamental
tenets of Integrity, Responsibility, and Selflessness. By adhering to these
tenets and by continuously referring to and applying the following principles
to our daily routine, I believe that we will be best prepared to execute the
Coast Guard's many missions
Preparation:
Be proactive. Become familiar with Coast Guard policies,
missions and areas of responsibility. Continuously evaluate and improve our
material condition and standard operating procedures. Develop strategies
with built in contingencies. Always ask, "What If?"' Ensure that our
crew is outfitted with necessary resources and training
opportunities to successfully perform our mission. Constantly set and achieve
new goals.
Communication:
Acquire, apply, develop and share information, ideas and knowledge up
and down the chain of command. Communicate at each level, within and across
each division or department to clearly define command expectations, to express
unit and personal needs, and to promote unity of command. Always listen, acknowledge,
and respond with an open mind in a timely manner. If you don’t understand
simply ask a question. Verify the message, or state. “Command, Sir"
Execution:
Perform duties and mission as planned, trained, and communicated. Focus
on the fundamentals, be consistent, hold each other accountable, analyze
associated risks and maintain situational awareness throughout your entire
watch or evolution. Critique prior experiences and incorporate lessons learned
into future operations. Repetition creates confidence which leads to passion
and inspires self-belief and crew cohesiveness.
Development:
Promote and provide our command and crew with continuous opportunities
to enhance personal growth and professional development. Guide, coach, and
mentor every crew member to reach new levels of performance and education.
Encourage the command and crew to expand their roles, to take on more demanding
tasks, and to reach their full potential. Believe and show interest in your
department and division members. Find the best in our crew, and demand more
from them as Coast Guardsmen and as individuals. Expect our crew to do well and
they will deliver their best effort.
Reward:
Care for our crew. Recognize and respond to their individual and family
needs. Actively pursue and provide an optimum balance between unit requirements
and family needs and responsibilities. Build time into unit schedules for our
crew to take quality time off with their families. Consistently recognize and
reward our crew in a timely manner. Saying thank you and showing gratitude is
one of the simplest yet most powerful gestures we can express towards one another.
Feeling appreciated will bring out the best in our crew.