gdp's Comments

The Coast Guard Report : Threats and intimidation

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:04:38 +0000

Who were the people who contacted you?

The Coast Guard Report : The Problem with Coast Guard Report

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 05:07:27 +0000

Any updates?

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Oh, and that whole FORCECOM thing has come about...

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 22:59:50 +0000

Most likely the same reason the Navy does. ;)

RyanErickson.com : CGBlog.org... there's a slight change of plans

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:47:32 +0000

Ryan, I'm sure you'll do an excellent job managing the site on your own. I also look forward to seeing Peter still contribute as well.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Coast Guard All-Star

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:19:10 +0000

Welcome to the team Sean. I look forward to your writings.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:24:41 +0000

"Do the unions go to this branch since the agencies of the Executive branch were closely aligned with industry officials especially before January 20, 2009?" No, your hypothesis is not only incorrect, but disingenuous. In my opinion, it's also stupid.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:00:58 +0000

What about it? Failure for me to comment on the Executive branch when my discussion with another poster involved the Legislative branch doesn't mean I've "forgotten" anything.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:10:58 +0000

How about it? And no, you do think wrong as you are not using it at all in the same context I was. Again, read your own book about Congress that you seem to have "forgotten".

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:18:01 +0000

Why are you bringing up who has the ear of the Commandant and Senior CG Leaders when I was not referencing them at all PJ? If you want me to guess who has their ear, I'd wager that both their respective staffs and their Immediate Superior in Command do. Read the book you wrote for which you choose the title "Parliment of Whores", and you'll find what I was getting at regarding the nexus between labor unions and the current party in control of Congress though Mr. O'Rourke

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:09:38 +0000

Sorry, I don't have any links such as a proposed rule in the Federal Register and that sort, just a recollection of what I have heard discussed. I personally agree with you regarding the rationale TWIC and the proposed MMC remaining seperate. But, there is strong pressure from the maritime unions right now on combining the two. Given the current make-up on Congress, we can both guess who has the ear of those on the Hill right now.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:39:00 +0000

MI, you are right on the WLB-225s and the HEALY...both were built to ABS class for Hull. Also, FWIW many European and Commonweath Navy's have voluntarily "STCW'd" themselves. The US Navy has done much to obtain STCW-95 ertification for it's courses and training from NMC. Obviously right now G-OCU/CG-751 doesn't see the need to increase the cost right now, but that may indeed change over time as the newer cutters become more "optimally manned" so to speak. Personally speaking, I agree that it would provide credibility with the public to enforce the same watchkeeping and crew rest standards on ourselves that we mandate for the public. With regard to the TWIC, there is movement afoot to shift to a combined TWIC/MMD which would eliminate that concern from industry regarding having it's personnel undergo mulitiple background checks and documentation which could easily be "one stop shopping". HI/HT/DI/BI/KI/TI/FFV/CVE, Sends

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Open Discussion for the week of March 8, 2009

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 23:12:32 +0000

Peter, if I may, the Senior Chief was referencing this story which initially made the local news last Thursday/Friday... http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?ar... ...and then later was picked up by the national news on Saturday... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29549970/ BZ to Petty Officer Luckey!

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's New Feeder (a.k.a. Training) Port Program

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:15:31 +0000

Bringing back the training port concept will be a great addition to how they updated/revamped the PQS and the Marine Inspection schools at Yorktown (both of which were long overdue). It used to be you went to a training port for 2 years immersed under the wing of those seasoned CWOs and you left as a fully qualified MI (what today is called a Level II/SMI). If there was time your unit would try and rotate you over to the IO shop and through the REC just to get a flavor of what that was all about before you left the nest as well. I didn't agree with doing away with the 2 year MI trainee program because in some smaller ports, there is just no way you can obtain Hull, Machinery or Drydock quals. And after an MI has spent 4 years at his/her first unit without those quals it wasn't doing the Officer or the program any favors. I'm very pleased to see it go back to what worked (well) in the past.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's New Feeder (a.k.a. Training) Port Program

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:22:44 +0000

No worries Mate. I was speaking too generally and that was wrong on my part. It obviously varies, but I attest first-hand to one particular Prevention Dept (which Ryan is very familiar with) that was well-known for such a hostile work environment. This particular Office (then an MSO) was so blatently obvious about it (3 MARGRADS/Direct Commission Merchant Marine Officers ordered there by CGPC hounded out of the program in less than 5 years) that they drew the personal attention of RADM North (a Kingspoint grad who was then serving as Chief of Marine Safety and Environmental Protection). Unfortunately, even with the Admiral asking direct, pointed questions regarding the ongoings there and many raised eyebrows from other senior Program Managers at CGHQ, the civilian CID who was directly responsible for it all as the dept head survived and continues to hold his position to this very day. Am I still disgusted to this day about with how they all got away with railroading fellow officers whose only "crime" was the fact that they had a different background from the rest of them? You bet I am. Level II (SMI) Sends

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's New Feeder (a.k.a. Training) Port Program

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:09:26 +0000

Great point. The CG has direct commission programs for Merchant Marine Officers, however many that come in via that medium end up leaving the service. In general, many in the "M" field have a tacitly hostile attitude toward maritime academy grads as being "too comfortable with industry".

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's New Feeder (a.k.a. Training) Port Program

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:07:29 +0000

It's always amusing to see when what was old becomes "new" again. It was 1998 when, in a lack of foresight and common-sense, the "M" field abolished the traning port concept. Anyway, good to see them bring it back again and that qualified MIs will hit the field with actual experience at a deep draft port.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Video tour of Saint E's

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:34:52 +0000

Where did I ever state that there would be a flood of people asking for orders to HQ? Never. I however know of many who have stated they are adverse to ever being stationed at CGHQ because of the lousy commute, inaccessible location, lack of parking and adversion to walking (if need be when working late) through a nortoriously unsafe area to get home. I did state that the CG having it's HQ in a more accessible (i.e., direct metro stop location), and more importantly safer location, the stigma from it's members of what a crappy work venue it is would dissapate and PERHAPS then CG members would have a less negative perception of the an assignment there. The "War College" as you refer to it, is actually two Colleges (NWC and ICAF) which are part of National Defense University and are located onboard Fort McNair...which is an on-post, relatively safe and controlled environment, and, unlike CGHQ, has plenty of parking for it's students and staff.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Video tour of Saint E's

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 16:17:49 +0000

So since others are being shot at it by an enemy which has publicly been at "war" with the United States since 1996, excuses poor decision making on the part of the Coast Guard regarding the location of it's Headquarters? I would hope that is not the arguement you are making. If not, I do not follow you. Last time I checked neither the Pentagon nor Ballaston have ever been locked down because of a murder in the neighborhood. CGHQ cannot say the same.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Video tour of Saint E's

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 06:48:29 +0000

Of course, much like the same dump which the Coast Guard has resigned itself to residing in in the middle of gang-banger central the past 35 years, there is no metro stop nearby St. E's either. You'd think a "military" service such as the USCG could easily make arrangements with DOD for use of a small portion of the Pentagon or building an annex at Fort Meyer - both of which are easy to get to and from - that they would require for their HQ staff. Hell, at least Ballaston has a metro stop! You'd think the lightbulb would go off for the service's leadership that if HQ was actually in a safe location, easier for it's personnel to get to and park IVO, perhaps they wouldn't have so much trouble finding people willing to be stationed there.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Appropriate for public release: The Secretary's initial message to employees

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 01:43:17 +0000

"Our beloved Coast Guard" is not without fault regarding the constant shots it is receiving.