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CDR John M. Caraballo, Commanding Officer

Assignment to PSU 311

Commander John M. Caraballo assumed the duties as Commanding Officer of Port Security Unit 311 on May 14, 2011. He leads an expeditionary unit responsible for providing port security in support of military or humanitarian operations worldwide, ready to deploy within 96 hours of notification and establishing sustained operations within 24 hours.

Education

CDR Caraballo was commissioned in the United States Coast Guard Reserve in 1994. He holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, MBA from the University of Phoenix, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University, and a commercial pilot’s license.

Previous Assignments

CDR Caraballo’s previous assignments have included: Chief Staff Officer, Planning Officer (N5), & Force Security Watch Officer for United States Navy Task Group 56.5/ Maritime Expeditionary Squadron Nine serving in Kuwait, D13 Deputy Senior Reserve Officer, intelligence officer at the field & district level, cruise ship security program manager, contingency planning & force readiness, Homeland Security watch captain, foreign freight vessel inspector, Search & Rescue controller, and Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Petty Officer - search and rescue helicopter crewman. He also serves as a program manager for The Boeing Company currently leading strategy development and business process improvements for executive level teams.

Awards

His awards include: Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Sikorsky Helicopter Rescue Awards, and various other unit awards.

Commander's Intent

PSU 311 will be Semper Paratus to successfully provide port security in support of military or humanitarian operations worldwide, ready to deploy within 96 hours of notification and establish sustained operations within 24 hours.

Leadership Philosophy

I am extremely fortunate to be a member of Port Security Unit 311. My leadership philosophy is straight forward; "Take care of your shipmates and they'll take care of the mission." Providing force protection of ports around the world in support of Combatant Commanders is our primary mission. We must be extremely good at it! Everything we do to accomplish this mission; training, communications, planning, coordination and execution, must be focused to that end.

With that in mind, my focus is as follows:

Teamwork and Cohesion

We will work together to leverage our diverse experiences and collective strengths to multiply the force, successfully execute the mission, and promote a culture of continuous improvement. Taking care of and looking out for one another is the foundation of teamwork. Teamwork is a must.

Leadership Development

Leadership is a responsibility shared by every member of our unit. Train others to perform your job to build team expertise and strength. Having a measurable leadership development plan for your team and yourself is essential to building current and future leaders. Encourage servant leadership ("service" before "self"). Lead from where you are and by example!

Training

We fight like we train. Team knowledge, competency, and proficiency equates to team power. Aggressively train to our objectives and develop future instructors. A learning organization is comprised of every member teaching and learning from each other. Sharing knowledge promotes continuous improvement and multiplies the force. Learning never stops.

Safety

Is paramount! We are all responsible. Strict adherence and accountability to safety procedures is the primary component of our armor. Be on constant alert for unsafe practices and fix them immediately!

Physical and Mental Fitness

Working in this unit demands a high degree of physical fitness, endurance, and mental toughness. A balanced PT program throughout the month is necessary in becoming physically hardened to deal with any challenges ahead. Take care of your physical and mental fitness so you are better equipped to take care of others.

Taking Care of Your Families

Always strive for a work - life balance. Focus on the well-being of your family and loved ones. When your family is well, you are well.

Coast Guard Core Values

Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty. Adherence is expected, on and off duty. Always be mindful of who we ultimately serve, the citizens of the United States, and staying Semper Paratus for them.

The caliber of professionals at PSU 311 is very impressive. I am proud to be a member of this dynamic and formidable team that works hard and takes care of each other. It is truly an honor to be working with you to build upon the great success of PSU 311!

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." General Colin L. Powell, (Ret.)

WHAT I BELIEVE:

I Believe that next to God - Family is the most important thing in my Life
I Believe in the Golden Rule
I Believe we are extremely privileged to be Americans
I Believe in teamwork
I Believe we are fighting the good fight
I Believe in the Chain of Command - USE IT !
I Believe we are all created equal; there is no room for discrimination or favoritism
I Believe Integrity/Ethics are Non-Negotiable
I Believe a Chief Petty Officer is the backbone of the U.S. Coast Guard and the mission gets accomplished at the deck plates
I Believe in the power of diversity
I Believe healthy conflict is OK, but Good Teams Always Speak with One Voice
I Believe shortcuts will eventually lead to disaster
I Believe bad news gets worse with time.....don't delay communication
I Believe attention to detail promotes excellence
I Believe most people want to do their best and succeed
I Believe we can make a difference in everything we do if we want to
I Believe in the abilities of every member of PSU 311!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME:

Leadership, inspiration and setting high expectations for team performance
Unwavering dedication to you, the team, and the mission
I will give you my very best, always
To drive responsibility to the lowest level
To always be available for mentoring and counsel
Expect me to be in your areas observing and learning from you
High standards and discipline
I will strive to be fair
To tell you the truth as I know it
Decisiveness ... Help me by providing facts and recommendations
Challenging you and the team to strive for excellence in all we do and to achieve your/our goals
Promoting a culture of continuous improvement

WHAT I EXPECT FROM YOU:

Use the Chain of Command!
If you are in charge...then I expect you to be in charge
Never compromise the safety of others. If you see an unsafe situation developing...SPEAK UP!
Integrity in everything you do. Compromising and shortcuts are unacceptable. Do what's right - always!
Responsible behavior. You are always representing the U.S. Coast Guard, on and off duty!
Unwavering commitment to mission readiness .... It starts with your readiness
Strict Adherence to uniform and grooming standards, customs and courtesies....STAY SHARP!
Get qualified in your area, help others get qualified, become an expert in your field....STAY PROFICIENT!
Use your gifts/talents to help the team succeed
Serve others before yourself
Take good care of, and spend time with your families
Take good care of, and watch after your shipmates
Take good care of yourself; get your required rest time in...STAY MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY SHARP. The citizens of the United States are depending on you and us!
Keep me informed...don't assume I know all there is to know
Don't sign something unless you have read and agree with it...do so before sending it to me
If you bring up a problem, bring a recommendation
If I have not gotten back to you and I told you I would - remind me
Do your very best, never give up, smile, have fun.....ALWAYS!

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Last Modified 10/5/2012