ALCOAST 116/23 - MAR 2023 EXEMPTION FOR BOARDING OFFICER (BO) QUALIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

R 241348Z MAR 23 MID200080837983U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 116/23
SSIC 16247
SUBJ: EXEMPTION FOR BOARDING OFFICER (BO) QUALIFICATION ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS
A. U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Manual (MLEM),
COMDTINST M16247.1H
B. U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Competency Qualification Manual
(LECQM), COMDTINST M16247.3G
1. This ALCOAST announces the eligibility requirements and process
for active and reserve members to request an exemption from
completing the Basic Boarding Officer Course (BBOC) or Boarding
Officer Practical Course (BOPC) to be eligible for the Boarding
Officer (BO) qualification as required by REFs (A) and (B).
2. Background. In accordance with the Commandant's Strategy to
modernize our training approach to strengthen our workforce, COMDT
(CG-MLE) is implementing a BBOC and BOPC exemption for qualified
candidates. As the Coast Guard continues to invest in our people,
we must continue to recognize the valuable contributions of those
active duty and reserve members who enrich our maritime law
enforcement community. Active duty and reserve members who
completed formal law enforcement training through a Peace Officer
Standard of Training (POST) or Federal Law Enforcement Training
Accreditation (FLETA) Academy, will not be required to complete
BBOC or BOPC to obtain a BO certification. This new approach will
aid field units in streamlining individual BO certification
processes while also balancing increasing field demands for BBOC
and/or BOPC student quotas.
3. Eligibility Requirements. Meeting the prerequisites outlined in
this paragraph enables members to submit an exemption request,
via the chain of command, to Coast Guard Headquarters, CG-MLE.
To be eligible, a member must:
   a. Have been command certified as a Boarding Team Member (BTM)
for a minimum of two years;
   b. Must have been command certified as a BTM in the last three
years;
   c. Must have successfully completed the Initial Law Enforcement
Qualification Course (Course Code 100537);
d. Must have successfully completed a POST approved, or FLETA
approved LE Academy;
   e. Must have been employed by an LE agency outside of the U.S.
Coast Guard within the last five years; and
   f. Must have been employed by an LE agency outside of the
U.S. Coast Guard for a minimum of three years; and
   g. If no longer employed by an LE agency outside of the
U.S. Coast Guard, must have separated in good standing.
4. Submission Process. Members must utilize the memorandum
template located on the COMDT (CG-MLE-2) SharePoint
(linked in Paragraph 6). This exemption memorandum must be
routed with all corresponding documentation to the first Active
Duty, O-6 in the member's chain of command. Once endorsed
this exemption package will be sent to the COMDT (CG-MLE-2)
distribution e-mail: HQS-DG-lst-CG-MLE-2@uscg.mil, with
"Boarding Officer Academy Exemption Request" in the subject
line.
5. Adjudication Process. A panel of maritime law enforcement
experts will convene to review and adjudicate exemption requests.
The panel will convene during the last full business week of each
fiscal quarter. Members will be notified via memorandum of the
panel's decision. If the exemption is approved, the member will be
exempt from completing the BBOC or BOPC but will need to meet
the remaining requirements outlined in REF (B) for an initial BO
certification. The review panel will consist of not less than:
   a. COMDT (CG-MLE-2) Division Chief (O5) – Chairperson
   b. COMDT (CG-MLE-2) Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist
   c. COMDT (CG-721) Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist
   d. Maritime Enforcement Specialist Rating Force Master Chief
   e. Maritime Enforcement Specialist Reserve Force Advisor
6. Link: COMDT (CG-MLE-2) SharePoint
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cgmle/cgmle2/SitePages
/Home.aspx

7. This will be included in the next revision of REF (B).
8. POC: COMDT (CG-MLE-2), CWO4 Lee Conroy, (202) 372-2171,
Lee.J.Conroy@uscg.mil.
9. RDML Jo-Ann F. Burdian, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy
(CG-5R), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.