IntenseDebate - Brad Soule

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - Open Discussion for th... · 0 replies · +1 points

How about a discussion of dogs/mascots at units? I've heard of plenty of stations and PBs that had a dog around (usually the OinCs/COs) but not only seen one. It'd be interesting to hear peoples stories of success or failures at integrating dogs into operational units.

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - The Coast Guard Image:... · 0 replies · +1 points

The base just doesn't look the same without STORIS and FIREBUSH in the background :(

(gratuitous pot stirring) I know it is capable and a good platform and blah, blah, blah, but is it just me or is Alex Haley just an ugly ship? It looks like an oil rig got parked on top of a soviet style aircraft carrier.

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - Earl Markham · 0 replies · +1 points

Great story. Thanks for sharing Daren!

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - SAR tools, CGMOES, and... · 0 replies · +1 points

No comment on the post, but kudos to whomever came up with "Delivering the Goods" as the newsletter of the acquisitions directorate.

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - New blog, 9/11 GI Bill... · 0 replies · +1 points

I'd also add that in addition to Admiral Allen, the GAO also testified on our Deepwater project and their evaluation was fairly positive. The testimony is available on the House site here: <a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony..." target="_blank">http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony...

The one downside they identified was that 16% of the appropriations staff remains unfilled. Not sure of the context for that statement. Is 16% really bad? Is it a minor issue and a normal gap for a staff of several hundred? Beats me.

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - New blog, 9/11 GI Bill... · 0 replies · +1 points

Ryan,

I saw that comment on the Commandant's blog. It isn't the point of your post, but I'm curious if you or anyone else feels like the DOG units are becoming overly compartmentalized within the service. "Semper DOG" is kind of liking saying "Semper DCO." I completely agree with the idea of grouping deployable units under a single administrative command. But sometimes it feels like these units are going off on their own direction as "homeland security" coast guard, while the rest of us keep doin' what we were pre-9/11.

Brad

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - The Coast Guard Academ... · 1 reply · +1 points

Got any numbers? Do you think that is because Academy grads are "better officers" or because the system rewards those officers who are more likely to think like their Academy superiors?

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - The Coast Guard Academ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Really? You're correlating the physical number of officers at a given unit to the quality produced by a given accession source?

Since you're at least a 3rd or 4th tour officer judging by your comments, at the latest you graduated in 2001 or 2002, which were the last years when EVERY academy graduate was forced to go to sea and OCS was left with the dregs.

Also, please expand on how Academy officers are better able to "think like an officer." The point of Ricks' original piece was that Academy graduates and the incentives with the promotion system led to unhealthy levels of group think and poor institutional decision making. Perhaps this was the "thinking like an officer" that you are referring to?

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - Now Somalia wants its ... · 0 replies · +1 points

For better or worse, militaries have been a stabilizing force in many countries over the last half century, including much of latin america, thailand, pakistan, and the middle east. This might lead to episodes of corruption and dictatorship (pinochet in chile, pakistan, etc) but there may be an argument to providing international legitimacy to the one group in Somalia that has been a rallying point for a lawless land. The Awakening in Iraq is an excellent example of simply "paying off" a militia insurgency and attempting to turn them into a legitimate instrument of government.

Perhaps some with experience could share some of the history of the U.S. Coast Guard's experience with creating the Haitian Coast Guard, an organization that was credited with being one of the only function aspect of government in the a country that, along with Somalia, is the epitome of a failed state.

17 years ago @ CGBlog.org :: An Unoff... - No Cost-of-Living Rais... · 0 replies · +1 points

I'm with you on this one Chief. It's kind of like when Alaska residents complain that their permanent fund dividend wasn't as high as last year.

IntenseDebate Comment System

Connect with Brad Soule

People I'm following

Brad Soule