ACN 058/18 - JUN 2018 ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE PLANNING - 2 (MSP2) COURSE

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE               CANCEL DATE  05 JUN 2019

R 060705 JUN 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5RI//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N16130//
ACN 058/18
SUBJ:  ANNOUNCEMENT OF MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE PLANNING - 2 (MSP2) COURSE
A. Command Duty Officer and Operations Unit Search and Rescue New Performance Planning
Front End Analysis, 4 Mar 2015
B. U.S. Coast Guard Addendum to the United States National Search and Rescue Supplement (NSS)
to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR),
COMDTINST M16130.2 (series)
1. COMDT (CG-SAR) sponsored REF (A) to address systemic issues and concerns within the
USCG Search and Rescue (SAR) system. A recommendation from REF (A) was the development
of an advanced Maritime SAR Planners course. COMDT (CG-SAR) is pleased to announce the
availability of Maritime Search and Rescue Planning 2 (MSP2) course.
2. MSP2 is a five-day course designed to teach use of the Search and Rescue Optimal
Planning System (SAROPS) and SAR planning considerations beyond what is taught in the
Maritime Search and Rescue Planning (MSP) course and provide a review of recent policy
changes. The target audience is SAR watchstanders (Command Duty Officers and Operations
Unit watchstanders) as defined in Section 1.3. of REF (B). In order to ensure students
are proficient with SAROPS and have experience prosecuting SAR cases, graduates of MSP
must remain qualified as a SAR watchstander for a minimum of 24 cumulative months before
applying to MSP2.
3. Section 1.3.2.4.(c) of REF (B) requires that SAR Watchstanders return to MSP following
eight consecutive years as a SAR Watchstander, prior to assignment in a third consecutive
SAR billet, and/or if the length of time from the date of last recertification letter exceeds
five years. For the purposes of meeting this requirement, both MSP and MSP2 are approved
courses and fulfill COMDT (CG-SAR)'s intent of ensuring standardized SAR training is
completed given the timelines prescribed above. Operational Commanders shall exercise due
diligence in determining which course would be most beneficial to the member’s professional
SAR planner development. The watchstander's time away from the unit shall not be a
determining factor. Appropriate comments justifying the desired course (MSP or MSP2) shall
be included in the Electronic Training Request (ETR).
4. COMDT (CG-SAR) is in the process of updating REF (B). The changes above will be
incorporated into the next version of REF (B), which will be released within the next year.
5. Always Ready, That Others May Live.
6. Released by Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director, Incident Management and Preparedness Policy.
7. Internet release authorized.