The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

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NATIONAL RETIREE COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS RADM MERRIE AUSTIN: Happy spring! The first buds have begun to appear on the trees, daffodils are pushing through the soil, and the first grains of pollen have begun wreaking havoc for hay fever sufferers here in Virginia. I want to welcome two new Regional Retiree Councils: Southwest RRC/Base Galveston and Great Lakes RRC/Base Cleveland. I want to thank CDR Joe Leonard, USCG (Ret.), MSTCM Eric Pugh, USCG (Ret.), CAPT Lorne Thomas III, USCG (Ret.), and OSCM James Bach, USCG (Ret.) for volunteering to stand up the Southwest RRC and Great Lakes RRC, respectively. I really appreciate your willingness to serve your fellow retired Coasties. If anyone lives in an area that is not covered by a Regional Retiree Council and is interested in establishing one, please contact Mr. Bob Hinds and he will guide you through the steps. MCPO Pierce and I met with ADM Fagan in December to brief her on the National Retirees Council Annual Report. We presented our worklist for this year, and she appreciated the focus and prioritization of the worklist items. Here they are: 1. Gather feedback from the CG retiree community regarding the way forward for The Long Blue Line with the National CG Museum Association: Please see the Message from the Director on page 10 for more information. 2. Codify the maximum time to process Audit Error Worksheets as 90 days (PPCINST). In progress. In practical terms, PPC has been averaging well below 90 days for the past year or so; we look forward to this benchmark being codified into the future. 3. Develop CG Retiree Final Affairs Guide. I want to thank CAPT Mike Rosecrans, USCG (Ret.) for taking on this very important project. A first draft is done, and we would love to get some feedback from Annuitants or others who may have experienced losing a veteran loved one to see if they find the included references helpful, or if they think there’s other information that we should include. Please contact Bob Hinds if you are interested in helping us “crowdsource” this Guide to make it as useful as possible. 4. Partner with CG Recruiting IMT/CGRC in support of recruiting efforts. We are looped into the Recruiting IMT, where I get frequent updates on their efforts, and they appreciate all of the support Retirees are providing in their communities to speak with infl uencers and potential recruits. Please continue to share your service stories to drum up interest in the CG! 5. Monitor PPC-RAS customer communications (e, g. new phone system) and planned VA compensation in Direct Access (DA). In progress. 6. Improve communications with CG "Gray Area" retirees, including provisions for RET-2 to get an estimate of retired pay from PPC six months prior to transfer to RET-1. In progress. 7. Update CI 1800.5I in alignment with the unique needs and demographics of Regional Retiree Councils (RRCs), reducing administrative demands. In progress. If you have input/questions on any of the above, please contact Bob Hinds at: Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil Thoughts on retirement: "For many, retirement is a time for personal growth, which becomes the path to greater freedom." —Robert Delamontague 8 SPRING 2024 THE LONG BLUE LINE
MCPO LLOYD PIERCE: Spring has sprung, and with it, we’re reminded that so has an election year. I’m confident none of us who have served need to be reminded of the importance of voting. Please look at our government representative make-up and consider how many of our representatives have military experience. The national numbers hover at record lows prompting me to take military experience into consideration as I make my decisions. Veterans have a lot at stake, and we need to have our viewpoints represented and our earned benefi ts protected. There are numerous sources to look up details and numbers—including through your Military Coalition organizations. LAST CALL! As pointed out a few times over the last couple years, the VA and DoD have transitioned to electronic medical records. This has required the Coast Guard to scan all paper records into electronic files. The Coast Guard has been actively engaged in this task for several years and is scheduled to complete it in April 2024. That means, if you still have your official Coast Guard Medical Record, you are about to miss the bus. You need to get your record to the nearest Coast Guard medical clinic or mail it to the address listed in the Reunions, Notices & Items of Interest section in this edition—NOW! I’d like to believe that this is a wasted paragraph, but I know at least four friends in my small circle that have admitted to having their record. You will not be able to file claims with the VA without a computerized medical record. Stop what you’re doing, find a copier or office supply store, make a copy of your record, send it to HSWL … then come back and finish reading. Soon, you will be receiving a letter from Admiral Raymond (CG-1M) about The Long Blue Line. This is an important letter; it requires you to act if you wish to continue to receive a free copy of The Long Blue Line printed edition by mail. I won’t rehash the contents here as the letter is self-explanatory. I say again, the letter requires you to act if you wish to continue receiving The Long Blue Line printed edition by mail for free. Our retiree community continues to serve through various initiatives. The National Retiree Help Desk continues to be staffed and actively assisting retirees. We have an active mentoring network where retiring (or retired) members can match up with a mentor to help them through the transition to the civilian world. We have groups helping with recruiting events and we have new chapters coming online. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and every event and gathering grows our community. We are moving ahead as a group and keeping ourselves credible and relevant. Check inside this publication or contact your regional chairperson for details. This year I’m excited to head to Topeka, Kansas, as the CG Pay and Personnel Center hosts our Coast Guard National Retiree Council’s annual meeting. This will provide an opportunity to visit and exchange information and ideas with the people that keep us paid. We look forward to a productive and informative meeting. Lastly, my tenure as a national co-chair is coming to an end. We will be soliciting for a replacement soon. If you feel inspired to serve—watch for the solicitation. MCPO Lloyd Pierce, USCG (Ret.): cgsilverancientmariner11@outlook.com RADM Merrie Austin, USCG (Ret.): maustincgnrc@gmail.com THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 9
Page 1 and 2: SPRING 2024 ACTION NEEDED TO CONTIN
Page 3 and 4: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 3
Page 7: I have said time and again, as we p
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 and 34: We are prototyping unmanned systems
Page 35 and 36: the Polar Security Cutter. This is
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
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THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 59
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Meanwhile, the two leading ships of
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In 1961, the Raymond Loewy and Will
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In the military, and in the Coast G
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Van Alstyne
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eassured Van Alstyne. He told her i
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RESERVE Chief Warrant Officer Antho
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! FERNANDEZ HIDALGO, CARLOS FIKE, B
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TINSTMAN, LAWRENCE TISCHER, JACE TO
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BOYLE, DAVID SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH CDR
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FRIER, WALTER GARLAND, TX YNC RET.
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MIZELLE, TIMOTHY COLERAIN, NC SKCS
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TAPS TURNER, THERON DEPTFORD, NJ CW
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NOAA TAPS ALDERMAN, RICHARD TUCSON,
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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER EMBRACE EVERY SEA
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NEW USCG RETIREE MENTORING & TRANSI
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COAST GUARD LEGAL ASSISTANCE Coast
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CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER, RETIREE
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All other inquiries: osgli.osgli@pr
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The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

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