As we approach the Fourth of July weekend in the midst of a very busy transfer season, I want to share some personal thoughts with you. In the last several months I have had very frank conversations at the end of my All Hands meetings about internalizing our Guardian Ethos so we can protect and respect our shipmates with the same dedication that we display to protect, defend and save the American public. Many of these meetings have included Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Skip Bowen and our Reserve Component Master Chief Petty Officer, Jeff Smith. This All Hands comes from the three of us.

Wherever I travel, I see Coast Guard men and women doing extraordinary things every day. Whether active duty, reservist, civilian, auxiliarist, or retiree, members of our Coast Guard family fully understand our obligation to serve the citizens of this Nation and ensure we meet our safety, security, and stewardship responsibilities in the maritime domain.

On and off duty, you selflessly put the welfare of others above that of yourself. You are the boarding team member watching the hands of the crew of a go-fast or self-propelled semi-submersible vessel and at the same time watching your teammate's back. You are the marine inspector assessing risk before entering a confined space. You are the air crew managing every situation as a team. You are the cutter and small boat crews conducting internal risk-assessments before executing a mission. You are the thousands in support roles who make these actions possible. Thank you for all that you do to serve our Nation and the public.

Today, I am asking you to consider your role as professional Guardians, whether it be in executing or supporting the mission, in a much broader sense. You are exceptional at viewing your duty to the maritime public through the lens of our Guardian Ethos. Now, I am asking you to turn that lens around and train it on the people you serve with on a daily basis. In the last two years we have saved countless lives, protected the environment, and insured the safety and security of our Nation. But at the same time we have shouldered the heavy burden of external scrutiny, self appraisal and accountability associated with operational MISHAPS, off duty accidents, and insensitive behaviors that demeaned ourselves and our shipmates.

While these incidents may not appear so, they are linked. They represent what may be a blind spot in our rear view mirror, or the contact lost in sea return on the radar, or the threat that is hiding in plain sight, or our own failure to recognize that we should step forward to prevent something bad from happening. It is a loss of situational awareness about our own shipmates. Collectively, these experiences remind us that we must be each other's Guardian. It should not take a command directive to prompt us to remind someone to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. We should not sit idly by when a shipmate announces he or she is driving 24 hours straight to see their family or fiancée. Just as you would not disregard briefings and required checklists before executing operations, you must intervene before shipmates put themselves at risk on watch or on liberty. Likewise, we must respect the strength our Service gains from the diversity of our workforce. We should not treat our fellow Guardians any differently than we would treat those we are trying to rescue or save. We cannot afford the loss or injury of one single person. The effect on families and friends is devastating and everlasting. The effect on the Coast Guard erodes our capability, competency, and capacity to serve the Nation. We need each and every one of you. We must be Guardians of one another on and off duty.

You will see a number of ALCOASTs in the future that will focus and expand on some of the issues and specific problems and challenges I have noted. Please read them, internalize them and discuss them to make sure your shipmates understand your responsibilities to one another as well. In addition to living the Coast Guard core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty, I am asking you to include devotion to each other. That is being a Guardian.

As we celebrate our Nation's 232nd birthday, whether on duty or off, keep a weather eye toward your shipmates as you serve the public and your fellow Guardians.

Admiral Thad Allen sends.

A. As you celebrate Memorial Day, please take time to remember those that have gone before you, those that made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our freedom and what this nation stands for. Over a million American’s have sacrificed their lives to ensure the freedom and liberties we have today. Millions of others have served beside them and were lucky enough to return home, although many with permanent mental and physical scars. I ask that you remember them all.

B. To those of you who currently serve, I thank you. I am proud to work beside you in service to our country. Each of you has volunteered your time and effort to make a positive impact and protect the citizens of this great nation. Stand tall and wear your uniform with pride this Memorial Day and every day you have the privilege of wearing it.

2. Operation Paddlesmart

A. Efforts are well underway in this campaign to reduce the loss of life of our recreational paddlers. Supplies were mailed out this week to all Flotilla Commanders. Each Flotilla should have received a sample packet and supplies to build 50 packets to be distributed to paddlers and potential paddlers. Additional supplies are available through the Cape Cod Auxiliary Office.

B. I have been hearing great reports of outreach events. I have heard of numerous town proclamations, Safe Boating Week events, VE events, and media events, this is great news, keep it coming!!! But remember if the event is not captured on the OP Paddlesmart Reporting Form, we are not going to get credit for the great work you are doing. Be sure to report via the Op Paddlesmart report form and submit info to your IS officers to be captured by Auxdata. Anyone can complete this form, you can send it in as an individual, or collect info as a flotilla or division, JUST DO IT! If you have an interesting event be sure to send information up the chain of leadership and communication as well, your event may just get briefed to the Commandant! The point to remember is that if we don’t see it on paper, it didn’t happen, so be sure to take the final step and finish the paper work. A limited amount of reports have been submitted, but I know we have already done much more than we’ve reported so don’t forget the paperwork.

C. Some people have asked about minimum required equipment for paddle craft and stated there has been confusion on this when conducting outreach. A Federal Minimum Requirements list has been forwarded down the VE chain and will be posted on the Op Paddlesmart Section of our website under What’s New. Remember we have a great VE incentive program running this year, your paddle craft VSCs will count towards the incentive program. See our website for more details on the VSC incentive program.

D. Remember that we are targeting people that are relatively new to the sport of paddling and that we are not considered paddling experts as a general population (I know we have a few paddling experts in our ranks). Keep this in mind when dealing with clubs and groups that may have experienced paddlers; make sure we deliver the right message which is wear a life jacket, don’t go out alone, take a boating safety class... We are aiming at the life safety aspect of paddling and should not claim to be experts in the field of paddling.

E. We have permission from USPS to teach the new USPS Paddle Smart course, order information is posted on our website. This is a 2 hour seminar. The ACA has offered to allow us to purchase the ACA Smart Start for Paddlers at the ACA member price. Additional info on ordering this as well as Safety Sidekicks Let’s Go Paddling targeted to children is on our website.

F. Keep up the great effort; we are saving lives, 1 kayak at a time!

The concern was:

The misinformation was passed at a recent Coast Guard Auxiliary meeting, where it was stated that the US Coast Guard would be withdrawing approval of inflatable lifejackets for all boats capable of going 30mph or more. In addition, concerns have been raised over the proper maintenance of these lifejackets, as well as numerous reports of malfunctions. Once this Coast Guard ruling becomes official, boaters will no longer be able to wear these inflatables under any circumstance.

The clarification is:

The impending changes to authorized life jackets applies only to the USCG active duty, Reserves, and Auxiliary. It says that by 2009 all life jackets authorized for purchase and use by CG personnel must be dynamic strength tested to 50mph. The Auxiliary will be less affected since the regulation will only apply to Auxiliary personnel on facilities that have the capability to exceed 35mph. It has nothing to do with the boating public or other government agencies. This is strictly an in-house upping of standards to ensure our men and women are safe conducting increasingly dangerous missions utilizing more high speed assets than ever before.

Further more, the CG is not withdrawing approval for Inflatable Life Jackets. The CG is merely removing many types it had listed in the Rescue and Survival Systems Manual as approved for purchase and wear by CG personnel. It had about four inflatables listed and is now down to one. Again, it has nothing to do with the public.

Please ensure this is communicated as appropriate.