Category Archives: 2nd Fleet

“Coast Guard cutter returns to Florida after escorting recently seized motor tanker” –SE District

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U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers transfer from the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617) to a motor tanker by a helicopter crew assigned to U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 in the Atlantic Ocean, Jan. 7, 2026. Vigilant escorted the tanker, which was seized by a joint Coast Guard and Department of War team for conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Feehery)

Below is a press release from the Southeast District. This is a 61 year old ship, still doing the job.

Anyone know what this device, pictured below, cropped from photo above, is?

U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Vigilant (WMEC-617). 2 March 2008. Photo by Workman via Wikipedia.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617), right, sails in the Western Atlantic Ocean while escorting a motor tanker after a right of visit boarding, Jan. 7, 2026. Vigilant escorted the motor tanker, which was seized by a Coast Guard tactical boarding team with support from the Department of War, for operating as a vessel without nationality in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Navy Photo)

Jan. 20, 2026

Coast Guard cutter returns to Florida after escorting recently seized motor tanker

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617) returned to Cape Canaveral on Friday after a 33-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea supporting operations Pacific Viper and Southern Spear.

During the patrol, Vigilant escorted a motor tanker, which was seized by a U.S. Coast Guard tactical boarding team with support from the Department of War, for operating as a vessel without nationality in the Caribbean Sea. Vigilant’s crew coordinated with naval and law enforcement partners to transfer personnel and provisions to the tanker. A law enforcement team from Vigilant boarded the vessel to provide security during the 600-nautical-mile transit to the United States.

Cmdr. Steve Welch, commanding officer of Vigilant, said, “I am proud of the crew’s adaptability and professionalism during this mission of national importance. Their performance ensured the safe execution of the operation in partnership with the Department of War.”

Unique statutory authorities enable the Coast Guard to enforce international and domestic law in the maritime domain, deploying assets to conduct missions in U.S. waters and on the high seas. The Coast Guard’s involvement in this seizure was conducted under Title 14, U.S. Code and in accordance with customary international law. The Coast Guard exercises these authorities to protect maritime safety, security, and U.S. interests.

“Coast Guard awards contract to rebuild Station South Padre Island” –CG-9

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Below is a post from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9).

The location near the Mexican border is obviously significant, but it is also near Starbase, TX.

“Starbase, Texas, is a burgeoning city and SpaceX hub in the Rio Grande Valley near Brownsville, established around SpaceX’s Starship development and launch facilities, becoming an official municipality in May 2025 with hundreds of residents, mostly SpaceX employees, creating a unique space-focused company town known as the ‘Gateway to Mars'” —AI overview.

I presume South Padre Station also supports Operation River Wall. 

Coast Guard awards contract to rebuild Station South Padre Island

Jan. 15, 2026 —The Coast Guard’s Facilities Design and Construction Center awarded a $200 million design-build contract to The Haskell Company Jan. 9 for the comprehensive recapitalization and expansion of Coast Guard Station South Padre Island in South Padre Island, Texas. The award was made as a task order through the National Multi-Award Construction Contract III and is the largest single task order in the history of the Coast Guard’s Military Construction program.

The task order, made possible through the historic investment in Coast Guard shore infrastructure as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will deliver the design and construction of more than 120,000 square feet of essential facilities and supporting infrastructure, directly enhancing mission readiness and execution for Coast Guard personnel in the region. Preliminary design and environmental work will begin immediately, with project completion anticipated in summer 2028.

The full scope of work under the task order includes:

  • Completion of an environmental assessment, site survey investigations and design services for various facilities.
  • Construction of new station facilities.
  • Construction of unaccompanied personnel housing, additional berthing and mission support facilities.
  • Rebuilding of waterfront infrastructure.
  • Construction of a Joint Operations Center and Customs and Border Protection support space.
  • Forward operations space for Deployable Specialized Forces.
  • Delivery of a new harbor operations center and other mission support facilities.
  • Comprehensive site development, utilities and outfitting.

Station South Padre Island is strategically positioned to support border security, interdict illicit trafficking and ensure the safe and lawful movement of commerce. The rebuild effort will address damages at the boathouse that were caused by a fire in April 2025 and enhance mission capabilities to fully support Coast Guard core missions of securing the U.S. border and maritime approaches, facilitating commerce vital to economic prosperity and strategic mobility and responding to contingencies along the Gulf Coast and surrounding waterways.

The project represents the largest award value for a shore infrastructure construction project in Coast Guard history and will be delivered on the shortest timeline to date. The planning phase was compressed from the standard 18 months to 45 days, while the contracting process was reduced from 15 months to four months.

For more information: Shore Programs

“A polar plunge: The Coast Guard bets on the burgeoning Arctic” –MyCG

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Polar Star, Storis, and Healy. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) arrives at Pier 46 on Coast Guard Base Seattle, Oct. 26, 2025. The crew of the Healy transited over 20,000 miles, supporting Operation Arctic West Summer and Operation Frontier Sentinel, protecting U.S. sovereign rights and territory, and promoting national security in the Arctic. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lieutenant Christopher Butters)

Below is a post from MyCG.

It is worth noting that our ally, Canada, is also building a new generation of icebreakers in cooperation with the Finns. In fact the Arctic Security Cutters will be built to two designs shared with Canada.

Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI). Source: Seaspan
Note: The MPI image does not show the right propulsors; it will use Steerprop’s contra-rotating propulsors (CRP). Additionally according to Seaspan, the design could easily be upgraded to PC3. Confirmation from Seaspan and Aker Arctic.

Jan. 6, 2026

A polar plunge: The Coast Guard bets on the burgeoning Arctic

By Katie Duckett, The Circuit writer

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in The Circuit C5ISC blog. (CAC required)

After decades of watching its polar fleet degrade toward obsolescence, the Coast Guard is now poised for a historic transformation in the world’s coldest waters. The spending bill signed on July 4, 2025 has delivered nearly $9 billion for icebreaker construction to the Coast Guard, the single largest polar investment in service history, setting the stage for what officials are calling a new era of American presence in the Arctic and Antarctic.

The timing couldn’t be more fitting. For years America’s polar ambitions have rested largely on the shoulders of USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB-10), an icebreaker commissioned in 1976. Now 49 years old and nearly two decades past her designed service life, she remains the only American ship capable of punching through the thick ice surrounding McMurdo Station in Antarctica, a mission she has performed faithfully for 28 consecutive years during Operation Deep Freeze.

Alongside POLAR STAR, USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20) has spent a quarter century conducting Arctic research and patrol, identifying underwater volcanoes and mapping the seafloor while monitoring the increasing presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in polar waters. But electrical fires and mechanical strain have tested this workhorse; in December 2024, USCGC STORIS (WMEC-38) became the first polar icebreaker added to the fleet in 25 years, offering immediate relief. Commissioned in Juneau last August, she completed a 112-day inaugural Arctic patrol that fall, shadowing five Chinese research vessels operating in American waters. The purchase served as a bridge strategy, buying time until heavier reinforcements would arrive.

Announced this May, the Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 initiative has designated polar capability a cornerstone of service transformation. FD28 explicitly calls for delivering “icebreakers needed to provide assured U.S. access and presence to the polar regions” while streamlining acquisitions to accelerate timelines that have historically lagged.

The Coast Guard’s vision for polar operations is now bankrolled at historic scale. This year’s spending bill allocates $4.3 billion for three Polar Security Cutters, massive 460-foot heavy icebreakers capable of smashing through ice 21 feet thick. The first of these, USCGC POLAR SENTINEL (WMSP-21), is expected to enter service around 2030. Another $3.5 billion will fund the Arctic Security Cutter program, which received a dramatic boost in October 2025 when the President signed an agreement with Finland to deliver 11 medium icebreakers, with the first five set to arrive by 2028. When combined with the additional light icebreaker funding included in the bill, the legislation enables construction of 17 new vessels in total, a number that would have seemed unthinkable just five years ago.

The urgency of Arctic operations extends beyond aging hulls. Russia currently operates more than 40 icebreakers, continuing to militarize its Arctic coastline. China, despite possessing no Arctic territory, has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and deployed its own coast guard vessels alongside Russian patrols near Alaska. And a changing climate is unlocking shipping lanes and resources that will demand American presence and enforcement.

After decades of deferred maintenance and delayed procurement, the Coast Guard’s polar plans are finally scaled to the challenge. This frozen frontier, once patrolled by a single aging ship, will soon host a fleet befitting American strategic interests at both poles.

“USS St. Louis Returns from Deployment in Support of Southern Border Operations” –Seapower

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NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2025) — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19), operating under U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), returns to Naval Station Mayport, Fla., after completing a surge deployment, Nov. 10, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Jasmin L. Aquino)

The Navy League on-line magazine, Seapower reports,

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19), operating under U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in the Gulf of America, returned to Naval Station Mayport ), along with the “Valkyries” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 Detachment 5 and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 408 after completing a surge deployment on November 10, 2025.

This deployment is a bit unusual in that apparently the patrol was in the Gulf under the direction of NORTHCOM and Second Fleet, rather than in the Caribbean and or Eastern Pacific under SOUTHCOM and Forth Fleet like her last patrol.

Neither NORTHCOM nor 2nd Fleet included the news release on their website, 2nd Fleet apparently sending it directly to the Navy League. (In fact 2nd Fleet has not had a news release on their website since 10 August.) We don’t know how long this deployment was since their departure date was not included in the release.

There was no report of a successful interdiction, which is not surprising since historically we do not find much maritime drug smuggling in the Gulf.

USS St. Louis’ previous patrol was more successful, spending eight months operating under 4th Fleet, where she, “disrupted and confiscated over $100 million worth of illicit contraband in five different operations” in addition to participating in exercise UNITAS 2024.

 

Coast Guard “Rear Admiral Randall takes the helm of Key West Joint military command” –SOUTHCOM

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Below is a SOUTHCOM news release.

I knew the Coast Guard had officers on the staff of Joint Interagency South, but I was not aware that a Coast Guard Officer was in charge, though it makes a lot of sense.

July 16, 2025

Rear Admiral Randall takes the helm of Key West Joint military command

Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jeff Randall assumed command of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS) in a Change of Command ceremony held today at the Tennessee Williams Theater in Key West, FL.

Supporting U.S. national security priorities, JIATFS is a U.S. Department of Defense command that leverages the capabilities of U.S. Intelligence and Law Enforcement agencies, Allies and Partner Nations to detect, monitor, and support interdiction of illicit narcotics movements in the air and maritime throughout the Western hemisphere.

Rear Admiral Randall is the 19th director of the 36-year-old task force and assumed command from Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jo-Ann Burdian, who has been nominated as Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area.

A native of Abilene TX, Rear Admiral Randall is a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He also holds a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington and served as the Coast Guard’s Fellow to the Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign Relations.

He was awarded numerous personal, unit, campaign, and service awards.

The Change of Command ceremony was presided over by Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of U.S. Southern Command.

US Navy Securing the Southern Border?

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USCGC Valiant (WMEC 621) crew moors at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, June 6, 2025. The Valiant crew offloaded more than $132 million in illicit drugs interdicted in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Diana Sherbs)

Below the line is a Coast Guard News release. 

It includes a report of offload of drugs seized by USS Gravely.

Since March the Navy has kept two or three ships deployed to “secure the Southern Border” against illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

Departures of US Navy destroyers were widely reported, frequently with implications that the Coast Guard had not been paying attention to the Southern border or that the Coast Guard was incapable. Center for Strategic and International Studies stated,

First and foremost, the deployments send a powerful signal that the United States is taking border security, and the Western Hemisphere more broadly, seriously. In a statement from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) upon deployment of the Spruance, the ships will “restore territorial integrity at the U.S. southern border” and will support operations related to “combating maritime related terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, piracy, environmental destruction, and illegal seaborne immigration.” The tasking of some of the United States’ most exquisite naval capabilities to support Southwest border operations accordingly provides yet another indicator that a strategic pivot to the Western Hemisphere in general, and the U.S.-Mexico border in particular, is well underway.

The DDGs are marvelous ships as demonstrated by their performance against the Houthis in the Red Sea. Their more sophisticated sensors were also touted, but the results have been underwhelming.

Results:

So what happened? Let’s give credit where credit is due.

Guided missile destroyers involved, as far as I can determine, have been USS Gravely, USS Spruance, USS Stockdale which replaced Spruance in mid April, USS Cole which very recently replace Gravely, and Sampson which just replaced Stockdale.

As far as I can tell, the interdiction of 840 pounds of cocaine valued $13.7M by USS Gravely, which deployed March 15, reported below, is the only interception of drugs reported by a destroyer in the almost three months since their intervention began.

By comparison:

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS-21) which deployed March 25 has made three interdictions. USS Charleston Deployed May 21. I presume she is replacing Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The first two resulted in seizure of 580 kilograms (1,279 pounds) of cocaine valued at $9,463,860 and 1,125 kilograms (2,480 pounds) of marijuana valued at $2,807,360. I was not able to find similar figures for the third.

In an earlier post I posted the results of drugs landed on thirteen different occasions from February 13 to May 2, 2025 comparing interdictions in the Eastern Pacific with those made in the Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean. In total 168,574 pounds or more than 84 tons, valued at $1,702.9 million. There have been additional offloads since then including the one below.

That is 196 times as much as was seized by Navy Destroyers. Only a very small part of which was marijuana rather than cocaine, none of which was seized in the Eastern Pacific. Notably no Fentanyl was included.

Our Canadian and Netherlands Navy partners each seized more contraband than the US Navy this period.

Why the poor showing?:

Functionally the DDGs should have been at least as effective as other units doing this mission, so why weren’t they more effective?

I think because they were looking in the wrong place.

Early announcements seem to indicate they primarily being deployed primarily to interdict immigrants with drug interdiction a secondary mission, but as I noted in the earlier post,

Perhaps surprisingly, cutters in the Western Atlantic areas looking for drugs don’t intercept many migrants and cutters looking for migrants don’t find much in the way of drugs or even migrants. There were four WMEC patrols identified as looking for migrants. None of the four found any drugs. One intercepted no migrants. The three remaining patrols intercepted a total of 184.

The West coast deployment seems to have been in vicinity of San Diego. Most drug interdictions in the Pacific happen off the Central and South American coast.

There has been something of a surge in maritime illegal migrant interdictions on the West Coast but they have been concentrated close to shore near San Diego and the Mexican border, using recreational style small craft, but the totals are still relatively small.

As far as I have heard (and I think I would have) none of the US Navy ships have intercepted any immigrants.

Other thoughts:

Any assistance the Navy might provide is always welcome, but any implication that the Coast Guard has not been working the problem with considerable success, limited only by resources available, is unfair. There simply is no such thing as 100% secure.

The Navy has also provided additional ISR resources. Both the Navy and Coast Guard can only benefit from better Maritime Domain Awareness even if the information is used for different purposes.

Having an alert, active DDG positioned off US naval bases (like San Diego) might be a good idea since, as yet, we really have no land based missile defenses capable of countering cruise missiles that might be launched from container ships in an initial surprise attack.

June 6, 2025

Coast Guard offloads more than $138 million in illicit drug interdictions in Caribbean Sea

Coast Guard Seventh District – 786-367-7649

MIAMI –U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Valiant’s crew offloaded 17,450 pounds of cocaine and 2,585 pounds of marijuana worth $132 million, Friday, at Port Everglades.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous crew offloaded approximately 840 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $6.2 million, Thursday, at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach.

The seized contraband was the result of six interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by Coast Guard and interagency partners.

“I am incredibly proud of our Valiant team and how they exemplify American values. They sacrifice time away from their families and when necessary, put themselves in harm’s way to secure our borders and protect the American people,” said Cmdr. Matthew Press, commanding officer of Valiant. “Collaborating with the United States Navy, Royal Canadian, and Royal Netherlands Navies, our multinational team disrupted transnational criminal organizations making the world a safer place.”

On May 19, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel approximately 85 miles north of Aruba. Valiant’s crew interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 2,645 pounds of cocaine.

On May 22, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel approximately 170 miles north of Aruba. Valiant’s crew interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 7,750 pounds of cocaine.

On May 25, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel approximately 290 miles south of the Dominican Republic. USS Gravely’s crew and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 401 interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 840 pounds of cocaine. The narcotics were transferred to the Vigorous.

On May 29, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel approximately 140 miles south of the Dominican Republic. His Majesty’s Canadian Ship William Hall’s crew and embarked Coast Guard LEDET 103 interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 750 pounds of cocaine. The narcotics were transferred to the Valiant.

On May 29, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel approximately 15 miles north of Venezuela. The Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland crew and embarked Coast Guard LEDET 404 interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 4,050 pounds of cocaine and 2,585 pounds of marijuana. The narcotics were transferred to the Valiant.

On May 31, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel approximately 185 miles north of Colombia. HMCS William Hall’s crew and embarked Coast Guard LEDET 103 interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 2,250 pounds of cocaine. The narcotics were transferred to the Valiant.

The following crews assisted with interdiction operations:

Detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. Joint Interagency Task Force-South, in Key West, conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Seventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Miami.

These interdictions relate to Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces’ Strike Force initiatives and designated investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

USCGC Valiant is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Jacksonville under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.

USCGC Vigorous is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Virginia Beach, Virginia under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.

For breaking news, follow us on X (formerly Twitter). For additional information, find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.

“U.S. Navy Expands Maritime Border Security Mission with USS Stockdale Deployment” –gCaptain

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USS Stockdale (DDG 106). U.S. Navy File Photo

gCaptain reports,

“The US Navy continues to strengthen its southern border security presence with the deployment of USS Stockdale (DDG 106), which departed Naval Base San Diego on April 11, 2025. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer takes over duties from USS Spruance in supporting U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) border security operations.”

There has been a long standing pattern of cruisers and destroyers deploying with and staying close to carriers, but increasingly it seems, the Navy is also using cruisers and destroyers as independent units and not just in support of Coast Guard interdiction efforts.

In addition to USS Spruance (DDG-111) and its replacement, USS Stockdale (DDG-106) on the West Coast and USS Gravely (DDG-107) on the Gulf coast supporting the Coast Guard, on March 15 USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed Norfolk for independent operations. USS Chosin (CG-65) was in Panama and USS Normandy was off Guyana.

These are large and powerful ships, each with 90 to 122 vertical launch cells, some of which may be loaded with Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.

Those operating off the US coast also provide a degree of protection US ports do not normally have.

“Coast Guard Force Design 2028” –News Release

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The U.S. Coast Guard’s headquarters campus in Washington, D.C.

Below is a Coast Guard News Release.

It is too early to say where these changes will take the Coast Guard, but both the acting Commandant and the Senior Advisor to the Secretary for the Coast Guard (SASCG) Mr. Sean Plankey, are Coast Guard Academy graduates (class of 1987 and 2003). Both seem to be firmly grounded in the military nature of the Coast Guard. Both have spent a lot of time in close contact with DOD.

“Force Design 2028 is the way we will become a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force (emphasis applied–Chuck) to best serve the American people,” ADM Lunday said.

Some of the steps outlined in Force Design 2028 appear specifically intended to move the Coast Guard closer to DOD.

–Align with the DoD’s “Rapid Force-Wide Review of Military Standards” for physical fitness, body composition, and grooming standards. We’ll follow DoD standards to the maximum extent possible and build processes that are necessary to ensure total force readiness.

–Increase Coast Guard engagement with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to accelerate technology and capability acquisition and adoption by leveraging leading edge disruptive technology development in the private sector. This includes increasing our footprint at DIU and maximizing the number of training allowance billets available at the DIU Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program.

I certainly see a need for more attention to the Coast Guard’s Defense Readiness Mission and to Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security.

My impression is that the Coast Guard will be increasingly focused on protecting the Maritime Transportation System, particularly in cyberspace.

April 3, 2025

Coast Guard Force Design 2028

By MyCG Staff

Acting Commandant Kevin E. Lunday recently announced Force Design 2028 (FD 2028). Directed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and led by the Senior Advisor to the Secretary for the Coast Guard (SASCG) Mr. Sean Plankey, FD 2028 is creating a blueprint to ensure the Service is ready for the future and the Nation’s demands.

“Force Design 2028 is the way we will become a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force to best serve the American people,” ADM Lunday said.

FD 2028 is focused on four campaigns:

  • People
  • Organization
  • Acquisition and Contracting
  • Technology

Here are some details about each campaign, including some of the first steps already underway. Additional details can be found in ALCOAST 155/25.

People
We are building the Coast Guard’s future force, starting today. Increased national demand for our Coast Guard requires a larger, more capable military workforce. This campaign will improve training systems, boost access to medical care, and modernize both the Coast Guard Reserve and the civilian management system.

Early actions:

  • Align with the DoD’s “Rapid Force-Wide Review of Military Standards” for physical fitness, body composition, and grooming standards. We’ll follow DoD standards to the maximum extent possible and build processes that are necessary to ensure total force readiness.
  • Starting in Promotion Year 2026, best qualified selection boards will be required to employ in-zone reordering to the maximum authorized by law to reorder those officers of particular merit for promotion.
  • Remove administrative burdens on our members by reducing reporting and other requirements that are redundant and of little value. (See ALCOAST 145/25 for details.)
  • Restore maximum Commander and Officer-in-Charge discretion and flexibility in their use of non-judicial punishment (NJP) under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  This change is consistent with the ultimate responsibility entrusted to commanders to maintain good order and discipline at their units.

Organization
As global security threats, technological advancements, and operational demands continue to evolve, the Coast Guard must adapt its organizational construct and internal decision making and governance processes to remain relevant, effective, and responsive.

Early actions:

  • Delegate operational authorities to the appropriate level of command to increase mission effectiveness and reduce risk to Coast Guard personnel. The recent delegation of non-compliant vessel use of force authorities to pursuit coxswains and cutter commanding officers is one example that empowers those at the tactical edge with the authorities, capabilities, and effective command and control needed to deliver operational results.
  • Establish a USCG HQ Director of Staff, reporting to the Vice Commandant, who is responsible for streamlining executive decision-making, enhancing agility and integration, aligning strategic messaging, and optimizing HQ processes.
  • Restructure the Deputy for Personnel Readiness (DPR) enterprise to optimize support for our most valuable resource-our people. This transformation establishes a comprehensive, people-centric approach across four business lines: accessions and training, total workforce management, workforce and family services, and healthcare delivery. We will separate policy/program management from service delivery to best meet the needs of our people.
  • Restructure the Deputy for Materiel Readiness (DMR) enterprise to focus on a systems approach to assets, ensuring the Coast Guard has the right capabilities, in the right place, at the right time. This transformation includes creating new business lines to oversee the total lifecycle management of our surface, air, C5I, and shore infrastructure, and integrating acquisition and sustainment functions for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Establish the Assistant Commandant for Operational Integration and Response Policy (CG-3/5R) to align operational integration and planning at the Service level to increase decision-making speed and resource allocation to our operational commanders and advance national level planning and preparedness while increasing situational awareness for the Secretary, Department, Joint Staff, and Interagency partners.

Acquisitions and Contracting
Develop a high velocity acquisition and contracting system to rapidly deliver the assets the Service needs to fulfill its commitment to the American people.

Early actions:

  • Eliminate or minimize bureaucratic delays to delivering the assets the Service needs. An example is the recent elevation the Simplified Acquisition Procedures and micro- purchase limits to the maximum extent allowed by law and regulation, ensuring rapid distribution of goods and services to the field units charged with carrying out our front-line missions.
  • Increase Coast Guard engagement with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to accelerate technology and capability acquisition and adoption by leveraging leading edge disruptive technology development in the private sector. This includes increasing our footprint at DIU and maximizing the number of training allowance billets available at the DIU Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program.
  • Improve the speed of contracting and procurement by empowering our contracting professionals in the field, reducing redundant and sequential approval and review process that add unwarranted mission risk.
  • Provide improved transparency and accountability in the contracting process through development of a quick-to-field contract tracking system and establish clear metrics and targets that consider mission impact.

Technology
The Coast Guard will accelerate the adoption of secure, state-of-the-market technologies to enhance data sharing, situational awareness, and operational effectiveness.

Early actions:

  • Leverage efficient industry solutions to dramatically accelerate the Authority To Operate (ATO) process for Information Technology systems and achieve the goal of ATOs in 30 days. This will begin with the Software Factory and minimize bureaucratic delays to deliver essential capabilities required for Coast Guard mission success.
  • Establish data teams in each mission domain to make sure we’re fully leveraging data to improve operations.
  • Establish a Rapid Response Rapid Prototype Team to transform how we deliver mission-critical technology solutions. This effort will span operations, engineering, acquisitions, finance, information technology, logistics, data science, and change management/integration – delivering proven innovation where it matters most.

How we will stay on course

An FD 2028 implementation team comprised of permanently assigned military and civilian personnel is being established and will report to the new Director of Staff.  The team will coordinate a Coast Guard wide effort to implement the Secretary’s intent on FD28 as well as continue the actions already started.

“We are executing transformational change to renew the Coast Guard,” said ADM Lunday.  “Force Design 2028 will ensure the Coast Guard remains Semper Paratus, Always Ready, to serve the American people.”

“South Korea Bolsters Polar Capabilities Moving Ahead With Next-Generation Icebreaker” –gCaptain

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South Korea’s research icebreaker Araon, operated by the Korea Polar Research Institute. (Source: Korea Polar Research Institute)

gCaptain reports South Korea is building an icebreaker, “With a displacement of 16,560 tonnes the dual-fuel icebreaker – it can use both low-sulfur diesel and LNG – will be twice as large as the country’s existing icebreaker, Araon.”

But more interesting to me is that South Korea has been instrumental in operationalizing Russia’s Norther Sea Route.

All fifteen Arc7 ice-class LNG carriers for the Yamal LNG project were constructed by DSME (now Hanwha) with additional vessels and vessel elements for Arctic LNG 2 built by both Hanwha and SHI. Ice-capable oil tankers also originate at South Korean shipyards.

The country has also been a key anchor for expanded Arctic shipping with several container ship voyages via Russia’s Northern Sea Route originating or terminating at South Korean hubs, including Busan.

The Northern Sea Route certainly has the potential to facilitate trade between South Korea and Europe. The ships they have been building can traverse the Northern Sea Route without the aid of icebreakers.