The following is copied from MyCG. Looks like this my be a very important change in the long run.

Reserve aviation workforce roll-out

By Cmdr. Marc McDonnell, Office of Aviation Forces

April 27, 2021 —

The reserve component delivers tremendous value to the Coast Guard and is, without question, key to the Coast Guard’s long history of operational success. Yet, Coast Guard aviation, one of our service’s largest communities, is not represented in the reserve. With over 4,000 enlisted personnel and over 1,000 officers in aviation, there is a tremendous opportunity for the Coast Guard to develop a new capability in the reserve that directly supports our missions and our people.

To remedy this capability gap, the Office of Aviation Forces and the Coast Guard reserve are working to develop the reserve aviation workforce. With a target start date of Summer 2021, the initiative will start by making 50 billets available to enlisted aviation personnel (E-4 to E-6) who are separating from active duty. The motivation for developing this workforce is simple: enable our aviation personnel to continue their chosen career path in the reserve, retain aviation technical expertise, and develop an aviation surge and mobilization capability.

Capability and Integration

The new reserve aviation workforce will focus on providing ground-based aviation maintenance and support equipment maintenance. The reservists will drill under traditional SELRES drilling requirements and be available for mobilization. Flight status designation will remain under the authority of the local air station’s commanding officer, but this is envisioned only as long-term support mechanism. Historically, aviation mobilization has been 100% supported by our active-duty members and multi-day surge operations required duty-grid shuffles to both support the surge op and sustain the unit’s search and rescue readiness requirements. In the future, aviation reservists will help meet the surge mobilization request by either responding directly or backfilling home units. The key to the successful implementation of the workforce is already part of the Coast Guard’s DNA with aviation’s commitment to standardization and the reserve’s philosophy of integration. In aviation, integrating mixed crews from multiple air 
stations is already normal ops for surge events; mobilizing reservists to integrate with active duty maintenance teams will become a welcomed and standard practice.

Delivering Value and Next Steps

This will be a culture shift for our hangar decks and wardrooms. To aid in the workforce’s rollout, Aviation Forces and the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support will schedule training events to ensure our new reserve personnel and air stations are well prepared. We believe that the workforce will retain valuable aviation expertise, deliver on our duty to people commitment, and increase the flexibility of aviation to overcome future challenges.

Author’s note: The Office of Aviation Forces is also working to establish reserve aviator (pilot) billets in FY22. These aviator positions will require SELRES drilling requirements of 60 to 72 days. Locations for these billets have not been finalized, but they will support flight training at Naval Flight School and operational missions at Coast Guard air stations.

Above is tweet from Sixth Fleet.

—-Late Addition: I have added a news release below—-

U.S. Coast Guard cutter enters Black Sea

Editors note: To view more or download high-resolution photos click on the images above.

Story courtesy U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

BLACK SEA — The Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) transited into the Black Sea to support NATO Allies and partners, April 27, 2021.

Hamilton is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea since 2008. The last U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea, USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716), sailed to the Black Sea twice, in 2008 and 1995.

The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) conducted Black Sea operations on a routine patrol to maintain maritime security alongside other NATO Allies and partners in March 2021.

This patrol comes after Hamilton conducted logistics visits to Naples, Italy, and Rota, Spain. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a routine deployment in U.S. Sixth Fleet, working alongside Allies, building maritime domain awareness, and sharing best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards.

The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard operate forward, from the littoral to the open ocean, ensuring stability and open sea lanes across all maritime domains. U.S Sixth Fleet routinely conducts operations in the Black Sea.

Hamilton is the fourth national security cutter and is the fifth named for the father of the U.S. Coast Guard – Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and advocate for creating the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service.

The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational during COVID-19, following all COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations.

U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Business Insider reports that Cutters Wrangell and Monomoy were harassed for three hours by units of the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Three IRGC fast-attack boats and a larger support vessel swarmed the US Coast Guard cutters Monomoy and Wrangell while they were on patrol in international waters on April 2.”

Sounds like the IRGC units may have been operating without government authority and attempting to create an incident.

The IRGC is a bit like Nazi Germany’s Waffen SS or China’s People’s Liberation Army, in that it is not a national armed force. It is an armed force of a political faction.

It was almost exactly a year earlier when the last such incident occurred. This time there were fewer Iranian units and they do not seem to have acted quite as aggressively.

This was more than three weeks ago and we are only hearing about it now. No photos or videos of the incident accompanied the story. It is always a good idea to get video–I am willing to bet photos and videos exist, but for some reason they were were not made public. Perhaps for the same reason it took three weeks for the news to surface.

A short report on Indian Coast Guard efforts to mitigate the impact of approaching hurricanes on the Indian Fishing community.

USCGC Hamilton is having an unusual deployment. Below is a news release. More photos here.

News Release, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area U.S. Coast Guard strengthens Trans-Atlantic ties with Italy    NAPLES, Italy — The Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) conducted operations in the Mediterranean Sea with the Italian coast guard and Italian navy Friday. The operations were designed to increase interoperability as part of a regional effort to bolster maritime partnerships with NATO allies. “Working with the Italian coast guard and Italian navy strengthens our maritime partnership and reinforces our shared values,” said Capt. Timothy Cronin, commanding officer of USCGC Hamilton. “Our engagements with Italy this week bring unity of effort in the maritime domain through interoperable capabilities and combined operations. “More than half of regional economic activity relies on the safe and lawful use of maritime space, making maritime security essential to economic development and sustainment. To further this objective, Hamilton participated in search and rescue exercises with the Italian coast guard in the Tyrrhenian Sea. “Today, this meeting has represented an important and useful opportunity to improve our already strong relationship between the Italian and U.S. coast guards,” said Vice Adm. Antonio Basile, vice commandant of the Italian coast guard. Afterward, Hamilton transitioned to the Ionian Sea, conducting cross deck flight operations with the Italian navy to practice daylight landing at sea. Exercises like these strengthen alliance interoperability, combined operations, theater security cooperation, and capacity-building efforts. These operations follow a logistics visit to Naples, Italy, where the crew met with Italian coast guard leadership to enhance the U.S. and Italian military relationship further. “It was a pleasure to work alongside one of our strongest allies and share best practices to improve safety at sea,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Hatfield. “We all learned a lot from each other, and we welcome the opportunity to do it again in the future. ”The U.S. Coast Guard brings unique capabilities thanks to a wide suite of specialized maritime capabilities, competencies, and authorities. Their mission set capabilities to include search and rescue operations, counter-drug enforcement, living marine preservation and ports, waterway, and coastal security. As a law enforcement agency, regulatory agency, and a branch of the military, the service’s multi-mission mandate gives the Coast Guard a unique and unparalleled opportunity. “Our organizations share several competencies in the strategic environment that are important in both the national and international realm. These include: search and rescue operations, marine environmental protection, and control of the sea.” Basile said. “Soon we will usher in a new basis for our strong maritime bond, a “memorandum of understanding” that will highlight the mutual willingness to cooperate and to improve our expertise, through the development of combined operations and interoperable capabilities. ”The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a routine deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, working alongside allies, building maritime domain awareness, and sharing best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards. Hamilton is the fourth Legend-class national security cutter and is the fifth named for the father of the U.S. Coast Guard – Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and advocate for the creation of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. The U.S. Coast Guard remains operational during COVID-19, following all COVID-19 safety precautions and regulations. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Naval News reports that the French Navy has ordered a helicopter style Unmanned Air System (UAS) similar in concept to the US Navy’s MQ-8 Fire Scout, but considerably smaller. It is expected to be used on a number of French Navy vessels including 16 new offshore patrol vessels (here) some of which have flight decks too small for conventional naval helicopters (here, and here)

This new Airbus UAS, the VSR700, has a max take off weight of 700 kg (1,543 lb). That is less than half the max take off weight of the smaller Fire Scout MQ-8B (3,150 lb/1,430 kg) and about a quarter of that of the larger MQ-8C (6,000 lb/2,721 kg).

Unlike the Fire Scouts, which use different versions of the same Rolls-Royce (formerly Allison) M250 turboshaft gas turbine, the VSR700 is powered by a four cylinder inline diesel of 1.991 liter/121.5 ci (Ø83 x 92 mm), the Thielert Centurion 2.0, derived from a modified Mercedes-Benz automobile engine. It is, however, capable of operating on either diesel or jet fuel.

Reportedly the VSR700 has greater endurance (10 hours) than the MQ-8B (8 hours) but less than the MQ-8C (15 hours)

The VSR700 is unique it its size, smaller than the Fire Scout, but larger than the very popular Schiebel Camcopter S-100 (use by about 20 countries) and the relatively new Leonardo AWHero, in contention for use on Australia’s 12 new OPVs, both in the 200 kg class. Both of which have a smaller payload and approximately six hour endurance.

The Navy League’s on line magazine Seapower brings us a report of a new type of sensor that sounds like it might be very useful in drug interdiction and for maritime domain awareness. It is seen here mounted on an MQ-21 Blackjack (max take off weight 135 pounds/61kg).

In fact, the Eastern Pacific Drug Transit Zone looks like the perfect place to test it against uncooperative targets.

It is aimed as a bring your kids to work day presentation, but still offers some insight into this class done by Station Cape May. Original here.

Below is a press release from Bollinger. Clearly Bollinger is preparing for bigger things. They are competing for the next phase of the Offshore Patrol Cutter program as well as several Navy programs. The Coast Guard is certainly familiar with Bollinger, and vice versa. Bollinger has delivered 44 Fast Response Cutters, 73 Marine Protector class 87 foot patrol boats, and 49 Island class 110 foot patrol boats. But what about the other side of this acquisition, Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (“Gulf Island”)? What have they been doing?

Apparently they have been doing some significant work as well. They have been building five USNS Navajo (T-ATS-6) class Rescue and Salvage Vessels for the USN. These are 80 meter (263 foot) in length over all and of 5,110 tons full load displacement, perhaps not as complex as the Offshore Patrol Cutter or even the Webber class, but of greater displacement than the OPCs. In March 2020, the Navy awarded a $129.9M contract to build numbers four and five. These additional facilities certainly increase Bollinger’s credibility as a builder of ships larger than patrol boats.

Gulf Island Shipyard has also been building three research vessels. (dimensions are 193’L x 41’B x 19’D with a design draft of 12′-6″, max speed 12.5 knots). Cost of the three ship program is $255.58M.

PRESS RELEASE

Bollinger Shipyards Acquires Gulf Island Fabrication’s Shipyard Facilities

Cements Bollinger’s position as the largest American privately-owned and operated shipbuilder in the United States

Transaction includes 437-acre waterfront facility with 198,000 sq. ft. of existing operations, fabrication and warehouse space, and 4 floating drydocks

Acquisition expands new construction and repair capacity and capabilities to better serve key defense and commercial customers

(Lockport, LA) — Bollinger Shipyards (“Bollinger”), a privately-held leading designer and builder of steel military and commercial vessels for the past three quarters of a century, today announced that it has acquired Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.’s (“Gulf Island”) (NASDAQ: GIFI) Shipyard facilities, expanding Bollinger’s new construction and repair capacity and capabilities to better serve its key defense and commercial customers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This acquisition creates expanded opportunities for Bollinger to better serve and deepen its relationships with key defense and commercial customers with an increased capacity for new projects and footprint, access to a larger workforce skilled in steel construction, improved efficiencies and enhanced economies of scale. Current customers for Bollinger include the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, General Dynamics-Electric Boat, and non-defense and commercial customers servicing energy production to dredging. Gulf Island had been building the Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ships (T-ATS) for the U.S. Navy and Regional Class Research Vessels for the National Science Foundation and Oregon State University. These projects conveyed with the transaction.
 
“The addition of the new Houma shipyard further strengthens our position within the U.S. defense industrial base as a leading shipbuilder and vessel repair company,” said Ben Bordelon, CEO and President of Bollinger Shipyards. “For 75 years, we’ve developed a deep expertise in and proven track record of building reliable, high endurance steel vessels for the Coast Guard, Navy and our commercial customers. As the needs of these customers change and grow, we are constantly looking for ways to invest in and expand our capabilities and innovative solutions so that we can continue to provide them with the highest levels of quality, support and service in our industry.”

Bordelon continued, “For three quarters of a century, Bollinger’s greatest strength has and continues to be our people and their American ingenuity and quality craftsmanship. I am excited to welcome the Gulf Island Shipyard employees into the Bollinger family. Together, we will ensure that the ‘Bollinger Standard’ will be the high bar we measure ourselves against for superior quality and safety as we work to deliver the next generation of American made high-performance vessels for our government and commercial customers.”

The new Bollinger Houma facility encompasses 437 acres on the west bank of the Houma Navigation Canal, of which 283 acres is unimproved land that is available for expansion. The facility includes 18,000 square feet of administrative and operations facilities, 160,000 square feet of covered fabrication facilities and 20,000 square feet of warehouse facilities. It also has 6,750 linear feet of water frontage, including 2,350 feet of steel bulkheads. Located just 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the strategic location provides short and unrestricted access to the newly acquired Houma facility from open waters.

The acquisition also includes a 15,000-short ton drydock, a 4,000-short ton drydock, a 3,000-short ton drydock and a 1,500-short ton drydock.

Bollinger’s acquisition increases the shipyard’s growing new construction and repair portfolio. In December of last year, Congress appropriated funds for Bollinger to build four additional Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutters (FRC) for the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition to construction of the FRC, Bollinger is under contract to construct an Ocean Transport Barge and Floating Dry Dock for General Dynamics Electric Boat Division.  In addition, Bollinger is participating in industry studies for five Government programs, including the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, the U.S. Navy’s Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP) program, the U.S. Navy’s Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS(X)) program, the U.S. Navy’s Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV) program and the U.S. Navy’s Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program.

About Bollinger Shipyards LLC

Bollinger Shipyards LLC (www.bollingershipyards.com) has a 75-year legacy as a leading designer and builder of high performance military patrol boats and salvage vessels, research vessels, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tugboats, rigs, lift boats, inland waterways push boats, barges, and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards as part of the U. S. industrial base. Bollinger has 11 shipyards, all strategically located throughout Louisiana with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region.

NavalNews brings us a news release from MTU about a sale, but I think the real news here is, “The Taiwanese Coast Guard is currently carrying out a modernization program under which a total of 141 ships of various sizes are to be built by 2027.”

There is not a lot of information here about this class of six new vessels, except that the two engines will provide 7,280 KW each (for a total of 19,525HP, about the same as the Offshore Patrol Cutters) for a speed of 24 knots. The vessel pictured is nominally 1000 tons, but Taiwan, like most Asian nations, tends to understate the size of their vessels by using light displacement and then perhaps rounding down. Full Load displacement may be close to 2,000 tons. It certainly looks at least as large as the 270s. The illustration shows what appears to be an H-60 on the flight deck. Looks like there may be a hangar as well.