The Long Blue Line (WINTER 2020)

REGIONAL RETIREE
COUNCIL REPORTS
FROM THE CAPITAL AREA COAST GUARD
RETIREE COUNCIL
Coast Guard National Retiree Help
Desk – Service Continues
In 2006, the Capital Area CG Retiree Council
(CACGRC) established the Coast Guard National
Retiree Help Desk (NRHD). It was created to
provide a 24/7 single point of contact “hotline” for
CG military retirees, and also USPHS and NOAA
Retirees, their families, annuitants, and survivors
needing help and support in getting needed
information to resolve a problem.
Most retirees are self-suffi cient and don’t require
NRHD assistance. But many of our retirees, family
members, annuitants, and survivors because of
confusion, bereavement, lack of response from
various agencies…have no idea where to go for
the information they need. For those needing the
help and support, the NRHD is there for them.
Since its establishment, NRHD volunteers from
locations throughout the U.S. stand the watch,
“responding to thousands of inquiries from
the worldwide CG military retiree community.”
Volunteers stand a 7-day “virtual” watch,
periodically monitoring and responding to NRHD
phone and g-mail messages. Even though they
are not subject matter experts, watch-standers
are skilled in locating the “offi cial” source of the
needed information. Their role is to help “connect”
people with these resources.
Volunteers are required to become qualified
through training with a qualified watch-stander who
determines whether/when the “trainee” is qualified
after several periods of observation.
NRHD services are well aligned with the CG Retiree
Services Program’s mission to strengthen retiree
communications and the life-long relationship
between the CG and its retiree community.
The NRHD offers individuals the opportunity to
volunteer in supporting this mission and help
our Coast Guard remain Ready, Relevant, and
Responsive.
CACGRC members CAPT Bob Warakomsky,
USCG (Ret.) and LCDR Dave Du Pont, USCG
(Ret.), founders/administrators of the NRHD, work
closely with the CG Retiree Services Program
Manager (CG-13) and members of the CGNRC to
serve as an official part of the CG Retiree Services
Program organization.
Coast Guard NRHD “HOTLINE”:
Toll free (833) 224-6743 or (202) 475-5381
E-Mail: NRHDesk@gmail.com.
For additional information and/or to serve as a watchstander,
contact Bob Warakomsky at bopakom@
verizon.net or Dave Du Pont at David.A.DuPont@
uscg.mil.
8 WINTER 2020
THE LONG BLUE LINE