comdtinst m16114.32c - U.S. Coast Guard

Part 2 – Operations and Missions
Chapter 2 – Mission Planning
A.3. Evaluation
Tools and
Reassessment
The unit CO/O IC and boat Coxswains shall use ORM tools to evaluate
mission risk. Coxswains operate their boat to minimize the inherent risk
involved in missions. An integral part of such risk minimization is
contingency planning in the event onboard systems fail or evolutions do
not proceed as planned.
The Operational Commander, CO/OIC, and boat Coxswains are faced
with making mission decisions, and must carefully weigh the urgency of
each mission and assess the benefits to be gained versus the risks
involved. While all possible contingencies cannot be addressed, the
following paragraphs establish policy guidelines to be used in making
risk versus gain analysis for various boat missions.
Crew engaged in mission activities and/or training must continually
monitor the situation for changes in risk factors and re-assess risk when
the situation changes. For example but not limited to:
(01) Team supervision.
(02) Deviations from established plan, including impact on crew
selection.
(03) Fatigue.
(04) Changes in weather, sea state, nightfall etc.
(05) Changes in event complexity, including creeping change.
In accordance with Team Coordination Training it only takes one voice
from anyone on the crew to re-focus the whole crew’s attention to a
given risk factor. Open communications shall be continuously
emphasized.
A.4. Acceptable
Risk
Damage to or sacrifice of the boat is acceptable risk in the defense of the
United States, its citizens, and/or installations. It is understood that
tactics such as shouldering (as described in Part 2, Chapter 1, Section B,
of Reference (rr) may result in damage to the boat.
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