ALCOAST 300/19 - SEP 2019 PROSPECTIVE COMMANDING OFFICER/OFFICER IN CHARGE FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING (500271)

R 191523 SEP 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N03502//
ALCOAST 300/19
COMDTNOTE 3502
SUBJ:  PROSPECTIVE COMMANDING OFFICER/OFFICER IN CHARGE FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING (500271)
A. Cutter Training and Qualification Manual, COMDTINST M3502.4 (series)
B. United States Coast Guard Regulations 1992, COMDTINST M5000.3 (series)
1. REF (A), Paragraph 7.D., requires Prospective Commanding Officers (PCOs)/
Prospective Officers in Charge (POICs) to spend a period of underway familiarization
on a cutter of the same class as their prospective command but not on the same cutter.
This requirement was issued as a result of the National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) recommendations following the collisions and loss of life onboard
CGC BLACKTHORN and CGC CUYAHOGA.
2. The Education and Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) is responsible for
assigning PCO Familiarization (FAM) quotas to PCOs/POICs each year. PCOs/POICs shall
contact ETQC as soon as they receive PCS orders to arrange for this mandated training.
A period of 2-5 days is typically authorized not to exceed $800.00 per quota.
3. PCOs/POICs are required to complete a PCO/POIC FAM checklist during their assigned
training that can be found at: http://cglink.uscg.mil/80015bc2. The checklist items
should be signed off by the cutter’s CO, XO or respective Subject Matter Expert (SME).
The PCO/POIC may annotate this checklist with a “not completed” for each missed item
and state the reason in the comment section. A copy of the completed/annotated PCO
FAM checklist shall be included with the command relief letter endorsement required
by Section 4-1-25 of REF (B).
4. Individuals exempt from this requirement include members who have previously
served on the same class of cutter as CO, XO, OIC or XPO. For single cutter classes
(CGC HEALY, CGC MACKINAW, CGC ALEX HALEY, for example), a PCO FAM ride on a WAGB,
WLB or WMEC respectively, or similar cutter is authorized.
5. This is a prime opportunity (and requirement) for eligible PCOs/POICs to observe
underway operations, drills and exercises, and gain insight into the physical
characteristics and handling of their future afloat commands.
6. PCO FAM rides are not meant to be Area of Responsibility (AOR) FAM rides and are to
be conducted on board the closest available cutter to a member's current duty assignment.
7. Typically, not all of the available PCO FAM quotas are used annually due to the
exemption policy previously discussed. Though PCOs/POICs have priority, there is a
limited opportunity for first-time Prospective Executive Officers (PXOs)/Prospective
Executive Petty Officers (PXPOs) to complete FAM rides on a first-come, first-serve
basis. The eligibility, exemption criteria and quota cost limitations also apply.
Interested individuals should contact ETQC to check the availability of FAM ride quotas.
8. PCO FAM ride waiver requests should be sent via AOIX and addressed to
CMD-SMB-COMDT-CG7, copy to CMD-SMB-CG-ETQC, CMD-SMB-CG-FORCECOM, CGD-SMB-CG-PSC,
Operational Commanders and all affected commands. Waiver requests will only be
considered when endorsed by a member's future operational commander.
9. COMDT (CG-751) POC: Dennis Thorseth, (202) 372-2335 or Dennis.C.Thorseth@uscg.mil.
10. RDML Matthew W. Sibley, Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.