A look at how others are seeing new possibilities in the Coast Guard from a national financial magazine.

ARABIAN GULF (Feb. 25, 2021) The U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Maui (WPB 1304) and the Greek navy guided-missile frigate HS Hydra (F452) participate in a passing exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Feb. 25, 2021. U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) is comprised of six 110-foot cutters, the Maritime Engagement Team, shore-side support personnel, and is the Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the U.S. playing a key role in supporting Navy security cooperation, maritime security, and maritime infrastructure protection operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Below is an ALCOAST. I have made minor changes to format.

R 231811Z MAR 21 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS ALCOAST 112/21 SSIC 5726 SUBJ:  DEADLINE FOR THE U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE’S COAST GUARD ESSAY CONTEST A. Coast Guard External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5700.13 (series) 1. This ALCOAST announces the U.S. Naval Institute’s Coast Guard Essay contest. 2. Overview. Located at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization, has provided an open forum for rigorous debate, informed discussion, thought leadership, and professional development for members of the Naval Services since 1873. The vision and mission of the USNI is to give a voice to those who seek the finest Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard by providing an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security. USNI is known for its flagship magazine, Proceedings, and a variety of historical and professional books. 3. Summary. The Naval Institute’s Coast Guard Essay Contest is open to all personnel: active duty, reservists, veterans and civilians from any of the nation’s sea services. It provides members an opportunity to identify areas to make the Coast Guard stronger. 4. The Challenge. What can the U.S. Coast Guard do today to be more effective tomorrow? No subject is too large or too small. All topics are welcome, one might consider: changes required to meet new global missions, barriers preventing the USCG from fully executing its missions and how to remove them, how best to integrate the USCG’s unique authorities, capabilities and partnerships with other sea services, innovative ideas to help make the Coast Guard a more capable and resilient instrument of national security globally, or how to leverage partnerships to more cooperatively defend and secure the homeland.     a. Eligibility: Open to all contributors – active-duty, military, reservists, veterans and civilians. The essay must be original and not published or being considered for publication elsewhere.     b. Length: 2,500 words maximum, excluding notes and sources.     c. Prizes: First prize – $5,000. Second prize – $2,500. Third prize – $1,500.     d. Submission Deadline: the deadline for entries is 30 April 2021. Note: essays are submitted directly to USNI and the U.S. Coast Guard plays no role in selecting the winning essays. Applicants must ensure entries conform to Chapter 6, sections (A) through (C) of REF (A). Essays must be original and not previously published or being considered for publication elsewhere.     e. Additional details: submit the essay as a word document online at: www.usni.org/cgessay by 30 April 2021. Include the word count on the title page, but do not include your name on the title page or within the essay.     f. The Proceedings staff members will evaluate every essay and screen the top essays to a special Essay Selection Committee of at least six members who will include two members of the Naval Institute’s Editorial Board and four subject matter experts. All essays are judged in the blind; the Proceedings staff members and judges will not know the authors of the essays. 5. Other Essay Contests and Writing Opportunities.     a. Essay Contests. USNI hosts essay contests throughout the year on a variety of topics including: Coast Guard, Cyber, Enlisted Perspectives, Innovation & Risk, International Navies, Leadership, Marine Corps, Naval History, Naval Intelligence, Naval Mine Warfare, and Naval Postgraduate School Foundation/USNI. For details see: https://www.usni.org/essay-contests.     b. Other Writing Opportunities. Authors can also submit articles for publication in Proceedings or Naval History magazines, USNI Today (online), and USNI’s Blog (online). For details see: https://www.usni.org/periodicals/proceedings-magazine/submission- guidelines. 6. POC: LCDR Karen Love Kutkiewicz, USNI Executive Fellow, at (206) 460-3399 or e-mail at kkutkiewicz@usni.org. 7. RDML Scott W. Clendenin, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy (CG-5R), sends. 8. Internet release is authorized.

Guyana coast guard small boats patrol alongside the USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) off Guyana’s coast on Jan. 9, 2021. The U.S. and Guyana governments enacted a bilateral agreement on Sep. 18, 2020, to cooperatively combat illegal marine activity in Guyana’s waters. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hightower)

Below is a LANTAREA news release marking the commissioning of USCGC Stone, the ninth National Security Cutter. The Cutter did not even wait to be commissioned to be useful. She has already had a remarkable patrol into the waters of the South Atlantic (here, here, and here).

News Release U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Contact: Coast Guard Atlantic Area Public Affairs Office: (757) 398-6521 After Hours: (757) 641-0763 Atlantic Area online newsroom  Coast Guard Commissions newest National Security Cutter Fellow Aviators pay tribute to the USCGC Stone (WMSL- 758) during the commissioning ceremony at Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C., Mar. 19, 2021. The cutter’s namesake is the late Cmdr. Elmer “Archie” Fowler Stone, who in 1917 became the Coast Guard’s first aviator and, two years later, was one of two pilots to successfully make a transatlantic flight in a Navy seaplane landing in Portugal. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Vincent Moreno) The crew of USCGC Stone (WMSL- 758) prepare to bring the ship to life during a commissioning ceremony at Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C., Mar. 19, 2021. The cutter’s namesake is the late Cmdr. Elmer “Archie” Fowler Stone, who in 1917 became the Coast Guard’s first aviator and, two years later, was one of two pilots to successfully make a transatlantic flight in a Navy seaplane landing in Portugal. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Vincent Moreno) NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C., — The USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) became the Coast Guard’s newest national security cutter during a commissioning ceremony Friday at Coast Guard Base Charleston. Adm. Karl Schultz, the commandant U.S. Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony. Ms. Laura Cavallo, the grandniece of the ship’s namesake and ship’s sponsor, was also in attendance. The cutter’s namesake comes from Cmdr. Elmer “Archie” Fowler Stone, who in 1917 became the Coast Guard’s first aviator and, two years later, was the pilot of the NC-4, a Navy airplane, which in 1919 was the first aircraft to accomplish a trans-Atlantic flight, landing in Portugal. The Stone is the ninth legend-class national security cutter in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The Legend-class, national security cutters can execute the most challenging national security missions, including support to U.S. combatant commanders. They are 418 feet in length, 54 feet in beam, and 4,600 long tons in displacement. They have a top speed of more than 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, an endurance of up to 90 days, and can hold a crew of up to 150. These new cutters are replacing the high endurance Hamilton-class cutters in service since the 1960s. The Stone launched on Oct. 4, 2019, for sea trials. Following sea trials, the crew conducted their maiden voyage Operation Southern Cross, a patrol to the South Atlantic supporting counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Taking the newly-accepted cutter on its shakedown cruise, Stone’s crew covered over 21,000 miles (18,250 nautical miles) over 68 days. A mutual interest in combating IUUF activities offered an opportunity to collaborate for Stone’s crew. They interacted with partners in Guyana, Brazil, Uruguay, and Portugal, strengthening relationships and laying the foundation for increased partnerships to counter illicit maritime activity. Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service.

\

The Navy League’s on line magazine, Seapower, reports on the Commandant’s response to a question as to why 87 foot Marine Protector class patrol boats are being decommissioned without direct replacement. Bottom line, we need to save some money and between the new FRCs and the Response Boat, Medium, we have the need pretty well covered.

It is absolutely budgetarily influenced and informed within the topline, he said. “I’m the last guy as a cutterman who wants to remove a cutter from service, but I think we’ll have plenty of capacity. That fast response cutter — its seakeeping, its legs — is considerably more [capable] than the patrol boats it’s replacing.”

Referring to the March 10 decommissioning of the Marine Protector-class USCGC Dorado at Crescent City, California, Schultz pointed out that with the mission demands and capabilities in that area resident in the Coast Guard’s heavy-weather-capable 45-foot response boats and the nearby aviation capability, ‘taking out some of those 87’s was a relatively rational, hard choice we had to make.”

Above we have the Youtube version of the Commandant’s address.

If you want to read, rather than watch the presentation, you can get the full text here. (You will miss the videos, which are well done, but even at over 17 pages, it will take much less time than the hour required to watch the whole presentation.)

The first half of the presentation seemed aimed internally, primarily addressing Active and Reserve issues. During the presentation the Commandant put a lot of emphasis on improving infrastructure. The presentation got more interesting to me-more “news”-in the second half. (times are approximate, tried to get within 30 seconds)

There will be a new air station, in April will break ground on a new Air Station Ventura County.(31:00)

Confirmed the Coast Guard will probably link to “future vertical lift” program. Meanwhile:

• We are getting blade fold/tail fold on Coast Guard H-60 helicopters that will deploy on National Security Cutters, Polar Security, and Offshore Patrol Cutters. That will allow more range, endurance, and payload.
• CGAS Borinquen and New Orleans will transition from H-65 to H-60s.
• CGAS Barbers Point will transition from H model to J model C-130s with greater range.
• Helicopters that provide intercepts over DC are getting Link 16. (32:50)

Expects award of Waterways Commerce Cutter contract spring of 2022 (35:30)

Working to address Marine Transportation Cyber (38:30)

Dealing with COVID-19 (41:00)

Discussion of drug interdiction and why we do it. (43:00)

Remarks on UAS (45:00)

Coast Guard role in the Arctic (47:50). In conjunction with Canada, planning a North West Passage transit for Healy. (49)

Coast Guard attaches will be assigned to Denmark, Australia, and Singapore. (49:30)

Indo-Pacific (50:00) Oblique reference to the “Quad,” an informal association of US, Australia, India, and Japan that seems to be forming in response to Chinese aggressiveness.

IUU fishing (50:30)

Bear went to Africa on short notice to counter IUU. (51:30)

Maritime Domain Awareness/Unmanned systems (52:00)

Hamilton is going to support EUCOM escorting first to FRCs bound for PATFORSWA (53:30)

Requirement for a Coast Guard Museum (56:00)

All in all, it was pretty inspiring. It will make you proud.

Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, 20 June 2019, US Army photo

Defense News reports that President has nominated three officers to assume the duties of Commander Combatant Command at TRANSCOM, PACOM, and SOUTHCOM.

The SOUTHCOM Commander is particularly important to the Coast Guard because  the Coast Guard’s drug interdiction efforts in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific fall under SOUTHCOM’s jurisdiction. Frequently SOUTHCOM has been a vocal advocate for the Coast Guard.

The SOUTHCOM nominee is Lt General Laura J. Richardson, currently the head of U.S. Army North. She is an aviator and has an interesting bio. More photos here.

Below is a D11 news release. Includes how to watch.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Top Coast Guard officer to outline state of the Coast Guard during San Diego address

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 03/08/2021 12:43 PM EST

Media Advisory

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment San Diego Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment San Diego Office: (619) 278-7025 After Hours: (619) 252-1304 PA Detachment San Diego online newsroom

Top Coast Guard officer to outline state of the Coast Guard during San Diego address

WHO: Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the United States Coast Guard

WHAT: The service chief is scheduled to give his third annual State of the Coast Guard Address

WHEN: Thursday at 10:00 a.m. PST

WHERE: Virtual via live stream and video Q&A afterward

Editor’s Note: Media may RSVP at (619) 252-1304 no later than Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance will be extremely limited. However, this event will be live-streamed at https://www.uscg.mil/alwaysready/ and on Facebook at @USCoastGuard. Immediately following the event, Admiral Schultz will be available for Q&A via video conference call. Media who RSVP will be given media call details.

SAN DIEGO — The commandant of the United States Coast Guard is scheduled to deliver his third State of the Coast Guard Address Thursday at Coast Guard Sector San Diego.

Adm. Karl Schultz will outline his vision for the service to protect the homeland, enhance economic prosperity and advance America’s national security interests. Adm. Schultz will accentuate the dedication and sacrifice of Coast Guard members stationed across the country and deployed around the world during this past year of unprecedented challenges.

The address will cover topics such as investments in shore infrastructure, vital cutter and aircraft acquisition programs, continued focus on revolutionizing the service’s use of technology and talent management initiatives.

Adm. Schultz will further highlight Coast Guard operations in our nation’s system of ports and waterways, better known as the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The MTS is a key economic engine for the nation, fueling 26% of America’s gross domestic product (GDP) which equates to $5.4 trillion of annual economic activity and 31 million jobs.

Additionally, Adm. Schultz is expected to feature stories of Coast Guard women and men who excelled in crisis, rescued mariners in distress, interdicted illicit narcotics and responded to a record-setting Atlantic basin hurricane season, all complicated by the challenges presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Finally, Adm. Schultz will discuss how the global Coast Guard is a unique instrument of national security.

Detailed Schedule of Events:

• 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PST: State of the Coast Guard Address
• 11:30 a.m. – noon PST: Adm. Schultz will be available for media inquiries via video conference call.

Just passing along this news release. Well done. You make us proud.

An interesting and humane response to the difficulties of operating in the world of COVID-19.

R 041700Z MAR 21 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC TO ALCOAST COMDT NOTICE UNCLAS ACN 025/21 SSIC 1000 SUBJ:  COVID-19: MAJOR CUTTER RESILIENCY ABSENCE A. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29 (series) B. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series) 1. Due to the unique and arduous challenges the cutter community has faced through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this ACN authorizes the use of administrative absence for members currently assigned to major cutters to promote wellness and rejuvenation of the physical, mental, and spiritual health of members of those who faced significant restrictions on inport movement and impacts to their cutter port calls. Commanding Officers of major cutters (level 4 and 5), as defined in REF (A), are authorized to approve resiliency absence of up to 15 days for permanently assigned members. COs are encouraged to evaluate individual circumstances when assessing how many days to authorize for individual members. Considerations should include, but are not limited to, time onboard, restriction of movement periods, missed leave, port call availability and operational tempo. 2. Resiliency absence may be used consecutively or non-consecutively and may be extended by combining with weekends, holidays, leave, liberty, or TDY. Similar to other types of administrative absence, defined in REF (B), resiliency absence will need to be locally managed by the command of the cutter and it will not be entered into Direct Access. Any unused days will expire one year after the release of this message or upon permanent transfer from the cutter, whichever occurs first. Resiliency absence is not authorized for use in conjunction with a PCS transfer; it may not be used as travel or proceed time. Commanding Officers should not withhold normally authorized administrative absence in lieu of approving resiliency absence. For example, it should not be used to conduct house hunting and area familiarization for next assignment. 3. This message will be cancelled 03 MAR 2022. 4. You can find more information and resources related to resilience at: https://www.uscg.mil/Coronavirus/Resilience/. Questions regarding resiliency absence or other human resource management matters may be directed to Office of Military Personnel Policy (CG-133) at: HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil. 5. Released by RADM J. M. Nunan, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources (CG-1). 6. Internet release is authorized.

National Defense has a good post on the status and future of the Coast Guard’s vessel recapitalization programs, reporting remarks by the Commandant and the Assistant Commandant for Acquisitions at the Surface Navy Association. Status of the NSC and FRC programs were as might be expected, but there was some news on the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), Polar Security Cutter (PSC), Arctic Security Cutter (ASC), and Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) programs.

Rear Adm. Mike J. Johnston, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition

Offshore Patrol Cutter:

Rear Adm. Johnston noted that the Eastern built OPCs are back on schedule.

“Hull No. 1 of the planned 25-ship fleet is under construction and on track to be delivered to the Coast Guard in 2022. It will take about 20 years to build out the fleet.”

That 20 year figure is just way to long. The program was about 20 years late getting started, and now the rate of construction has been further reduced by the need to recompete the contract.

From the Congressional Research Service:

“Responses to the RFP are due by May 28, 2021. The Coast Guard plans to award the Stage 2 contract in the second quarter of FY2022….

“Notional Construction Schedule and Resulting Ages of Ships Being Replaced
“The posting for the RFP for the Stage 2 industry studies included an attached notional timeline for building the 25 OPCs. Under the timeline, OPCs 1 through 7 (i.e., OPCs 1-4, to be built by ESG, plus OPCs 5-7, which are the first three OPCs to be built by the winner of the Stage 2 competition) are to be built at a rate of one per year, with OPC-1 completing construction in FY2022 and OPC-7 completing construction in FY2028. The remaining 18 OPCs (i.e., OPCs 8 through 25) are to be built at a rate of two per year, with OPC-8 completing construction in FY2029 and OPC-25 completing construction in FY2038.

“Using these dates—which are generally 10 months to about two years later than they would have been under the Coast Guard’s previous (i.e., pre-October 11, 2019) timeline for the OPC program34—the Coast Guard’s 14 Reliance-class 210-foot medium-endurance cutters would be replaced when they would be (if still in service) about 54 to 67 years old, and the  Coast Guard’s 13 Famous-class 270-foot medium-endurance cutters would be replaced when they would be (if
still in service) about 42 to 52 years old.”

We should be replacing 270s now and the 210s should have been passed to other coast guards or navies through the Foreign Military Sales Program beginning a couple of decades ago. Once the design is proven, we need to increase the production rate to more than the planned maximum of two ships a year. That might mean awarding contracts to two yards rather than just one.

Icebreakers: 

USCG Polar Security Cutter [Image: Halter Marine / Technology Associates, Inc.]

“Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz said at the same conference that the service needs “a minimum” of six.”

There was also discussion of the future Arctic Security Cutter.

“Meanwhile, the Coast Guard is in the pre-acquisition stage of developing a new ship it is calling the Arctic Security Cutter, which will also be designed to operate in cold climates and serve as a medium-sized icebreaker, Johnston said.

Previously the target had been three heavy icebreakers and three medium icebreakers, but that view seems to be changing.

“Schultz said he would like to have six icebreakers and three of the smaller Arctic Security Cutters for a total of nine ships.”

Note the Commandant called the Polar Security Cutters icebreakers, but not the Arctic Security Cutters. Seems what they will be is still being formulated, and they will not be simply medium icebreakers. I expect what we will see, is something conceptually akin to the Canadian Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), with space for containerized mission modules, vehicles (including unmanned surface and sub-surface), and extra accommodations, but more powerful, better armed (more like and OPC), and hopefully faster than 17 knots.

Waterways Commerce Cutters: 

Shown above are Coast Guard indicative designs of a river buoy tender, inland construction tender and inland buoy tender.

It looks like the final number of WCCs is firming up. There are currently 35 such tenders, 18 River {Tenders (WLR), 13 Construction Tenders (WLIC), and 4 Inland Buoy Tenders (WLI) in nine classes with an average age of 56 years.

“A request for proposals to replace the 35 legacy tenders should be out in March, Johnston said. The service is looking at three monohull variants.

“The Coast Guard plans to acquire 16 river buoy tenders, 11 inland construction tenders and three inland buoy tenders.”

Changing Manpower: 

Masked members of the cutter James crew and Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz (front, center), along with interagency partners, stand among interdicted narcotics at Port Everglades, Florida, on June 9. U.S. COAST GUARD / Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Murray

The most numerous classes, OPCs and particularly the FRCs, will require more crewmen than the WMECs and WPBs they replace and the total number of cutters will be up.

The multi-mission Fast Response Cutters are just “one tool,” Schultz said. “They complement our 11 National Security Cutters as well as our forthcoming 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters. Add to that [up to] three new Polar Security Cutters, and you have a fleet of 103 highly capable U.S. Coast Guard cutters,” he said.

That will add 2,000 more sea-going billets for the service’s personnel needs, he noted.

Plus perhaps three more PSCs and three ASCs, this should increase the percentage of cuttermen in the service.