A message from the new Commandant
Bob
>R 261800Z MAY 10
>FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG//
>TO ALCOAST
>BT
>UNCLAS //N16010//
>ALCOAST 271/10
>COMDTNOTE 16010
>SUBJ: SHIPMATES 2: MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES
>A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 251853Z MAY 10/ALCOAST 265/10
>1. SHIPMATES, THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE YOU
>FURTHER DETAIL ON THE FOUR PRINCIPLES THAT WILL GUIDE MY
>WATCH AS COMMANDANT. THESE PRINCIPLES, AS SET FORTH IN MY
>VISION STATEMENT IN REF A, ARE STEADY THE SERVICE, HONOR OUR
>PROFESSION, STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND RESPECT OUR
>SHIPMATES.
>2. FIRST, I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BACKGROUND WHICH
>INFORMS MY FOUR PRINCIPLES. DURING THE PAST NINE YEARS, WE
>HAVE HEROICALLY RESPONDED TO THE TRAGIC 9/11 TERRORIST
>ATTACKS, HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA AND A DEVASTATING
>EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI AND WE ARE CURRENTLY RESPONDING TO THE
>DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT
>OUR MANY AND EVER-EXPANDING DUTIES. THIS HIGH OP-TEMPO PUT
>OUR SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC LIGHT LIKE NEVER BEFORE. IT ALSO
>PROVIDED SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED. WE REALIZED WE
>NEEDED TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, IMPROVE OUR MISSION
>SUPPORT DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECAPITALIZE OUR AGING
>ASSETS. THESE SPAWNED INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE SECTOR CONCEPT,
>MODERNIZATION AND UNDERTAKING THE LARGEST ACQUISITION
>PROJECTS WE HAVE EVER ATTEMPTED. WHILE THESE WERE
>UNQUESTIONABLY THE RIGHT INITIATIVES TO MAKE THE COAST
>GUARD MORE CAPABLE, MORE EFFICIENT AND STRONGER, THEY ALSO
>PRODUCED A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE. LOOKING FORWARD,
>I SEE A NEED TO BRING THE SECTOR AND MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES
>TO CLOSURE, SO THAT OUR PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE CHAIN OF
>COMMAND CAN REFOCUS ON THEIR MISSIONS. MY DESIRED END
>STATE IS TO PUT IN PLACE AN ORGANIZATION THAT EVERYONE
>UNDERSTANDS. OUR PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY WORK FOR,
>WHAT THEIR AUTHORITIES ARE AND WHO TO CALL TO GET THE TOOLS
>THEY NEED TO GET THEIR JOB DONE.
>3. MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES DEFINED
> A. STEADY THE SERVICE - I AM COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON
>OUR CORE ROLES AND MISSIONS AS DEFINED IN PUB ONE. TO REDUCE
>STRESS ON OUR SERVICE AND MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
>READINESS WE MUST EMPHASIZE OUR STATUTORY MISSIONS, FINISH
>ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT AND PRIORITIZE DEMANDS FOR OUR
>SERVICES WITHIN THE BUDGET. WE MUST CONTINUE TO PURSUE
>REPLACEMENT ASSETS FOR THE FUTURE. WE MUST RETURNTO A
>SUSTAINABLE STATE.
> B. HONOR OUR PROFESSION - I AM COMMITTED TO
>PROFESSIONAL SERVICE BY DEMONSTRATING THE HIGHEST
>COMPETENCE IN EXECUTION AND SUPPORT OF OUR VARIED MISSIONS.
>AT ALL TIMES, WE ARE A MILITARY ORGANIZATION GUIDED BY
>RESPONSIBILITY, AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. MISSION
>EXCELLENCE IS OUR NORTH STAR. HONORING OUR PROFESSION
>REQUIRES INSPIRED LEADERSHIP TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS,
>PRIDE AND EXPERIENCE, IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT, BUILT FROM
>A FOUNDATION OF CLEAR DOCTRINE AND TRAINING. I WILL NOT ASK
>YOU TO DO MORE THAN OUR RESOURCES ALLOW, BUT WE MUST DO
>OUR ABSOLUTE BEST WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
> C. STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS - I AM COMMITTED TO
>PARTNERSHIPS. THEY ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIER. AS DEMAND FOR OUR
>SERVICE CONTINUES TO EXPAND, AND THE THREATS IN THE MARITIME
>ENVIRONMENT INCREASE IN COMPLEXITY, A UNILATERAL APPROACH
>WILL NOT BE THE BEST OR THE MOST EFFICIENT MEANS TO ACHIEVE
>MISSION SUCCESS. WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDE
>GREATER VALUE TO OUR COUNTRY WHEN WE FORGE PARTNERSHIPS
>WITH LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, TRIBAL AND INTERNATIONAL
>AGENCIES. FOR THE SAME REASONS, STRENGTHENING APPROPRIATE
>RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS IMPERATIVE.
>ULTIMATELY, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL TO ENHANCING
>OUR CAPABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND CREDIBILITY IN THE MARITIME
>DOMAIN.
> D. RESPECT OUR SHIPMATES - I AM COMMITTED TO A CLIMATE
>OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR SHIPMATES, ACTIVE, RESERVE, CIVILIAN,
>AUXILIARY, FAMILIES, AND RETIREES, ON A DAILY BASIS. OUR PEOPLE
>ARE THE COASTGUARDS GREATEST ASSET AND OUR ABILITY TO
>PERFORM OUR MISSION ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON YOUR HEALTH,
>VIBRANCY, TRAINING AND CAPABILITIES. WE MUST PROVIDE THE BEST
>IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT,
>WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE
>MAINTAINING A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK
>ENVIRONMENT. OUR SERVICE MUST ALSO DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE
>DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION. I WANT THE COAST GUARD TO BE
>RECOGNIZED AS THE PROFESSION OF CHOICE FOR AMERICANS OF ALL
>BACKGROUNDS.
>4. YOUR DAILY HARD WORK AND DEDICATION ENSURES THAT OUR
>NATIONS WATERS ARE SAFE AND SECURE. MY PRINCIPLES ARE
>INTENDED TO ENABLE AND SUSTAIN THESE EFFORTS.
>5. RELEASED BY ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT.
>6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
>BT
Does he revert in rank to Rear Admiral (RADM) now that he’s no longer serving as Commandant? I think that’s the way it works in the other armed services... certain postions come with a temporary 3- or 4-star rank. I don’t know if the Coasties work the same way.