ALCOAST 337/19 - OCT 2019 COAST GUARD HOLISTIC STUDY AND ANALYSIS FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/31/2019 03:03 PM EDTR 311452 OCT 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCMS//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01040//
ALCOAST 337/19
COMDTNOTE 1040
SUBJ: COAST GUARD HOLISTIC STUDY AND ANALYSIS FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES
A. USCG Human Capital Strategy (2016)
B. USCG Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan (2015-2018)
C. Motor Vehicle Manual, COMDTINST M11240.9 (series)
1. Background. IAW REFs (A) and (B), I am pleased to announce that the Office of Diversity
and Inclusion (CG-127) has contracted with RAND Corporation's Homeland Security Operational
Analysis Center (HSOAC) to conduct a Holistic Study and Analysis on the Recruiting and
Retention of Underrepresented Minorities in the Coast Guard. This effort will help us
better understand the many variables and identify any barriers that impact the recruiting
and retention of underrepresented minorities. The purpose of this ALCOAST is to not only
announce this effort but to serve as a call to action for leadership support.
2. Action. Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge, and Gold/Silver Badges shall encourage
and make every effort to support participation of active-duty enlisted and officer
personnel (including reservists if on EAD or ADOS contract) in this study. The use of
government vehicles to travel to designated focus group locations is authorized IAW REF (C).
Additional information will be provided in separate correspondence.
3. Participants. Participation in the study focus groups and service-wide survey is strictly
voluntary. Maximum participation is encouraged for members invited to the focus groups and
for all active-duty personnel in the service-wide survey. Reservists on EAD/ADOS are being
invited to participate in focus groups and the survey to ensure the voice of the Reserve
Component is heard.
4. Study Composition. The study will solicit participation from Coast Guard members through
two research phases – focus groups and a service-wide survey.
a. Focus Groups. HSOAC will conduct focus groups with a sample of active-duty enlisted and
officer women and men to influence the study’s survey development. Participants for the focus
groups will be selected based on demographic data and geographic location in the vicinity of
each focus group’s location. An electronic invite from RAND Corporation (HSOAC) will be sent
to the participants’ Coast Guard email accounts. Upon receiving the invite members may
indicate their interest in participating. For those who participate in the focus groups,
HSOAC will treat the information provided as confidential. Individual responses provided will
not be disclosed to anyone outside of the research team. Information from the discussion will
be summarized in aggregate form across all participants before any reports or presentations are made.
There will be no attribution. Focus groups will seek to learn about underrepresented
minorities’ experiences when joining the Coast Guard, career development within the Coast
Guard, promotion/advancement and assignment opportunities, factors they may consider when
deciding to remain or separate, and experiences with diversity, inclusion and EEO during
their Coast Guard careers.
b. Focus Group Dates and Locations. Focus groups will be held December 2019 – February 2020,
with specific dates and times to be announced once participant availability is determined.
Focus group locations include:
Portsmouth, Virginia – Base Portsmouth
Miami, Florida – Base Miami Beach
Alameda, California – Base Alameda
New Orleans, Louisiana – Base New Orleans
New York City, New York – Sector New York
Washington, DC – Base National Capitol Region
c. Service-Wide Survey. Findings from the focus groups will identify key themes to
aid in developing a survey that will be sent to all active-duty personnel. While locations for
focus groups are limited by the study design, members should not be discouraged if they are
unable to participate in a focus group as they will still be given the opportunity to
participate in the study through a service-wide survey. In late Spring 2020, RAND will launch
an online survey that will seek broader participation across the Coast Guard and provide an
opportunity for ALL (active-duty and reserve on EAD or ADOS) members to provide input on these
issues. More information about the survey will be available in the coming months.
5. Findings and Recommendations: Findings from this study will be used to develop
recommendations regarding Coast Guard policies and practices to recruit and retain
underrepresented minorities and inform future human capital investment decisions. Although the
focus of the study will concentrate on underrepresented minorities, many of the areas studied
are not only specific to underrepresented minorities as recommendations are anticipated to
benefit and improve the work environment for all service members. The Coast Guard will receive
an interim report that it can begin taking action on in June 2020. The final report will be
published in CY21.
6. Consistent with the Commandant’s guiding principles of “Ready, Relevant, and Responsive,”
this study is part of the ongoing effort to recruit, develop and retain a workforce that
reflects the diverse fabric of the United States, and the beginning of a conversation specific
to the recruiting and retention of active-duty men and women in our workforce. All active-duty
Coast Guard members are encouraged to and will have an opportunity to participate in the
survey for the RAND study.
7. POC: Any questions or concerns about the study should be directed to COMDT (CG-127),
at: 2019randurmstudy@uscg.mil. Additional information and updates will be provided at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg1/CG1.HQ/CG-12B/SitePages/Home.aspx.
8. VADM Michael McAllister, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.