ALCOAST 460/10 - Don't Let Your Guard Down

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R 202040Z SEP 10

ALCOAST 460/10
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: SHIPMATES 7: SAFETY - DONT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN
1.  FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, THE NUMBER OF COAST GUARD
OPERATIONAL FATALITIES HAS EXCEEDED OUR OFF-DUTY FATALITIES.  TO STEM
THE TIDE OF FUTURE MISHAPS, I AM ANNOUNCING EXPANSION OF THE LANTAREA
"DONT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN" INITIATIVE SERVICE-WIDE.  THE INITIATIVE
WILL REINFORCE OUR NEED TO BE EVER-VIGILANT, BOTH ON THE JOB AND OFF.
IT WILL DEMAND EVERY MEMBERS DIRECT ENGAGEMENT.  I HAVE ASKED RADM
MARK TEDESCO, THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WORK-LIFE, AND THE
COAST GUARDS CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER, TO SPEARHEAD OUR EFFORTS.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE RELEASED WITHIN THE
MONTH.
2.  SHIPMATES, AS YOU ARE ALL UNDOUBTEDLY AWARE, 2010 HAS BEEN A YEAR
IN WHICH OUR OPERATING TEMPO AND THE NATIONS DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES
HAS NECESSITATED MULTIPLE "ALL HANDS ON DECK" EVOLUTIONS.  YOU HAVE
DISTINGUISHED YOURSELVES, THE COAST GUARD, AND THE NATION THROUGH
YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE NOT ONLY IN RESPONSE TO THE HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE
AND THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, BUT ALSO IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT
OF OUR MYRIAD DAY-TO-DAY MISSIONS.  IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO SERVE
ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU.  ALONG WITH PRIDE IN OUR SUCCESSES HAS ALSO
COME A CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE, BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY.
WHILE WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS RECENT SUCCESSES, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS
YEAR, OUR SHIPMATES HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE AND
SERIOUS INJURY ON AND OFF DUTY.
3.  SAFETY IS A 24/7 DUTY AND STATE OF MIND.  WE AS AN ORGANIZATION
MUST CONTINUE TO PLACE SAFETY AT A PREMIUM.  WE WILL EXECUTE ALL
MISSIONS THE RIGHT WAY, THE SAFE WAY, EVERY TIME. WE WILL EXTEND THIS
ETHOS BEYOND OUR PLACES OF WORK TO OUR OFF-DUTY TIME.
4.  PROMOTION OF SAFETY BOTH ON-DUTY AND OFF IS IN KEEPING WITH MY
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF HONORING OUR PROFESSION AND RESPECTING OUR
SHIPMATES.  SAFETY REQUIRES LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR BOTH YOURSELF AND OTHERS.  WHILE ON DUTY,
WE OFTEN OPERATE IN AN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.  DESPITE OUR
BEST EFFORTS, MISHAPS SOMETIMES OCCUR.  MISHAPS ALSO OCCUR OFF-DUTY,
WHEN OUR SHIPMATES MIGHT NOT BE EXERCISING THE SAME VIGILANCE THEY
DEMONSTRATE ON THE JOB.
5.  THERE IS NO HIGHER COMPLIMENT THAN TO BE CALLED A SHIPMATE AND NO
BETTER GOAL THAN BEING A GOOD ONE.  BEING A GOOD SHIPMATE MEANS
HOLDING YOURSELF AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE AND BEING SOMEONE WHO CAN BE
COUNTED UPON WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS.  SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
EVERY MEMBER OF THE COAST GUARD FAMILY.  DONT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN -
BE A GOOD SHIPMATE: WHEN IN DOUBT, ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY AND
SPEAK UP WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG.
7.  STAND A TAUT WATCH...SEMPER PARATUS.
8.  RELEASED BY ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT.
9.  INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.