NTrain 2009 – Vice Admiral (Select) Breckenridge Touts
Benefits of Coast Guard Modernization

Article by Rob Westcott, Division Chief Publications, Department of Public Affairs
Photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor SITREP

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03 Friday- Vice Admiral (Select) Jody Breckinridge

Vice Admiral (Select) Jody Breckenridge, Director, Strategic Transformation Team, and Chief, Coast Guard Personnel shared with members of the Auxiliary National Board and other Auxiliary leaders gathered at the 2009 Auxiliary National Training Conference a vision of the Modernized Coast Guard, a picture of America’s Guardians better positioned for sustainable mission execution.

Instead of the old model of various force components working in a semi-independent manner, often with regional delineations and lack of standardization, the new unified command structure, with functional rather than regional commands will ensure that the right people and assets, with the right training and logistical support will be applied to any given situation.

Standardization will mean that a boatswain’s mate who has served on a forty-seven boat in Miami can jump on a 47 in Boston, and all the hardware and, even more, all practices and procedures will be the same.

Personnel-wise, all certified in a particular area across the breadth of the Coast Guard will be qualified to a common standard and can be expected to perform to that standard whether serving in San Francisco or San Juan.

When there is a call for a mission, optimum human and material assets can be applied to that mission. A unified command structure will put the right people and hardware on the job. When they are on mission, those assets will have the logistical support they need through a unified and enhanced Mission Support System.

Layers of bureaucracy and operational friction will be eliminated, allowing our people to focus on safe, effective mission completion.

As things change and the Coast Guard must itself change to meet changing times and demands, the now-change-centric Force will be better oriented and equipped to make those changes. The new structure will promote, rather than inhibit needed changes.

“Where does the Auxiliary fit into this picture?” a Director of Auxiliary in attendance asked the Admiral, who has been a long-time supporter of the Auxiliary. That, she said, would be part of a strategic human capital plan, which will be developed as a part of the modernization process. “As I look to our future, I see more integration (of all human assets in Team Coast Guard, including the Auxiliary).” Capabilities of the Auxiliary will be assessed and brought into the equation as a part of Team Coast Guard human assets.

~IJLA