ALCOAST 226/23 - JUN 2023 DRY SUIT SERVICE LIFE EXPIRATION UPDATE

R 211610Z JUN 23 MID120000237967U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 226/23
SSIC 10470
SUBJ: DRY SUIT SERVICE LIFE EXPIRATION UPDATE
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 261954Z AUG 22/ALCOAST 313/22
B. Rescue and Survival Systems, COMDTINST 10470.10H
1. This message clarifies, and updates guidance found in REF (A),
concerning forthcoming policy pertaining to dry suit service life.
2. In accordance with REF (B), a dry suit is required to be issued,
worn, and maintained by all boat crews and scheduled mission
personnel operating at cold weather units (north of 31 degrees north
latitude), afloat and ashore, including all major cutters, MSRTs,
MSSTs, and PSUs, regardless of homeport when both air and water
temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Due to a 40% failure rate of dry suits with aged seals and/or
GORE-TEX fabric, the Office of Boat Forces consulted with dry suit
manufacturers and established an 8-year service life for dry suits.
Effective 1 October 2023, all in-service dry suits shall not exceed
an 8-year service life expiration.
4. FUNDING.
    a. The Office of Boat Forces will fund a one-time replacement for
units who have dry suits with an in-service date older than 8 years
or within one year of expiration. Units with dry suits not
manufactured by Kokatat or Mustang Survival must also have those
dry suits replaced and COMDT (CG-731) will fund dry suit replacement
under these circumstances.
    b. The Office of Boat Forces will also fund depot-level
refurbishment. Units with questions concerning depot-level
refurbishment must contact Mustang Survival or Kokatat,
respectively, to determine whether their affected suits are
eligible for this service. Dry suits that are refurbished using
COMDT (CG-731) funding must be sent to the respective manufacturer
NLT 01 August 2023 to be returned prior to the 2023-2024 cold
weather season.
    c. Unit commands must contact the Rescue & Survival Systems
Program Manager by COB on 15 July 2023 to have their dry
suits refurbished or replaced.
5. Visit the Office of Boat Forces SharePoint page for further
guidance at the following link:

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg731/SitePages/Rescue%20and%20
Survival%20Systems%20(RSS).aspx

6. POC: Rescue & Survival Systems Program Manager, BOSN3 Thomas
Pease, Thomas.A.Pease@uscg.mil.
7. Ms. Lisa R. Schleder-Kirkpatrick, Acting, Assistant Commandant
for Capability (CG-7), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.