Over the past couple of years, there have been highs and lows, but most would agree on one thing: life in general has been fairly challenging. No one knows that more than our ombudsmen. Serving as designated liaisons between the command and families, our ombudsmen have done incredible work to keep all informed, despite the dynamic nature of the last couple of years.
Carol Jones, the Coast Guard’s Ombudsman at Large, is extremely grateful. She said, “the word ‘ombudsman’ means a person who has an ear to the people. You are our ears to really listen and eyes to really see the issues that are impacting our Coast Guard families. We need you and we appreciate your continued advocacy for our family members. Thank you for your dedication to our families and thank you for being Semper Paratus.”
March 26 marked Coast Guard Ombudsman Appreciation Day, a day in which we collectively and intentionally thank our ombudsmen. Our ombudsmen have supported families during extended cutter deployments, advised commands on family concerns, provided community and Coast Guard information to inbound families, and answered the call time and again.
The Coast Guard Ombudsman Program is a command program designed to improve communication between the command and the Coast Guard family members. Coast Guard ombudsmen are official volunteers, designated by the commanding officer/officer-in-charge to provide information and referral resources and act as advocates for family members.
Leaders are encouraging commands to host appropriate functions that express gratitude and appreciation for ombudsmen and their families.
Resources
- Interested in volunteering to be an ombudsman or want to learn more about ways you can support your ombudsman? Visit the Ombudsman Program.
- For more information about the ombudsman program, contact either the Atlantic Area Regional Ombudsman Coordinator, Lori Gordy (Lori.A.Gordy@uscg.mil) or the Pacific Area Regional Ombudsman Coordinator, Ryan Fahlenkamp (Ryan.J.Fahlenkamp2@uscg.mil).
-
ALCOAST 095-23