gdp's Comments

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Coast Guard Image: The Miami Five

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 00:41:33 +0000

Nice to see the additional 87's there. I look forward to that picture including an FRC in 2010!

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

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:55:25 +0000

PJO, Are you planning on making any statements, or are you simply going to post leading questions? You are beginning to sound like another poster we know with a J in their initials. If you have a point you want to make, state and support it. Then we will decide if its worth response or not. Otherwise, move on.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's Maritime Enforcement Specialist school location picked

Sat, 7 Mar 2009 04:39:57 +0000

Don't worry Hiram, I'm sure they will still stand the inport and underway watches just like everyone.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's Maritime Enforcement Specialist school location picked

Sat, 7 Mar 2009 04:26:19 +0000

The new rating does not prevent other rates from being BO/BTM. It just creates a better qualified core of LE Cadre to oversee the training/certification of those individuals, as well as keeping up with all the LE related supply/admin functions as a full-time duty.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : USCG's Commandant does a Q&A Session

Sat, 7 Mar 2009 03:12:25 +0000

I don't think MCPOCG Bowen needs any advice from you Mike. He clearly knows his role and carries it out very well...read for yourself -- http://coastguardallhands.blogspot.com/

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Coast Guard's Acquired Goods

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:47:09 +0000

Great point on both of those. How is the TANB? It looks very versatile and useful.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Coast Guard's Acquired Goods

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:34:51 +0000

Ryan, Nice post! Not time to claim victory yet...In fact, in acquisitions, it is never time to claim victory because modernization must be perpetual. However, we have certainly reached a point where the good is far outweighing the bad, and the bad gets immediate attention to get back into the good column. Actually alot of good work being done with CBP and USN on maritime UAVs.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Arctic Mission, the Coast Guard's not alone

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:51:54 +0000

Healy is not a Polar Ice Breaker. While its Icebreaking capabilities are impressive, they are not "Polar Class." It is essentially an ice-strengthened research vessel. There is a difference.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Arctic Mission, the Coast Guard's not alone

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:24:37 +0000

In other reports the Coast Guard has said "7-10 years". That is the process from beginning to end. Meaning requirements, design, bidding, award and construction. The time line provided by mouse for Healy was 4 years just for construction. It is easy to understand how another 3 years gets added onto that when you are building from scratch, especially a ship as complex and THICK as a polar icebreaker. Obviously, there may be ways to do it in less time...but that will all come down to Congressional authority and APPROPRIATIONS.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Functional Reivew of CG Civil Rights posted to the Internet

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:56:33 +0000

I think you have the process reversed. You are ultimately responsible for the content of your blog. If you cannot substantiate your claims, then you shouldn't make them. In this case, a third party reviewed your claims and found them lacking. Thus, the onus is on you to support your initial claims, or do the responsible thing and remove them.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Functional Reivew of CG Civil Rights posted to the Internet

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:35:21 +0000

Mike, You would know about the alleged "change of management" that CGR claims took place a month ago. In your communication with the publishers have you found yourself working with anyone new, or the same people? Note...I am not asking for names, just a general yes or no answer. BTW...You can't completely separate yourself from CGR and its despicable tactics, by posting on that site you will suffer from a little "Fruit of the Poisoned Tree" syndrome. In otherwords, anything and everything affiliated with that blog is tainted goods. Also...You do post under two names on that site...both Mike Dekort and imispgh. Now we all might know the two are the same, but if you are getting as many readers as you claim, then that is misleading.

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

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:44:50 +0000

What would you know about what is happening on CGR? I thought you weren't a part of that anymore? At least, that's what you have been telling everyone.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Yes, we're back on this topic again: Domestic violence, the Lautenberg Amendment, and the U.S.

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 20:34:27 +0000

Good suggestion on the semi-annual training.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Yes, we're back on this topic again: Domestic violence, the Lautenberg Amendment, and the U.S.

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 20:32:49 +0000

Couple questions: Why have you only posted the last page of the Attorney's letter? Has anyone called the number of the Attorney to find out the status of his court cases?

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Tropical Blue Long Uniform is no more

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 04:21:34 +0000

Marines don't wear the flag on their utilities

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

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:43:25 +0000

So, just for a second, lets separate the Secretary's e-mail from the issue and look at the policy and its purpose. When you break it down, bloggers, and participants on blogs, should actually be pleased with the language. Rather than just say, "You cannot blog about your work", it provides defined guidelines: "the posting or disclosure of internal Coast Guard documents or information that the Coast Guard has not officially released to the public is not authorized." Internal documents include "but are not limited to memos, e-mails, meeting notes, message traffic, articles for CG publications, white papers, Peloruses, public affairs guidance, and all pre-decisional materials." This is a good thing for CG bloggers, because by following the guidelines, they stay out of trouble and don't give those against this whole openness thing any justification for tightening the reigns. There is absolutely nothing unreasonable about that policy. Now, do I think there is any reason the Secretary's e-mail shouldn't have been publishable? No. But it is easier to make case-by-case exceptions than to have to run around and actively police people who are releasing internal information purposely or accidentally. Since the internet is forever, the old saying, "Easier to ask forgiveness then permission does not apply."

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The USCG Is Prestigious!! To Heck with Recent Poll Results

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:43:59 +0000

Yet our recruiting results, in both quantity and quality, continue to be OUTSTANDING. This is the result of how respected our service is even though we lack the resources to conduct national advertising campaigns. The prestige results from the study were no surprise...There are only 40,000 of us and really only a fraction of that is involved in actual military related work. The rest of the story in that study was actually quite positive for the Coast Guard.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : More on the F/V PATRIOT case

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:46:49 +0000

This is a blog...not a newspaper, so I am not sure I agree with the idea that he has some obligation to contact the Coast Guard first. I do think all of Peter's questions were fair and reasonable, but perhaps some of the conclusions were premature. Transparency cannot and should not always be real time because as we learn in complex cases like this, there are multiple perceptions and opinions, sometimes erroneously formed. It takes time to gather and analyze the facts, and that is when transparency really becomes paramount. Now, to be clear, that doesn't mean you wait to answer all questions until the answer is as complete as possible, but the expectations need to be reasonable.

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : Hiding behind bureaucracy ?

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:50:58 +0000

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/breakingnews/local... The Photos are being done You may be underestimating the Coast Guard's efforts at transparency on this case http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/loca...

CGBlog.org :: An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog : The Great Debate: Is there value for social media tools in the work of the Coast Guard?

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:26:47 +0000

This is a great discussion that is happening around the globe. This challenge is not specific to government, but is a big issue with large corporations and throughout the private sector as well. There will never be a perfect solution and organizations have to strive for balance. As you proceed, the first thing you need is a strategic intent. Without that, you have nothing to assess whether or not a specific social media tool has relevance or value. Even once the determination is made, you have to determine if that tool is substantial enough to be part of the enterprise architecture, or if it should be treated as a stand alone that is used by those who need it off the network. Finally, you have to think of these tools in three ways: internal, external, and both. Put all that together and you begin to develop a method for choosing the specific applications, out of countless options, that have a direct benefit on the organizaiton, its mission execution/support and its people.