United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Operational Plan District 8CR 2017-2018 Dave McCandless District Commodore District 8CR Operational Plan 2017-2018 DCO D. McCandless

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Contents

Executive Summary……………………........................4 Introduction……………………………………….........5 Auxiliary Policy Statement…………………………….6 National Mission Vision and value Statements………..7 District issues Strategies and Goals…………..………..8 Issues That May impede Strategic Initiatives.................9 Oversight & Implementation…………………………10 New and continuing Missions with high importance...10 Concluded Statement…………………........................11 District Watchwords……….……………………………….11

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Executive Summary In the following pages this plan will act as the framework from which we will develop our readiness and maximize the member’s potential. The District has used SWOT Analysis in the past to better understand the trends in strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and will use again to better judge the changing climate within the District 8 Coastal Region. Keeping in mind that our primary mission is Recreational Boating Safety, but we now need to look at the current organizational climate and how the Coast Guard has increased its request for Auxiliary support. One of our significant challenges within the district will be reduced funding from the Coast Guard to perform our core missions. These reductions have affected Operations as well as Training. We must move toward online webinars for training and meetings to keep costs down and still accomplish the required training and meetings. By merging our training when possible with the Active Duty Coast Guard this will help to keep our training cost down but still provide relevant training needed to make sure that our members have all skill sets needed. To keep enthusiasm up we will need to do better at our Awards and other ways to recognize our members. One of the unique ways that District 8CR measures its progress is the Silver Oar Program. We will continue to evaluate this program to make sure it is relevant in today’s modern Coast Guard Auxiliary. Another tool we will use is the gap analysis. This will help us locate and utilize our member’s skill sets and identify actual needs of the Coast Guard.

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Introduction

US Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 8 Coastal Region has over 1550 men and women who are highly trained maritime assistance volunteers. Not only do we operate in the Gulf of Mexico but also support our rivers and lakes. Our area stretches for the panhandle of Florida through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico as well as part of Georgia. Our support also extends to active duty Sector Commands of Mobile, Al, New Orleans, LA, Houston/Galveston, TX, and Corpus Christie, TX. Our primary mission is promoting Recreational Boating Safety which includes Underway Operations, Marine Safety, Public Education, Paddle Craft, and Vessel Safety Examinations, both recreational and commercial. Other skills include radio operators, web masters, computer specialists, pilots, public affairs specialists, chefs and language interpreters. All our combined skills are a great “force Multiplier” for the Active Duty Coast Guard during normal and emergency operations. Living up to our logo “Guardians of the Gulf” we are Semper Paratus! Always Ready!

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National Mission Statement  To promote and improve Recreational Boating Safety  To provide a diverse array of specialized skills, trained crews, and capable facilities to augment the Coast Guard and enhance safety and security of our ports, waterways, and Coastal Regions  To support Coast Guard operational, administrative, and logistical requirements

National Vision The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary – the best trained, most valued maritime volunteer organization in the world – highly effective during normal operations and ready for emergencies

Coast Guard Auxiliary Core Values Honor- Integrity is our standard. We demonstrate uncompromising ethical conduct and moral behavior in all our personal and organizational actions. We are loyal and accountable to the public trust. Respect- We value our diverse membership. We treat each other and those we serve with fairness, dignity, respect and compassion. We encourage creativity through empowerment. We work as a team. Devotion to Duty- We are volunteers who seek responsibility, accept accountability and are committed to the successful achievement of our organizational goals. We exist to serve with pride.

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District Issues Strategies and Goals •

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Problem Statement Lack of time because of family and jobs Strategy: Goal: recruit new members to help with Auxiliary work load Problem Statement Lack of Coast Guard Funding and Dwindling assets Goal: Tap into District Funds to help offset Goal: Have Divisions assume some of the funding problems Goal: Look for Fund Raising Activities Problem Statement Readiness Capability Increase training opportunities Problem Statement Lack of Technology understanding Goal: One on one training with members Goal: Cross train members Problem Statement Uncertain Future and personal budget restraints Goal: Update Mission Statement Goal: Have units help with expenses

Among the major initiatives that have been undertaken by past leadership and will continue to grow in future years:

Public Affairs, is a primary focus at the District level and we continue to invest time and resources. This also includes the Auxiliary University Program. Declining Coxswain and Boat Crews has required us to develop move effective training for existing and emerging Flotillas. Marine Safety; Inland and Coastal. Strengthen our presence in all safe boating education outreach. Improve our online communication and web platform to strength our ability to meet our missions and the needs of our members. District 8CR Operational Plan 2017-2018 DCO D. McCandless

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Major initiatives that will be undertaken over the next two years:       

Align Auxiliary Interpreter Corps capabilities with Coast Guard requirements. Initiate a paddle craft safety program. Meeting Human Capital needs of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Stabilize and manage our finical resources. Maximize maritime radio communications support, capacity and capabilities. Improve our leadership training and development. Expand one of our cornerstones fellowship and encourage enthusiasm.

Issues That May Impede Strategic Initiatives: Contingency planning and Disaster preparation Over the years our District has been subject to major disasters. Having gone through many Hurricanes and floods our District is very aware of the need for effective contingency planning. Our Sectors have come to depend heavily on Auxiliary support during these trying times. The Auxiliary is now a part of each Sector’s Disaster Plan and Auxiliary leaders serve as part of the Sector’s Unified Command. The Incident Command system has become very important and we continue to maintain continuing refresher training in ICS.

New and Emerging Missions Because of the changing Political and economic landscape our leadership must always be attuned to the changing role that the Coast Guard Auxiliary may be asked to support.

Successor Management Encouragement

At all levels our leadership must be an active planner in succession leadership.

New Flotillas and Virgin Territory

There is a need for expansion in to areas where we have no Auxiliary presence.

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New and continuing Missions with high importance All our Missions are important but several have come to mind that D8CR will put high emphases on.

• Provide RBS support focusing on the expanding paddle sports community. Oversight and Management: DSO-VE, DSO-PV, FC, SO-VE/PV and FSOVE/PV Tactics and Timelines • Develop a Paddle craft land-based training program in concert with the materials available from the Training Directorate. • Order and Distribute “If Found” Decals to the FCs by May 2017 • Distribute Decals by way of VE, Instructors and PV May 2017 • Pinpoint and utilize personal within our District that are already trained in this area and can lead this program due April 2017

• Maximize maritime radio communications support, capacity and capabilities. Oversight and Management: DSO-CM, FC, DCDRs, DSO-OP

Continue to expand and modernize our Communication platforms • Pinpoint training to provide skilled personal to man our communications equipment • Update our Incident management program to identify areas of concern and need. • Identify and support Flotillas and Divisions that are expanding their communications support of the Coast Guard

3. Stabilize and manage our finical resources. Oversight and Management: DCO, DCOS, DSO-FN, 8CR Board • •

Develop a long-range plan that will stabilize our finical outlook Look for alternative reasonably priced sources for our web based platforms by May 1 2017

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Combine training with the Active Duty Coast Guard when possible to maximize the dollar spent vs hours and quality of training due May 2017 Look for outside funding due May 2017

Concluding Statement

The Eight District Coastal Region will continue to support the Recreational Boating Safety mission. We will also continue to asses our support for the Sectors and the capabilities we provide in; surface, air, operations, communications, marine safety, environmental protection and emergency response. We will also strengthen our relationships with the boating public and other organizations that can use our support. Our District structure will be assessed and changed where and when necessary to meet the needs of our District, Division, Flotillas and our Coast Guard Sectors. Our District staff will be assessed to better serve our units and our members. We must always be open to change!

District Commodore’s Watch Words

Members Communication Training Educating, instruction Fellowship

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