 |
Friday Afternoon General Board MeetingArticle & photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor, SITREP |
 |
| Chief Director of Auxiliary CAPT Mark Rizzo |
Friday afternoon, August 22
National Commodore (NACO) Steve Budar reconvened the National Board meeting and the preliminary items of business were accomplished.
Chief Director of Auxiliary, CAPT Mark Rizzo, USCG, was introduced and he offered comments to the Board. He praised his staff, “I was on the job less than four months and they had me up to speed in record time.” He commented on the modernization of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary, “I am receiving updates on a daily basis.”
He remarked that he is focusing on some specific areas, mentioning AUXDATA, the Interpreter Corps and the new Navigation Systems program. He said that there has been significant progress in ironing out some of the kinks in the AUXDATA system. There are some significant projects going; the goal is to meet the future needs of the system in the form of needed enhancements.
He stressed a need for a uniform recruiting and training program for the Interpreter Corps. They provide an invaluable service to not only the Coast Guard but also to other branches of the military. “Our goal is a robust interpreter program,” he said.
ICS 210 is a mandated program and the Coast Guard is an integral partner. “We are working to get as many instructors into the field as soon as possible,” he said. He further cautioned, “The quantity of qualified instructors deems it necessary that you do not pass up an opportunity to sit in a class.”
Captain Richard Moore, National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the National President of NASBLA (elect) followed with comments about safe boating. CAPT Moore offered boating statistics, quoting the number of injuries and deaths.
The recommendation to create a new Flotilla Staff Officer-Augmentation was defeated.
Chief Director CAPT Mark Rizzo presented additional Coast Guard awards. These awards will be reported in a separate article on SITREP.
The meeting was then recessed to meet at 0800, Saturday morning.
~HRW