R 201144 MAY 16
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCO//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N16790//
ALCOAST 193/16
COMDTNOTE 16790
SUBJ: COAST GUARD AUXILIARY GAP ANALYSIS
A. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Policy Statement
B. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Strategic Plan 2014-2020 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this ALCOAST is to announce the Auxiliary's gap analysis initiative. In REF (A), the Commandant prioritized the Auxiliary’s missions as the promotion and improvement of recreational boating safety (RBS); the provision of specialized skills, trained crews, and capable facilities to augment the Coast Guard; and the support of Coast Guard operational, administrative, and logistical requirements. As established in REF (B), one of National Commodore Mark Simoni’s strategic priorities is to maximize the Auxiliary’s ability to be more responsive to the Coast Guard’s needs.
2. BACKGROUND.
A. While the Auxiliary’s primary focus remains squarely on RBS, Auxiliary leadership is conducting a gap analysis that will determine capacity to provide specialized skills, qualified boat and air crews, and capable operational facilities to fulfill the operational commander’s needs. This gap analysis is an ongoing process in identifying Auxiliary resources to supplement and support unit Watch, Quarter and Station Bills, unit collateral duty lists, and overall unit "resource lockers."
B. Auxiliary Liaison Officers (AUXLOs) play an integral role in this process and serve as a critical link between the command and local Auxiliary units. They collaborate with Auxiliary Sector Coordinators (ASCs) and broker resources to fulfill unit needs. AUXLOs are often well integrated in command cadre staff and interact regularly with department heads and subordinate units. As such, AUXLOs should be selected from highly motivated junior officers or senior petty officers. Training material, best practices, and other resources can be found on the CGPORTAL AUXLO Collaboration Site at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/communities/auxlo-collab/default.aspx.
C. During the January 2016 National Training Conference, Auxiliary leaders and Sector representatives participated in training, exercises, and workshops focused on incident management and the gap analysis process. District Commodores were charged with reaching out to their respective Sector Commanders to discuss the gap analysis initiative and explore ways to leverage Auxiliary resources for steady-state, backfill, surge operations, and targeted augmentation.
3. ACTION. Sector Commanders are encouraged to meet with their respective Commodores and determine/communicate their Auxiliary resource needs. Aggregate national gap analysis results assist Auxiliary program managers to determine funding priorities. The initial national Auxiliary gap analysis report is expected to be completed by the end of August 2016.
4. FORCE MULTIPLIER. Many units have already incorporated the Auxiliary workforce into their daily routine. In CY 2015, the Auxiliary safely logged over 80,000 hours underway, accumulated 11,500 flight hours, and provided 445,000 hours of other direct operational, administrative, and logistical support to Coast Guard units. Properly trained and qualified Auxiliarists can provide a variety of services to the operational commander, including filling Incident Command Post watch positions, standing front desk and telephone/radio watches, augmenting galley staffs, serving as unit ombudsman, assisting in maintaining rescue and survival equipment, and providing first aid and CPR training.
5. POINT OF CONTACT. Questions should be directed to regional Directors of Auxiliary (dpa) offices. Auxiliary Program POC at CGHQ is CDR Michael DaPonte COMDT (CG-BSX-1) at (202)372-1268 or michael.j.daponte@uscg.mil.
6. VADM F.M. Midgette, Deputy Commandant for Operations, sends.
7. Internet release authorized.