State of the Coast Guard Address

Interesting...does anyone know/have a guess of what the ensigns will be doing aboard an FRC? If they're the replacements to the 110's they should have a small crew, right? Unless they plan on having an "A" and "B" team to the cutter that goes on a rotation schedule....
 
Well, the CO will be a LCDR on the first and a LT on the rest, the XO will be a LTJG on all of them, so that means the ensigns will probably be ops, 1LT, navigator, communications officer, or some other position that isn't really necessary on a boat that small.
 
I can understand where Admiral Papp is coming from by wanting to send everyone out to sea, but my question is this: is it worth it by adding jobs like ops, 1LT, navigator, communications officer on a cutter that small?

While it is important to maintain the sea-going ethos of our Service, is it the best human resources allocation for the Coast Guard?

Perhaps what I'm saying is this: by sending Ensigns to patrol boats, do we limit or curb their sea-going abilities? Certainly they'll get lots of ship-handling experience, but what about long-term navigation?

I also heard a rumor that they're considering opening up the 175' keeper class buoy tenders as well...
 
SamAca10 said:
I can understand where Admiral Papp is coming from by wanting to send everyone out to sea, but my question is this: is it worth it by adding jobs like ops, 1LT, navigator, communications officer on a cutter that small?

While it is important to maintain the sea-going ethos of our Service, is it the best human resources allocation for the Coast Guard?

Perhaps what I'm saying is this: by sending Ensigns to patrol boats, do we limit or curb their sea-going abilities? Certainly they'll get lots of ship-handling experience, but what about long-term navigation?

I also heard a rumor that they're considering opening up the 175' keeper class buoy tenders as well...
Click to expand...

It was the class of 2004 that was first allowed to compete for land/aviation billets.

Thos jobs already exist, but for JOs? Maybe not boot ensigns. No matter your position, you'll stand the watch on the bridge, independent of you collaterals. With smaller crew sizes you may also be expected to qualify earlier, to carry your weight. If XO is a LTJG (surprised not LT), then I would assume ops would be a LTJG as well....ensigns are a little junior to do everything required of ops. Ensigns to be Commo, 1LT, ANAV, Suppo, etc..
 
SamAca10 said:
While it is important to maintain the sea-going ethos of our Service, is it the best human resources allocation for the Coast Guard?
Click to expand...

The officer corp coming out of the academy will one day be leading the service. I recently met someone who is in the Coast Guard and asked what ships they had served on? The guardian said they had never stepped foot on a ship and had no desire to go to sea, saying they were happy just being an analyst on shore for their entire career. That might be fine for the enlisted, but I agree with Admiral Papp that your officer corp should have experience at sea.
 
LITS, out of curiosity, have you ever served on a 110? If so, it was be interesting to know your thoughts on the matter of the ensign on the Island Class.

I was talking to a 110 CO who said that an ensign is just going to get in the way on an Island class. He was NOT for the single ensign on the 110 or for the two ensigns on the FRC.
 
I have not served on a 110'. I'm also with him on having some reservations...why? I think it's two much responsibility for an O-1 too early. You are going t make mistakes those first 1.5 years. On a larger cutter you have anywhere from an O-2 to an O-6 cleaning up. On a 110' there isn't enough buffer between the mistakes you will naturally make (and i made more than a few) and the crew that will be affected. That's my personal opinion.
 
I'm confused as to why you think Ensign will be overwhelmed on 110's. Ensigns won't be replacing anyone currently there. The BM1 Ops will still be there, they are just overbilleting with an Ensign. Day one the Ensign reports aboard not knowing anything and the crew functions like it did before he was there. As time goes on the Ensign learns the job and takes the workload from what I hear is a very busy crew and everyone is happy.

As far as the Ensign getting in the way I think that will only happen if the command and crew lets that happen. If it's in their minds that the Ensign is just going to get in the way then they will probably be in the way. If they accept the fact that there is an extra person on the ship who can stand bridge watch and alleviate the workload then the Ensign will be beneficial. I think it's all going to come down to the attitude of the current crew and the new Ensign.

my top choice were 110's so if I am lucky enough to get one come March 3rd I will be sure to report back on how it goes.:thumb:
 
I know an ensign will get in the way, generally because I've been an ensign and I got in the way. Maybe you can explain how the ensign, who is not outranked by the only the CO and XO will fit into it. If not as Ops, who will they work for?

I'm fine with second tour LTJGs, but ensigns? No. Too small of a cutter in my opinion.
 
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