Mentoring Project’s Core Team receives Meritorious Team Citation: On Tuesday, the Commandant presented a Meritorious Team Citation to members of the Mentoring Project Core Team. This 24-person team was recognized for their efforts, which led to the creation of the Coast Guard Mentoring Program — an all-inclusive voluntary program that creates an opportunity for past and present Coast Guard workforce members (active duty, reserve, enlisted, officers, civilian, auxiliary, and retirees) and affiliated affinity groups to connect to one another in the form of a structured mentoring relationship. To date, more than 1,700 mentor/mentee relationships have been established through this initiative over the last four years. The Coast Guard Mentoring Program is enabled by a modernized mentoring system called Chronus Mentoring Software. Of all the military services, the Coast Guard is leading the way in this area with Navy, Army and Air Force looking to incorporate similar programs. Encourage your workforce to learn more at Coast Guard Mentoring Program (uscg.mil).
Bravo Zulu to the winners of the Congressman James Sener Award for Excellence in Marine Investigations. The award was developed in honor of Congressman James Sener, who sponsored a bill in the 1800’s creating the modern Marine Investigations program. The need for such a program was great, given the number of deaths and destruction of vessels due, in large measure, to explosions when there was a lack of inspection standards. The winning investigators are recognized for conducting the most distinguished marine casualty investigations for 2020. There were platinum and gold recipients. Platinum awards were handed out to: Eighth Coast Guard District (Convening Authority); Bruce Davies (lead investigator); Lt. Cmdr. Mary Gilday (investigative team); Lt. Cmdr. Geralyn van de Krol; Lt. Christina Jeans; and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jess Farmer. Additional platinum award winners were: Sector Southeastern New England; Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Styles (lead investigator); Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jean-Pierre Freeman (investigative team); and Michael St. Louis. You can find out more information by contacting Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Fahrig. To learn additional details, please see the 2020 Winners of the Congressman James Sener Award for Excellence in Maritime Investigations ALCOAST 255/21, 2020.
Winner of the 2020 Cmdr. Ray Evans Outstanding Coxswain Trophy selected. Congratulations to Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Hunter, a boatswains mate, for earning this prestigious award. It recognizes a Coast Guard coxswain who demonstrates sustained superior performance, exceptional boat handling skills and exemplary leadership. Hunter's hard work and leadership were evident while performing high-risk missions in a highly dynamic operating area. Hunter is a certified pursuit and tactical coxswain on the 33-foot Special Purpose Craft (SPC-LE), 45-foot Response Boat Medium (RB-M), and the 24-foot Special Purpose Craft Shallow Water (SPC-SW). He is also qualified as officer of the day and OPFOR. During 2020, Hunter amassed 500 underway hours and executed 209 sorties while serving as one of Station Key West's most trusted coxswains. He personally mentored 23 newly reported members through the demanding six-month Pursuit Coxswain/Crewmember Program. Hunter's standout search and rescue skills are a testament to the Coast Guard's oldest mission of minimizing loss of life, property damage, and rendering aid to distressed persons in the maritime environment. For more information about this award, you can contact Don Hartmayer. To learn the names of all of this year’s nominees, you can read the2020 CDR Ray Evans Outstanding Coxswain Trophy Announcement ALCOAST 251/21.
Solicitation: Members for the Boat Forces Advisory Council. The Boat Forces Advisory Council (BFAC) serves as a valuable communications conduit between the field and the Office of Boat Forces. The BFAC is chaired by the Joshua James Ancient Keeper, with membership consisting of standing and nominated members, as well as at-large members and advisors. Membership includes seven standing members and 11 nominated members. BFAC members represent a cross section of the Boat Forces community and must reflect the highest level of Boat Forces knowledge, professionalism, and personal conduct. The BFAC works under the direction of the Ancient Keeper and will meet annually to brief field priorities and concerns to COMDT (CG-7). BFAC members are requested to serve two years and should have an expected rotation date beyond their anticipated BFAC tenure. If you are interested in serving as a member of the BFAC, you can contact Ancient Keeper Joshua James at (707) 443-2212 or Program Manager Kevin Jones at (202) 372-2459. There are more specific details about requirements in the Solicitation for the Boat Forces Advisory Council (BFAC) ALCOAST 267/21.
USCG voted the best place to work in the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, we rank 107 of 411 subcomponent agencies. When it comes to engagement, the Coast Guard scored 77.1, which is above the government-wide average of 69 for other subcomponent agencies. For more information and data points go to www.bestplacestowork.org.
Congratulations to the new mentoring program and Carl Boehmer for their first road trip! The road trip wrapped up today, July 29, after stops in the Pacific Area, the Eleventh District, Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, Training Center Petaluma, Port Security Unit 312, Sector San Francisco and Station San Francisco. Boehmer tells us he's looking forward to getting back on the road soon, so keep an eye out for his next unit visits! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a mentor or mentee, check out Coast Guard Mentoring Program (uscg.mil)