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Remarks by the President on Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Please, be seated.

Thank you, Secretary Shinseki, for the generous introduction — more importantly, the extraordinary bravery in service to our country, both on and off the battlefield.  I want to thank our outstanding Vice President, Joe Biden, and his wonderful wife, Dr. Jill Biden, for being here today.  We want to thank the Bidens for their son, Beau’s, service as well; we’re glad he just got back from Iraq.

Nickysplace Over and Out

We are done with this issue.  Several readers have provided more than ample  information and links to some pretty disturbing sites originate by this Coast Guard Auxiliarist.  They speak volumes about the issues that concern us.  Aside from the modernization issues that have made Coast Guard more civilian than military, Coast Guard will have decide if Auxiliarist need to meet any standard to wear the uniform that represents our Military.

We will not entertain or publish comments discussing Nicky.

Coast Guard Lead System Integrater

Coast Guard takes charge as integrator lead in procurements

By Michael DeKort

Doesn’t this mean all of the NSCs will be built with LM/NG in charge of those efforts. What if they put the OPCs under contract before the end of 2011 – does that get grandfathered? That effort alone is 1/2 of the entire Deepwater budget.

Do any of the NSCs have approved and working SCIFs? Do any of the NSCs have approved and working secret level communication systems? Did the TEMPEST tests pass? If so did they pass because they were designed and built properly or the Coast Guard either leveraged the illegal 123 waivers or created new ones?

Our FCA trial will be over before the deadline of 2011 mentioned in the article. Let’s see how everyone comes out when all is said and done at the trial. The Coast Guard senior leaders, congress, officials in the US Navy, the DHS IG, the CEOs and senior program management, engineering, quality and ethics leaders of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman will all have to answer for what they did and did not do before that deadline is reached.

Coast Guard Gets Only Three Takers for GEICO Military Achievement Award

Coast Guard has gone out with another ALCOAST soliciting nominations for the GEICO Military Achievement Award.  Only three nominations came under the first solicitation, and Coast Guard clearly wants more.  There is only one problem with that, if all they received under the original solicitation was three, then that’s probably all there was.

When you go back out re-solicit you send a signal that we’ll take anything.  This often ends up with Commanding Offices beefing up packages on individuals they didn’t and wouldn’t normally nominate.  The award is cheapened.

Coast Guard Rush to Modernize an Enormous Time and Money Sink

It’s been a while since we’ve had a comment by a reader that stands on its own merit and is worthy of its own post.  Reader “The Heretic,” left the comment below on our post Communication and Cooperation are no Substitute for Command and Control – The Civilianization of the U.S. Coast Guard.

 

Heretic nailed it.  We believe it would be prudent for Rep. Elijah Cummings, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to hold a series of hearing into Coast Guards modernization.  Admiral Thad Allen has forged ahead with modernization absent authorization.  What that means is congress neither appropriated nor authorized the expenditure of funds for modernization.  Allen marched forward using dollars scrapped from other resources at a time the service was down hundreds of millions of dollars due to failed Deepwarter ICGS programs.

 

In his rush to get Coast Guard “modernized” before his term as Commandant expired, he did so absent a full understanding of the impact it would have on his resources, people and credibility.  With modernization now at the stage Allen originally referred to as complete, it now has new name … version 1.0.  Nearly a dozen different contractors are working to correct the unintended consequences of 1.0 and get Coast Guard to 2.0.  Employees at the deckplate level already see signs that there may be a need for 3.0 and possibly a 4.0 if they don’t get it right.

 

These contractors come at great expense and are racking up charges in the millions of dollars collectively.  At the same time contractors are banking money off modernization, Coast Guard has left some of its people programs scrapped for cash. 

 

Submitted on 2009/11/11 at 2:20pm

Insider, I agree, especially with your last two sentences.

The first red flag for me is that we decided to pursue modernization full force during an election year in which there was definitely going to be a change in Administration and without Congressional authorization. Are we really that politically tone-deaf?

The second red flag was that this was supposed to be a “resource neutral” transition, which means staffing and funding do not follow responsibilities.

Lastly, all anyone had to do was look at the process maps/swim lanes to see that there are too many offices/divisions/departments involved in pieces of projects and decisions. This led to an inefficient and confused Chain of Command and no accountability whatsoever.

I’ll also second the enormous time and money sink that went into planning OPCOM/FORCECOM. Only to do it all over again for Interim OPCOM/FORCECOM. Only to do it a third time for “Numbered” PAC/FORCECOM/LANT/OPCOM, or whatever it is they are called today.

Coast Guard Report – Twelve O’Clock Reports

 

 

Coast Guard ALCOAST

643/09	RE-SOLICITATION FOR GEICO MILITARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD	11/10/2009
642/09	FY10 AFC30T MANAGEMENT	11/9/2009
641/09	234TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS	11/9/2009
640/09	RESERVE READINESS MANAGEMENT PERIOD (RMP) POLICY	11/9/2009
639/09	HALF MASTING OF NATIONAL ENSIGN	11/6/2009

North Carolina Newspapers Silent on John Vick Trial

The Daily Advance is one of several newspapers out of Elizabeth City North Carolina  that missed the story on Edenton, NC concert promoter John Vick. Virginia media didn’t miss the story:

• Danville concert promoter turns himself in
• City of Danville Police
• Concert Promoter Wanted For Fraud Turns Himself In
• Man Wanted In NC And VA For $85,000 In Bad Checks

Vick turned himself in on two warrants charging him with obtaining money under false pretenses in Danville, VA.  Vick’s company Radio Media Productions out of Edenton, NC was the promoter of the very successful Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Elizabeth City, NC.  Following the concert in Elizabeth City, more than one entity was left waiting for payment.  Chief among them, the United States Coast Guard who hosted the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert  in September 2008.

After months of waiting, Coast Guard MWR received a check for $39,000.00 from Vick, which was returned for insufficient funds.  Soon after an Outer Banks tour bus company who provided transportation for the concert was also looking for payment.  Other vendors voiced  concerns, then to the surprise of many vendors came contact by FBI.

This story is far from over.  Mr. Vick has been charged but not convicted.  He goes to trial in Virginia on the 13th of November.  Until then he is presumed innocent.

More to follow on this developing story.

Can Coast Guard Auxilliarist – Any Requirements to Represent the U.S. Coast Guard?

The Nick Khamhou Dethoudom Chaleunphone story we have been following has led to some new questions by our readers.  The question is what qualifies a member of the public to become a member of the Coast Guard Auxillary?  We have the answer, but does Coasat Guard have the answer?

United States Code TITLE 14 > PART II > CHAPTER 23 > § 823 says

The Auxiliary shall be composed of citizens of the United States and its territories and possessions, who are owners, sole or part, of motorboats, yachts, aircraft, or radio stations or who by reason of their special training or experience are deemed by the Commandant to be qualified for duty in the Auxiliary, and who may be enrolled therein pursuant to applicable regulations.

Is Coast Guard Acquisition on Target for Success

Coast Guards much  besieged Major Acquisition program has been under the eye of congress, and now a multi-million dollar law suit.  Has Coast Guard positioned itself for success?  The latest addition to the CG-9 Acquisition leadership is Rear Admiral John Korn.  His on-line biography indicates that he does not have a background in Acquisition.  Is Coast Guard setting the right course, or should more emphasis be placed on bringing in SES acquisition talent.

Rear Admiral John H. Korn assumed duties as the Coast Guard Program Executive Officer (PEO) and Director of Acquisition Programs on June 16, 2009. His duties as PEO include management oversight of all Coast Guard acquisition programs and projects, which provide for the sustainment, modernization, and recapitalization of surface, air, command and control, and logistics assets for the Coast Guard’s multiple maritime missions.

FBI Investigation Continues Into Fort Hood Shooting

The FBI continues to work closely with the Department of the Army in the joint, ongoing investigation into the tragic events that occurred last Thursday at Fort Hood. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims and their families.

With respect to the investigation—the Army Criminal Investigative Division is leading a coordinated criminal investigation with the support of the FBI and other components of the Department of Justice and the Texas Rangers. The investigation is in its early stages and the information we can provide now is limited.