Two items today, recall the dark side of being a Coastie:

Navy Times reports that Commander Coast Guard District 17 charged, Lt. Lance Leone, the co-pilot and lone survivor of the crash of an MH-60 Jayhawk off La Push, WA, July 7, 2010, with negligent homicide, dereliction of duty, and destruction of government property on Sept. 30. “An Article 32 hearing to determine whether Leone will be court-martialed is scheduled for early December…Witnesses told local media at the time that the helicopter was flying at a low altitude and crashed into the Pacific after clipping power lines…The crew was flying the helicopter home to Sitka, Alaska, after it finished a maintenance and upgrade period in Astoria, Ore.” (Because Leone was co-pilot, and presumably not pilot-in-command, I’m curious why these charges were filed.)

The Coast Guard Compass remembers the sinking of the Cutter Cuyahoga, 33 years ago today with the recollections of Cmdr. Gordon Thomas IV (ret) who survived the collision as an officer candidate.

The Philippines is looking at acquiring a second 378 and apparently expects to receive a third in 2013. They are also talking about fitting some of their ships with missiles, although the type is still not clear.

110727-N-WP746-089 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (July 27, 2011) – The Philippine Navy’s newest ship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during a scheduled port visit. The ship, a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter, is on its maiden voyage to the Republic of the Philippines to join the Philippine Navy Fleet. As a multi-mission surface combatant ship, Gregorio del Pilar becomes the first gas-turbine jet engine-powered vessel in the Philippine Navy fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico/Released)

“The third Hamilton-class cutter is projected to be acquired by the Philippine Navy in 2013.

“Pama (Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC)) also revealed that they are now preparing to acquire some missile technology. The Philippine military is the only one in Southeast Asia that still does not have missiles. “It’s in the drawing board. I can’t say when but if things turn out as planned, it will be more sooner than later,” he told ABS-CBN News.

“Despite recent irritants over the Spratly Island dispute, Pama said he was convinced that competing countries were committed to a peaceful resolution of their overlapping claims. “I wouldn’t say it’s getting more dangerous; there are just issues and challenges confronting everybody. I can say the neighborhood has states that are responsible enough. No nation, at least within ASEAN, is out there to make trouble.”

Perhaps significantly china is not a member of ASEAN.

There is growing realization in Congress that something needs to be done to provide additional presence in the American Arctic. Unfortunately this realization coincides with strong pressure to cut spending and the need to begin replacing the entire Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) fleet with the Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC).

The Navy Times reports (“CG must balance cuts with Arctic Mission”) while there is increasing presure to bring a second icebreaker on line, “The Senate’s Coast Guard authorization bill, S 1665, requires the service to operate at least two heavy polar icebreakers at any one times..” and the Coast Guard recognizes a need for more capability, ” The Coast Guard estimates it will need at least three heavy and three medium icebreakers to meet minimum mission requirements as the polar ice cap melts.” There is also a belief that, “…we also have to respond to demand from the administration and the public to cut spending.”

Apparently in response to budget uncertainties, and in an effort to bolster the Coast Guard’s support, on Oct 12 the Coast Guard briefed the media on recapitalization efforts. MarineLink.com reports, “The briefing…revealed little in terms of new developments but at the same time, underscored the increasing concerns amongst Coast Guard senior leaders that budget woes may soon force a scaling back of one or more aspects of their ambitious, multi-billion dollar recapitalization plans.”

“He (Adm. Papp) conceded that this might involve reducing operational capabilities of these new hulls if the funding wasn’t there…the availability of funding may eventually force DHS to sacrifice requirements by changing the fleet mix, sacrificing operational capabilities, or both.”

Reporting on apparently the same meeting fiercehomelandsecurity.com said, “The Coast Guard is looking for ways to reduce the cost of its Offshore Patrol Cutter procurement, even considering the possibility of trading OPCs for increased capability elsewhere, Coast Guard officials said during an Oct. 12 press availability.”

“The service already has taken steps to contain OPC cost, Atkins said (Rear Adm. Vincent Atkins, assistant commandant for capability). Apart from the hull specification, ‘everything else is on the table,’ he said.”

“For example, OPCs will not have a stern ramp for launching small boats. ‘It would have added a lot of length to the ship that would otherwise be used for something else and make it larger and more expensive,’ Atkins said.”

Adm. Papp estimates that the Coast Guard actually needs $2.5B annually in Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements funding, but it appears the FY 2012 appropriations will be about $1.4B.

Related:

• Budget Cut/Stimulus Implications for the Coast Guard
• Deepwater Program, Unachievable–GAO, Part One
• Deepwater Program, Unachievable–GAO, Part Two
• FY2012 AC&I Budget Request for Vessels
• What We Have  Here is a Failure to Communicate
• Fleet Mix, Where are the Trade-offs?
• Shipbuilding, Dealing with Reality
• Budget Realities Setting-In
• FY2012 AC&I Budget Request for Vessels
• Rethinking the New Cutter Programs

Second Line of Defense has published an excellent interview with Vice Admiral Parker, Atlantic Area Commander.

They also had an earlier interview with Vice Admiral Brown, Pacific Area Commander. This post also contains links to several significant Coast Guard related posts.

The Weather Channel will premiere, their series, “Coast Guard Alaska” on November 9. The web site for the show, including an trailer is here.