Flotilla 7-8 General Information
Posted by LT Amy Midgett, Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Recently along the Gulf Coast multiple passengers on board an uninspected passenger vessel (UPV) were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. One of the persons had a 26% CO level (amount of CO bound to hemoglobin or red blood cells) in their blood stream. Additionally, it was discovered that one of the passengers became unconscious and the other four passengers experienced heavy fatigue and vomiting as a result of the CO exposure.
A rear platform of a sport fishing vessel. When the vessel was underway carbon monoxide from the exhaust would get trapped under the platform because its outer edges were submerged in water.
As depicted in the photograph above, the sport fishing vessel had a platform mounted near the water level on the transom which supported a large fish container. There was a small space between the platform and the vertical surface of the transom. When the vessel was underway carbon monoxide from the exhaust would get trapped under the platform because its outer edges were submerged in water. As a result, the exhaust vented vertically up through the gap instead of venting away from the vessel’s stern like a traditional exhaust would. Due to the draft and eddies created by the vessel when underway the exhaust circulated up over the stern and spread throughout the fishing area, flying bridge, and cabin.
Swim decks and other obstacles mounted to the stern can alter exhaust flow, putting passengers and crew at significant risk. Additionally, since the symptoms of sea sickness are similar to other types of illnesses they could be misdiagnosed as something far more innocuous than carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Coast Guard strongly recommends that owner / operators with similarly outfitted vessels:
• Determine if this type of risk is present on their vessels
• Always monitor the general health of passengers and crew
• Consider the use of Carbon Monoxide alarms in cabin areas
• Never assume that “it’s just sea sickness,” when the circumstance could be far more dangerous
Safety alert 10/17 is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international safety, operational, or material requirements. Developed by the Sector Corpus Christi Investigations Division and Coast Guard District 8 Prevention Division. Questions may be sent to HQS-PF-fldr-CG-INV@uscg.mil.
_______________________________________________________________________
From: CHDIRAUX
SUBJ: COAST GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE UPDATES -002/15
1. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) recently announced a number of new assistance programs and an increase in the dollar amount for its Supplemental Education Grant.
2. CGMA is the Coast Guard's own financial relief organization, offering help to any in the Coast Guard community facing financial need. Last year, Auxiliarists received over $41,900 in assistance.
3. In addition to direct financial assistance for things like disaster relief, emergency travel, or temporary loss of income, CGMA offers free financial and budget counseling, as well as help with education costs. One of its education assistance programs, the Supplemental Education Grant (SEG), now offers up $350 per client per calendar year to reimburse the cost of textbooks and certain other college expenses.
4. Additionally, new assistance programs launched recently include:
a. A grant of up to $1,000 for home study expenses related to the legal adoption of a child, and a loan of up to $6,000 for general adoption expenses.
b. Need-based financial assistance in the form of an interest-free loan of up to $6,000 to help with the purchase and training of a service animal, such as those used in treatment or therapy for patients with autism, diabetes, epilepsy, PTSD and other conditions.
c. Need-based financial assistance in the form of an interest-free loan for emergency pet expenses.
5. A longstanding motto for CGMA has been, "We Look After our Own."
Assistance funds come as voluntary donations from people like you who are part of the Coast Guard family. CGMA receives no federal funds. As Admiral Zukunft noted recently, "CGMA works because it allows all of us to pull together...." Without a steady infusion of donated funds, CGMA would be unable to continue performing its vital role within the Coast Guard community.
6. CGMA works when we work together! Soon, a letter will be mailed to each Auxiliary household with an invitation to participate in an annual fundraising campaign. All are encouraged to consider a donation to sustain the work of CGMA.
7. To learn more about the SEG and other assistance available through CGMA, or to make a secure credit card donation, visit CGMA online at www.cgmahq.org or call (800) 881-2462.
8. The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists as well as all other interested parties abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc.
All information contained herein and linked is OFFICIAL policy and information
To: ALAUX
From: CHDIRAUX
Subj: CHANGE TO AUXILIARY MANDATED TRAINING DEADLINE AND REQUIREMENTS - 022/14
1. In January 2013, ALAUX 001/13 announced launch of the Auxiliary Learning Management System (AUXLMS) and its impact on Auxiliary Mandated Training (MT) requirements for new enrollees. New enrollees were required to complete all Auxiliary MT courses within their first year of enrollment. The first year of enrollment was defined as the Base Enrollment Date (BED) until 31 December of the year following the BED. For example, if a new enrollee had a BED of 15 November 2013, then they had until 31 December 2014 to complete all mandated training.
2. At the Auxiliary National Convention in August 2014, Auxiliary national leadership and the Chief Director of Auxiliary determined it appropriate to extend the deadline for Auxiliary MT completion for Auxiliarists who have enrolled since January 2013. Accordingly, the deadline has been extended from 31 December 2014 to 31 December 2015.
3. The deadline for Auxiliary MT completion for Auxiliarists who were already enrolled by January 2013 remains 31 December 2016.
4. Auxiliary MT is comprised of the following courses:
a. To be successfully completed during the first year of enrollment and then once every five years thereafter:
(1) Building Resilience and Preventing Suicide in the Coast Guard - course code 502379
(2) Security Fundamentals - course code 810030
(3) Privacy at DHS: Protecting Personal Information - course code 810015
(4) Sexual Harassment Prevention - course code 810000
(5) Sexual Assault Prevention / Response - course code 810045
(6) Civil Rights Awareness - course code 502319
b. To be successfully completed only once (new enrollees must complete them during the first year of enrollment):
(1) Ethics 1 / Personal Gifts - course code 502306
(2) Influenza Training - course code 502290
c. Recent changes to Coast Guard policy on Incident Command System (ICS) training requirements have resulted in the following additions to Auxiliary MT, to be successfully completed only once:
(1) Introduction to the Incident Command System - ICS-100
(2) Introduction to National Incident Management System (NIMS) - IS-700
5. There are several ways to complete the courses listed in paragraphs 4.a. and 4.b.:
a. Through the Auxiliary Learning Management System (AUXLMS / website: https://auxlearning.uscg.mil/).
b. In a classroom setting (e.g., a flotilla member training
session) taught by a qualified Auxiliary instructor using the AUXLMS materials or using downloadable training materials that are available on the National Training Directorate web site (https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=t-dept).
c. The Auxiliary National Training Directorate will make webinar training sessions available on a recurring basis for members who prefer a facilitated presentation but are unable to attend an in-person classroom training session. It is also developing downloadable training material that can be given to Auxiliarists who are unable to complete online training or attend a classroom training session. These additional options are expected to be available in February 2015. An ALAUX will announce their availability.
6. As each of the first six courses listed in paragraph 4.a. above is completed, its own five-year cycle will start. Each cycle will extend to 31 December of the fifth year regardless of the date the course was completed during the year, and so on. For example, if an Auxiliarist completes the Civil Rights Awareness course on 15 November 2014, then they will have to complete it again by 31 December 2019.
7. Recap:
a. ICS-100 and IS-700 have been added to Auxiliary MT. That means six courses need to be successfully completed every five years, and four courses need to be successfully completed only once (during the first year of enrollment).
b. Auxiliarists who have enrolled since January 2013 have until 31 December 2015 to complete all Auxiliary MT.
c. Auxiliarists who were already enrolled by January 2013 have until 31 December 2016 to complete all Auxiliary MT.
d. Auxiliary MT may be completed through the AUXLMS or in a classroom setting using AUXLMS materials or downloadable training materials available on the National Training Directorate website. Webinar training sessions and other downloadable training material are under development and expected to be available in February 2015.
8. The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists as well as all other interested parties abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc. All information contained herein and linked is OFFICIAL policy and information.
New enrollees must complete these ICS courses during the first year of enrollment. Auxiliarists who have enrolled since January 2013 must complete them by 31 December 2015. All other Auxiliarists must complete them by 31 December 2016. They can be taken onlineat: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/is/ICSResource/TrainingMaterials.htm. These FEMA sponsored ICS-100 and IS-700 courses are only available through the FEMA website and must be completed online.
FROM THE DESK of CDR Brian Hofferber, District 13 Director of Auxiliary Forces (DIRAUX)
The Four Forces of the Coast Guard
So here WE are – “Team Coast Guard District 13 Auxiliary”, “Team Coast Guard District 13”, or just “Team Coast Guard” Slice and dice the organization and name however you wish but we are all members of same Coast Guard agency, serving on a unified team to forward the missions of the Coast Guard. While we are organized into four separate forces for the purpose of effective personnel administration, the purpose of each force remains the same:
Active Forces: These team members are full-time, uniformed, paid employees which are organized under a separate personnel organization with many unique personnel policies and procedures. These forces support and execute Coast Guard missions.
Civilian Work Force: These team members are full-time, non-uniformed, paid employees which are organized under a separate personnel organization with many unique personnel policies and procedures. This force supports and executes Coast Guard missions.
Reserve Forces: These team members are part-time, uniformed, paid employees which are organized under a separate personnel organization with many unique personnel policies and procedures. These forces support and execute Coast Guard missions, especially during surge operations.
Auxiliary Forces: These team members are part-time, uniformed, unpaid volunteers which are organized under their own personnel organization with many personnel policies and procedures unique to their status. These forces support and execute Coast Guard missions.
I repetitiously belabored the key conforming aspects of the four Coast Guard forces to address a point, establish my posture as District 13’s designated advocate of the D13 Coast Guard Auxiliary Forces, and to set my expectations for the conduct of our Auxiliary members.
I recently attended the National Convention of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in August where I noticed that both Active and Auxiliary personnel frequently referred to the Coast Guard Auxiliary as being disparate from the Coast Guard As I attempted to convey in the preceding force descriptions, this is clearly not the case. It is likewise important to note that the words “Coast Guard” aptly precede “Auxiliary”. You are not the “Auxiliary Coast Guard”. That would, indeed, imply a separate agency or entity. No, you are the “Coast Guard Auxiliary” and so you are an integral force of the Coast Guard agency organization, first, and a member of the Auxiliary personnel organization, second. This is how I shall advocate the Auxiliary to our D13 Coast Guard operational commanders, district staff, and external stakeholders.
While membership in the Coast Guard is a privilege for any of us, membership also comes with inherent responsibilities that should not be taken lightly. As members of the Coast Guard, Auxiliary Forces must be held to the same standards of professional and courteous conduct (as captured in the Coast Guard’s Core Values) as any other Coast Guard forces whenever Auxiliary members are conducting Coast Guard business and representing the Coast Guard, either internally with a Flotilla, Division, District, Station, Sector, etc., or externally with the public. My stance on this is that ALL business of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the business of the Coast Guard.
So, to all the Auxiliary leaders of our fine Coast Guard organization, I shall lean on you to build esprit de corps within the Auxiliary Forces which is geared toward professionalism, competency, and teamwork; promptly, decisively, and consistently address member conduct which conflicts with Coast Guard Core Values; lead by example; and, support, and seek support from, your Chain of Leadership, your peers, and those to which you are charged with leading.
If you are a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary then you are also a member of the Coast Guard. If you are a member of the Coast Guard then you are also a leader, however junior or senior you may be within the organization It is therefore to every Auxiliary member that I am addressing these leadership expectations.
COMMANDANTS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT
Duty to People is a central theme in my Commandants Direction. Our Core Values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty demand our commitment to a workplace that promotes professional growth and opportunity for all.
All hands are encouraged to become familiar with the Coast Guard Civil Rights Directorate and the services they offer the Coast Guard workforce: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg00/cg00h/.
Every member of the Coast Guard is responsible for preventing and eliminating all forms of discrimination that violate law or policy. Sustained mission excellence requires the equal and fair treatment of every member or our 88,000 person workforce of Active, Reserve, Civilian and Auxiliary members. Commands are encouraged to contact their zone civil rights service providers for assistance and guidance regarding all equal opportunity and anti-discrimination/anti-harassment matters. A listing of zone civil rights service providers can be found at:www.uscg.mil/hq/cg00/cg00h/serviceproviders.asp.
This policy is effective immediately. Commands are required to post and are encouraged to discuss this statement within their workplaces. The statement may be downloaded from http://www.uscg.mil/seniorleadership/policy.asp.
POC: Ms. Terri Dickerson, COMDT (CG-00H), phone (202) 372-4500, email Terri.A.Dickerson(at)uscg.mil.
Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant
224th Anniversary of the United States Coast Guard
Together, we share in celebrating the 224th anniversary of the founding of the Revenue Cutter Service, the predecessor of the modern Coast Guard. This is a day we affectionately refer to as "Coast Guard Day" and the "Coast Guard's Birthday." Over the past three days, the Vice Commandant and I spoke to a variety of Coast Guard personnel, families and members of the American public at events within our Nation's Capitol, the annual Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, and Coast Guard Headquarters. I also had the privilege of participating in this morning's boat crew relief at Station Washington, and embarked in a morning patrol with the crew aboard a new second generation Response Boat - Small. During every opportunity, we emphasized the substantial relevance of our Service in today's world, and heralded the significant efforts that our people put forth on a daily basis, every day of the year, regardless of the weather or location of the mission.
I am continually impressed and inspired by your dedication to mission execution and mission support around the world.
Please take this day to remember the distinguished history of our Coast Guard. Throughout our history, we have exemplified those tenets I have stressed in my direction - Service to Nation, Duty to People, and Commitment to Excellence. This is the most complex and uncertain environment I have seen in my 37-year career, and that means the Coast Guard is more relevant and more valuable than ever before. My ALCOAST
(http://allhands.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2014/08/04/commandants-birthday-message/)
provides greater detail on our past successes and future challenges relative to this direction. I also call your attention to the letter from President Obama in congratulatory observance of today's anniversary, posted at
(http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2014/08/president-obamas-birthday-message-to-the-coast-guard-3/)
Admiral Paul F. Zukunft
Commandant
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Congress founded the Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1939 as an organization of volunteers to promote boating safety and to augment the United States Coast Guard. On 23 June 2014, we will celebrate the Auxiliarys 75th anniversary of dedicated and heroic service to our Nation.
The Auxiliary provided sustained mission excellence to the Nation and the Coast Guard during this diamond anniversary year, as it has throughout its proud history. This year, Auxiliarists delivered over 4.2 million hours of operational and administrative manpower to Coast Guard missions. Auxiliary instructors spent over 96,000 hours teaching boating safety classes, and its vessel examiners performed over 130,000 recreational and fishing vessel safety checks. Auxiliary operators performed more than 66,000 hours of SAR mission support saving over 470 lives and assisting 13,000 members of the boating public. Much to the credit of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the number of boating safety-related deaths in the U.S. reached a historic low for a second consecutive year.
Congratulations to the Coast Guard Auxiliary for 75 years of outstanding service. In recognition of the profound devotion, sacrifice, and achievement of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I will award them with the Coast Guard Unit Commendation at Coast Guard Headquarters on June 23. Please join me in honoring their long and distinguished history of service by congratulating Auxiliarists throughout your regions and by proudly hoisting the Auxiliary colors.
Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant.
A Message from the National Commodore and the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Stopping Suicide in our Coast Guard Family
Fellow Auxiliarists,
I ask you to take a moment to read Admiral Zukunft's message below. It provides awareness of a very serious and tragic issue that our Coast Guard family must deal with. It also provides guidance on things that we can do to assist, such as practicing the three "knows". As the Commandant writes; know your unit, know your mission, and most importantly, know your people. Please take this message to heart. Together, we can help make a difference.
Very respectfully,
Mark Simoni
National Commodore
To my Coast Guard family,
This morning, I received a call notifying me that one of our own was lost to suicide. It was the fifth such call in three weeks. Each notification is as difficult as the last. Each notification means we are without another teammate, co-worker and friend. Each notification means a family is grieving while friends search for answers. Today there are five less people standing the watch.
Suicide can be the result of confusion, pain and suffering which may cloud judgment and cause otherwise unthinkable choices. The despair faced by those in peril can overwhelm even the strongest among us. Worse yet, warning signs can be subtle or even unnoticeable. There are no easy answers.
Every one of us is a leader. As leaders, we need to redouble our efforts in practicing the three "knows." Know your unit, know your mission and most importantly, know your people. Our Duty to People requires that we get out, walk around and talk to all those with whom we serve. Knowing our people requires us to listen. Do we know their family situation?
Do we know where they live, where they are from, or a few of their interests? These are not test questions, and we do not learn our people by memorizing cue cards. We know our people by talking to them and listening to them, regularly and consistently. This is where leadership matters most and is paramount in our Duty to People.
Every one of us is valuable. As individuals, it is difficult to comprehend the circumstances leading a person to decide to end his or her own life; and it is normal to search for answers and to attempt to understand "why."
The truth is we just don't know. What we do know is that we all have a duty to watch out for one another and to ask for help when needed. Doing so requires courage. It requires courage to reach out forhelp. It requires courage to intervene when someone we know displays signs of need. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
If you are in need, take the first step to reach out for help. Early access to care is vital - now is the time to call your Chaplain, Work-Life and servicing medical staffs or anyone you can talk to and trust. The message to each member of our 88,000 person force of active, reserve, civilian and auxiliary is "you are not alone - there is hope." That theme is a duty we all share, and it must resonate across every level of our Service.
There is hope. You are not alone.Most Sincerely,
Commandant