The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

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Last summer the cutter Healy transited the Arctic north of Russia, and later engaged with key Arctic partners such as Norway, Canada, Denmark, and Iceland. As an Arctic nation, our work in the northern high latitudes ensures our national sovereignty, secures American waterways, and protects American natural resources. We watch over Arctic ports and waterways just as we do those along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts, as well as our inland waterways. The Marine Transportation System contributes $5.4 trillion dollars to the U.S. economy every year and supports 30 million American jobs. The Coast Guard’s actions to ensure the safety and security of the Marine Transportation System protect America’s economic prosperity and national security. For more than two centuries the Coast Guard has protected our ports against physical attack, but today the threats are changing. The next attack on maritime infrastructure is likely to come from cyberspace. In February, the President signed an executive order that further enables Coast Guard efforts to directly address cyber threats. Along with newly proposed regulations, it empowers the Coast Guard to better protect waterfront facilities and Adm. Linda L. Fagan at the podium delivering the The State of the Coast Guard Address. (U. S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles) vessels and includes reporting requirements for actual or threatened cyber incidents. Cyberattacks are only one aspect of the rapidly changing global security landscape. Autonomous warfare, gray-zone tactics, attacks on commercial shipping, climate change, and transnational criminal activity are all threats to maritime governance, peace, and security. The Coast Guard must continue to transform to keep pace with these drivers of global instability. Our readiness as a Service depends on our ability to support our people with the capable ships, aircraft, systems, and infrastructure they need to complete their missions. This includes a single fleet of MH- 60 helicopters and the new Waterways Commerce Cutter. And I am excited about the potential to field additional Fast Response Cutters. Last year we celebrated a significant milestone in our acquisition portfolio as we launched the first Offshore Patrol Cutter Argus. This year, my top acquisition priority is beginning construction on 34 SPRING 2024 THE LONG BLUE LINE
the Polar Security Cutter. This is the first new heavy icebreaker constructed in the United States since the 1970s. As an Arctic nation, a new polar security cutter is critical to creating persistent presence in the high latitudes. In the near term, the purchase of a commercially available icebreaker would increase U.S. presence in the Arctic while we work to build the new class of Polar Security Cutters. We must continue to invest today to ensure the Coast Guard fleet of tomorrow is ready. Our future mission success and America’s prosperity depend on it. As we build new cutters, we must continue to perform the maintenance necessary to reliably operate our legacy fleet. The cost of shipyard maintenance has increased rapidly, forcing the Coast Guard to make difficult decisions. We project our maintenance budget will only cover half of our planned cutter maintenance projects next year. Deferred maintenance erodes operational resilience—directly threatening mission execution. For more than two centuries the Coast Guard has protected our ports against physical attack, but today the threats are changing. The next attack on maritime infrastructure is likely to come from cyberspace. Our operational platforms rely on shore facilities that also require maintenance. Shore facilities, including buildings, piers, and runways, require significant investment and are just as essential to frontline operations as cutters, aircraft, and small boats. Our workforce and their families must also have access to reliable and affordable housing, childcare, and healthcare. To address our shore infrastructure backlog, meet the needs of our operational fleet, and ensure we can execute projects at maximum speed, we must also strengthen our capacity for civil engineering and contracting work. I am committed to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure we have the consistent and reliable funding necessary to maintain the readiness of all elements of our operational fleet. The quality of our facilities and ships not only impact mission readiness; it is an important factor potential recruits think about when they consider Coast Guard service. And recruiting is critical to operational readiness. Like the other branches of the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard is experiencing a personnel shortfall. The Service cannot maintain the same level of operations with this gap. We cannot do the same with less. We’ve made the difficult decision to adjust our operations and strategically reallocate personnel, to prioritize our lifesaving missions and the protection of the Marine Transportation System. These temporary changes are not a permanent solution. Americans want more Coast Guard, not less. But trying to maintain the status quo with a workforce shortage puts our people and the American public at greater risk. While we operate the Coast Guard during this personnel shortfall, we are working diligently to close the workforce gap. Recruiting work requires dedicated professionals to highlight the opportunities available in the Coast Guard. We are opening new recruiting offices and adding more recruiters, led by a new cadre of talent acquisition specialists who are proven advocates for our Service. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Coast Guard’s Core Values—Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty. These are words our newest members memorize on their first days in uniform. THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 35
Page 1 and 2: SPRING 2024 ACTION NEEDED TO CONTIN
Page 3 and 4: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 3
Page 7 and 8: I have said time and again, as we p
Page 9 and 10: MCPO LLOYD PIERCE: Spring has sprun
Page 11 and 12: I’m joined by RADM Merrie Austin,
Page 13 and 14: GLACIER REUNION SAVE THE DATE LOCAT
Page 15 and 16: USCGC STORIS U.S. COAST GUARD VETER
Page 17 and 18: NEVER TOO LATE: A CASE OF MISTAKEN
Page 23 and 24: Somehow, someway the placard was re
Page 25 and 26: How does the Coast Guard celebrate
Page 29 and 30: Get Your NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEU
Page 31 and 32: This is what we are known for. This
Page 33: We are prototyping unmanned systems
Page 39 and 40: A FAMILY AFFAIR By Beau Bridges In
Page 41 and 42: shared many of his experiences with
Page 43 and 44: HONOR. ENGAGE. EDUCATE. INSPIRE. JO
Page 45 and 46: Festivals held in Grand Haven, Mich
Page 47 and 48: Prior to opening his highly recogni
Page 51 and 52: AUXILIARY Auxiliarists who possess
Page 53 and 54: The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Aux
Page 55 and 56: Because of this, there are now more
Page 57 and 58: hands-on training by certified AUXC
Page 61 and 62: Meanwhile, the two leading ships of
Page 63 and 64: In 1961, the Raymond Loewy and Will
Page 67 and 68: In the military, and in the Coast G
Page 69 and 70: Petty Officer 2nd Class Van Alstyne
Page 71 and 72: eassured Van Alstyne. He told her i
Page 73 and 74: RESERVE Chief Warrant Officer Antho
Page 75 and 76: ! FERNANDEZ HIDALGO, CARLOS FIKE, B
Page 77 and 78: TINSTMAN, LAWRENCE TISCHER, JACE TO
Page 81 and 82: BOYLE, DAVID SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH CDR
Page 83 and 84: FRIER, WALTER GARLAND, TX YNC RET.
Page 85 and 86:
MIZELLE, TIMOTHY COLERAIN, NC SKCS
Page 87 and 88:
TAPS TURNER, THERON DEPTFORD, NJ CW
Page 89 and 90:
NOAA TAPS ALDERMAN, RICHARD TUCSON,
Page 91 and 92:
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER EMBRACE EVERY SEA
Page 93 and 94:
NEW USCG RETIREE MENTORING & TRANSI
Page 95 and 96:
COAST GUARD LEGAL ASSISTANCE Coast
Page 97 and 98:
CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER, RETIREE
Page 99 and 100:
All other inquiries: osgli.osgli@pr
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The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

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