ACN 086/21 - SEP 2021 BOAT FORCES UNDERWATER EGRESS TRAINING

united states coast guard

R 021227Z SEP 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST COMDT NOTICE
BT
UNCLAS
ACN 086/21
SSIC 16114
SUBJ:  BOAT FORCES UNDERWATER EGRESS TRAINING
A. CG SILC 11100 Memo dated 24 Aug 2021 (NOTAL)
B. U.S. Coast Guard Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Manual
Volume II, COMDTINST M16114.33D
C. Boat Crew Qualification Handbook, Volume 1, BQH 16115.1 (series)
1. Purpose: This ACN provides an updated policy and guidance to
the field in light of the Revocation of Occupancy per REF (A)
effectively closing the Rescue Swimmer Training Facility, which
also houses the Boat Forces Underwater Egress Trainer (BF UWET),
at Aviation Technical Training Center, Elizabeth City, NC.
Preliminary reports estimate this closure will last at least
a year.
2. Background: Approximately 2000 Boat Forces personnel undergo
training at the BF UWET each year in order to qualify as a Boat
Crew Member per policy contained in REF (B). The loss of this
valuable training facility represents a significant set back to
the Boat Forces community. The Office of Boat Forces (CG-731) is
working diligently with FC-T to identify alternative training
facilities to address this training gap.
3. Action: Until a suitable training intervention is located to
replace the UWET, the following updates to REF (B) are implemented
effective immediately:
    a. The successful completion of the UWET requirement for all
boat crew positions is indefinitely deferred.
    b. Students applying for the BM Rating Apprentice Program (RAP)
are not required to have completed UWET prior to attending BM RAP.
    c. BM "A" School students will meet Terminal Performance
Objectives for egress through the use of the Shallow Water Egress
Trainer (SWET) chair at TRACEN Yorktown.
4. With the temporary deferment of resident training for this
critical skill, unit CO/OIC’s must continue to be diligent in
ensuring members possess the knowledge and skills to assume boat
crew qualifications. Specific emphasis should be placed on boat
crew task BCM-02-16-TYPE (Boat Egress Principles and Procedures),
contained in REF (C) when certifying new crewmembers.
5. These changes will be made to REF (B), which will be released
within the next year.
6. This message is cancelled on 01 SEP 2022.
POC: Mr. Kevin Jones, COMDT (CG-7311), (202) 372-2459.
7. Released by Ms. Lisa Schleder-Kirkpatrick, Acting Assistant
Commandant for Capability (CG-7).
8. Internet release is authorized.