NEW UNIFORMS AND GUN BELTS?????

I have heard rumblings about this issue so I thought you might be interested.....

Here is an article from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from his website.

The future of Integrated Personal Protective Equipment

There is a work group that is examining the integration of Personal Protective Equipment. I'm not sure what the exact answer will be but BM2 Shear (below) suggests one option. Comments?

MCPOCG Bowen



The vest in the attached picture also has a lifting strap on the top to assist in the removal of a person in the water, and is high impact rated.


My name is BM2 Jared Shear currently at Station San Francisco. I was tasked by MCPO-CG Bowen to e-mail you regarding a question that was proposed to him during his recent visit to the station.
The question asked to MCPO-CG Bowen was regarding the new Operation Dress Uniform and the wearing of gun belts. Currently Station San Francisco is operating under a waiver from HQ to wear drop leg holsters. The question I asked MCPO-CG Bowen was "If a BTM/BO wearing drop leg holsters and LE suspenders would that satisfy COMDT policy avoiding the tucking in of the new uniforms and the use of keepers on the gun belt?"
MCPO-CG Bowen seemed very interested in the topic. He agreed with the opinion that an operational uniform should accommodate operational units. For the past couple of years Station San Francisco has been testing new PPE for the WMD program. As a result of this program a Type III PFD has been developed that has the ability to be a PFD, SAR vest, and tactical vest all in one. The PFD also has keepers attached to the bottom of the vest which could be used to secure the gun belt to the BO/BTM. I have attached some pictures of the vest to the e-mail.
Thank you for time and attention in this matter and I hope this information can help the Coast Guard in its efforts to modernize its fleet.

"MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD" GIVEAWAY!

“Month of the Military Child” Prize Giveaway
Sponsored by United Concordia

United Concordia, Inc. is proud to once again recognize and support the “Month of the Military Child” in April by sponsoring a Web-based, random drawing. Children of active duty and National Guard and Reserve sponsors who are enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) are eligible for this drawing. Entries must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian. Entries submitted by individuals other than the parent or legal guardian will not be accepted and are ineligible for the drawing.

To enter, simply complete the contest entry form between 8 a.m. April 2, 2009, and midnight April 29, 2009, Eastern Standard Time. Entries will be accepted via online submission only. Winners will be selected at random.

Prizes will be awarded to military children of varying ages. Within each age category, first, second and third place prizes will be awarded.

Ages 0—2

First Prize: Disney's Baby Einstein^™ Baby Neptune^™ Ocean Adventure Gym and “Discovering Water” DVD; “Water, Water Everywhere” book; and Teethe & Tug Pals: Baby Neptune.

Second Prize: Disney's Baby Einstein My First Story Reader, “Baby's First Sounds” DVD and “Colors Flip Flap Book”.

Third Prize: A $50 All Services Exchange gift certificate

Ages 3—6

First Prize: VTech® V-Motion^™ Active Learning System

Second Prize: VTech Create-a-Story^™ Reading System

Third Prize: A $50 All Services Exchange gift certificate

Ages 7—10, Ages 11—14 and Ages 15—17

First Prize: Nintendo^® Wii^™ Gaming Console and Wii Play bundle

Second Prize: Nintendo DS Lite

Third Prize: A $50 All Services Exchange gift certificate

Remember . . .

Only one entry per child is permitted. Winners will be announced on the TDP Web site on May 28, 2009. Mailed or faxed entries will not be considered. The entry deadline is midnight April 29, 2009, Eastern Standard Time, and only parents or legal guardians may enter their children. Best of luck to all who enter!

MILITARY SPOUSE CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Military Spouses - Looking for a Portable Career that Offers Upward Mobility and Flexibility?

The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education® (AFCPE®) in association with the National Military Family Association and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation is pleased to announce applications are being accepted for the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Accredited Financial Counselor® Fellowship. This program will provide up to 200 military spouses with the education necessary to enter the financial counseling career field.

The fellowship covers the costs associated with completing the Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) training and the first two attempts at both exams. Upon successful completion of the program and required practicum, the participant will be awarded the Accredited Financial Counselor® designation from AFCPE®.

Many employers such as credit unions, financial aid offices, and community housing agencies need well-trained, ethical and caring financial counselors to meet the increasing demand for financial counseling services. Military spouses can fill this need while building a rewarding career that is flexible to the demands of the military family lifestyle.

An Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) assists individuals and families in the process of financial decision making. Accredited Financial Counselors® agree to maintain the highest ethical standards as outlined in the AFCPE® Code of Ethics.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND OUT HOW TO APPLY CLICK HERE!

HOMELAND SECURITY VISITS SECTOR LA-LB

Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, visited the Port of Los Angeles and Sector LA-LB Monday April 13 to meet with local officials and address the media. Napolitano spoke on the importance of interagency cooperation and port security. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory J. Mendenhall.)

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK

Quote from ASTC Mario Vittone:

"This is the Coast Guard. Why we are here is easy....our primary "cause" requires such preparation and attention to the details of preparation that it becomes easy to forget about the thing that we are preparing for:

We are all here to save lives.

That's it. That's all. The primary reason that anyone in the Coast Guard has a job is to save lives. All jobs (ALL OF THEM) are in support of that mission.

SAR Definitely, but what about the others?.Marine Safety? Why do we want it to be safe? To save lives. What about EMSST? Saving lives, no question. How about drug interdiction! Aha! ...no...wait...that saves lives too. How about a YN at Topeka? Lifesaver: No one gets paid...people quit...people die.


So you think you are just cleaning boats? Do you think the MK3 is just repairing the engine on the 47 footer? Do you honestly think that all that Seaman Apprentice is doing is chipping paint? You are wrong. What you are doing is saving lives; doing boat checks, fixing engines and painting are the ways that you do it.

It's not only the asset that arrives on scene, but everything and everyone that got it there that saves lives. "

Even if sometimes all someone wants is a PUMP.

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK GUYS.

pictures by Mike Brodey, Melissa Cook, and Coast Guard HH-65C from Air Station Los Angeles.

SHAVE YOUR HEAD FOR A GREAT CAUSE!

St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fund raising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family.

The St. Baldrick's organization has asked The Coast Guard Station to participate in their event again this year by raising money (on-line) and by attending the event and having our heads shaved. The contributions and head-shaving participation support childhood cancer research. Let's be sure to do all that we can to help raise money for this very worthy cause.

Please note that this is a family event and ALL are welcome to attend.

Here are the event details:

Date: Saturday, March, 21, 2009

Time: 1000 - 1500

Location: Four Points Sheraton, Ventura Harbor
Grand Ballroom
1050 Schooner Drive
Ventura, CA

There is already a Team Coast Guard page on the St. Baldrick's website. Follow the instructions below to register!

Team Coast Guard - St. Baldrick's

Registering takes only about 3 minutes:

1. Click on the above link to go to the Team Coast Guard page for St. Baldrick's
2. Once on the team page, click on "Be a Shavee", which will take you to a Registration Page
3. Complete the Registration Form and information
a. Make sure you find and select the Ventura Event at the Four Points Sheraton
b. On the Registration Type, click "Join a Team"
c. Make sure the UCSG Channel Islands Harbor team is selected
d. Select your t-shirt size, fund raising goal, and acknowledge the Waiver and Razor policies.

You can create your own Individual Page under the Team Coast Guard page you can copy/paste the link to your personal page in an e-mail and send it to all your friends and family. Let them know what you're doing and asking for their support in donations. Donations can be made on-line.

We had a pretty great turn out last year for this event. Let's make this year outstanding!!!

Captain Weidenhoeft

On January 15th, Capt. Weidenhoeft, CO, Sector LA/LB visited the station to accompany ANT LA/LB to do maintenance on Anacapa Light. He was accompanied by his wife and two teenage children, and Capt. Caplis, his deputy commander.

Mike Brodey was kind enough to send over some photos from the trip. Enjoy!


This one is my personal favorite! I think it should be framed at the station to show off some of our AOR.