ALCOAST 313/20 - AUG 2020 UNDERSEA MEDICINE IN THE USCG

R 191100 AUG 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06420//
ALCOAST 313/20
COMDTNOTE 6420
SUBJ: UNDERSEA MEDICINE IN THE USCG
A. Diving Program Manual, COMDTINST M3150.l (series)
B. Manual of the Medical Department, NAVMED P-117 (series)
1. Effective upon publication of this ALCOAST, COMDT (CG-11) may designate physicians
in the CG or detailed to the CG as CG Undersea Medical Officers (UMOs). UMOs have the
authority to recommend diving medical qualifications (initial and periodic) to Commander,
Personnel Services Center, Personnel Services Division, Medical Review Branch (PSC-PSD-med).
CG UMOs also have the authority to recommend waivers for conditions that are considered
disqualifying for initial and/or continued diving duties to PSC-PSD-med. CG UMOs further
have the authority to recommend Return to Diving Duties (ROD) to Commanding Officers/Officers
-In-Charge/Officers In Non-Commissioned Charge (COs/OICs/OINCs) following an illness or
injury that does not raise a question of continued diving medical qualification. CG UMOs
are also designated USCG Diving Officers by COMDT (CG-721) and are subject to all diving
operation policy and procedure administration, application, training, and execution as
outlined in REF (A).
2. Designation as a CG UMO must be communicated by a memorandum from COMDT (CG-11) to
the Medical Officer(s) in question, with a carbon copy to COMDT (CG-721) and PSC-PSD-med.
3. CG UMOs are required to be physician graduates of the U.S. Navy (USN) Undersea Medical
Officer Course (UMOC).
4. The U.S. Navy (USN) no longer recognizes the Diving Medical Officer Course instruction
at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Command as sufficient for UMO duties. The term Diving
Medical Officer "DMO" is no longer recognized within the USN and will no longer be used
by the CG.
5. ROD can be recommended to COs/OICs/OINCs by any physician designated as a UMO by the
USN or USCG.
6. CG Medical Officers who are not UMOs and recommend ROD must have their recommendation
confirmed by a CG or USN UMO via telemedicine (at minimum) prior to the diver in question
returning to diving duties.
7. The CG must follow REF (B) for initial and periodic diving medical qualification, to
include waiver criteria.
8. POC: CAPT Shane C. Steiner, Chief, Division of Operational Medicine, COMDT (CG-1121),
email shane.c.steiner@uscg.mil, phone 202-475-5256.
9. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
10.Internet release is authorized.