ALCOAST 159/24 - APR 2024 BOAT FORCES READINESS SYSTEM

R 041452Z APR 24   MID120001007149U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 159/24
SSIC 16240
SUBJ: BOAT FORCES READINESS SYSTEM
A. Boat Operations and Training (BOAT), Volume II,
COMDTINST 16114.33E
1. The recent revision of REF (A) signifies a major change, notably
the creation of the Boat Forces Readiness System.
2. Training Center Yorktown's Boat Forces & Cutter Operations Branch
and the Office of Boat Forces (CG-731) completed a comprehensive
overhaul of the legacy Boat Forces Readiness Framework and found
that assessments, doctrine, and evaluation did not clearly define
how each element worked to support each other. Through analysis and
an integrated systems approach, the Boat Forces Readiness System was
created and is delineated in the latest release of REF (A).
3. The Boat Forces Readiness System is a continuous improvement
process where each phase (Policy/Doctrine/Tactics, Techniques, and
Procedures, Assessments, Performance Support, and Evaluation) helps
improve and reinforce the next stage.
4. Boat Forces Standardization (STAN) Teams were established to
ensure a level of standardization of material condition of boats,
personal protective equipment, and training across Boat Forces
units. Upon promulgation of REF (A), Boat Forces STAN Teams have
been rebranded as the Operational Assessment and Readiness Support
(OARS) Team. Although legacy assessment functions will persist to
determine the unit's current state of readiness and adherence to
Commandant Policy, the primary focus of the OARS Team is to
pinpoint, develop, and provide performance support tools customized
to the specific needs of individual units. The OARS Team shall
contact units no later than 30 days from date of visit to ensure
units have a thorough understanding of implemented changes.
5. A full crosswalk between legacy Boat Forces STAN and Boat Forces
OARS was completed. The Boat Forces OARS assessment will contain the
following items, as appropriate:
    a. In-Brief: This will be conducted with unit command cadre, RFO
Team representatives, and others as directed by the Operational
Commander.
    b. There will be no knowledge-based exam during the OARS visits.
    c. An administrative inspection will be completed but at a
reduced amount. A full administrative inspection will be completed
during RFO visits.
    d. A comprehensive inspection of all Personal Protective
Equipment assigned to boat crewmembers to include all reserve gear
bags.
    e. A materiel inspection of all assigned assets.
    f. A full power trial will be completed on FMC assets.
    g. Support during an OARS Team visit, such as tailored training
to boat crews based on the assessment results and/or the
commands desires.
    h. Performance based drills will be conducted.
    i. Nights drills will be incorporated into the schedule.
    j. DSF higher level Boat Ops will be evaluated with the support
of SMTC.
    k. Out brief: This will be conducted with unit command cadre, RFO
Team representatives, and others as directed by the Operational
Commander.
    l. Upon receipt of OARS assessment report, units shall provide a
written report of corrected discrepancies within 90 days.
6. Future initiatives include:
    a. The OARS inspection checklist is currently under review. The
new checklist will focus less on administrative requirements and
more on operational readiness. Reducing the administrative items
on the OARS checklist will allow additional time to focus on crew
proficiency. A separate RFO checklist will be developed to cover
full administrative requirements. Expected implementation date
NLT April 2024.
    b. Beta Testing the concept of running follow-on drills for all
Coxswains that fail an initial OARS performance-based drill. Results
of the follow-on drill shall be captured in the comments section of
the drill results in the unit's OARS report. Expected implementation
date NLT April 2024.
    c. Beta Testing having the unit's Assistant Engineer Petty
Officer, or other designated Machinery Technician as determined
by the unit's command, conduct a materiel inspection (MI) on one
of the unit's assets. The MI shall be conducted under the direction
and guidance of a certified OARS Team member for that asset type.
Comments and asset inspected shall be noted within the comments
section for that asset in the unit's OARS report. Expected
implementation date NLT April 2024.
    d. In coordination with the Office of Safety (CG-1K3), Team
Coordination Training (TCT) Facilitator training is scheduled for
all billeted OARS Team Leaders on 29 April 2024. Team Leaders will
become TCT Facilitator certified and begin offering TCT training to
all Boat Forces units at time of assessment. Expected implementation
date NLT June 2024.
    e. Collaborating with the Office of Safety (CG-1K3) to develop a
process to inspect how unit's conduct, track, and train risk
management at their units in respect to Real-Time and Deliberate
risk assessment. Expected implementation date NLT September 2024.
    f. Develop drill sheets which OARS Team members will utilize
during a unit's assessment to evaluate the respective Ready for
Operations (RFO) Team. RFO Teams will be evaluated on conducting an
OARS performance-based drill. Expected implementation date
NLT June 2024.
    g. Develop a Short Ranged-Unmanned Aerial System (SR-UAS) program
with certified pilots to implement SR-UAS training support during
assessments of all units with Higher Level Operation designations,
(i.e., Pursuit, Tactical). Expected implementation date FY25.
    h. Developing a standardized process within the Doctrine Section
to update and review performance-based drill books on an annual
basis. Expected implementation date NLT September 2024.
    i. OARS shall conduct quarterly OARS/RFO alignment calls. These
calls shall be mandatory for at least one member of each RFO Team
to attend. Expected implementation date NLT September 2024.
7. RFO Teams will continue to support the Boat Forces Readiness
System by ensuring assessments are completed at all Sector
subordinate units with assigned boats in accordance with REF (A).
RFO program initiatives that will be implemented ISO the readiness
framework include:
    a. RFO Teams shall send assessment reports to OARS. Expected
implementation date NLT June 2024.
    b. RFO Teams shall conduct a review of command administrative
items (i.e., command promulgated navigation standards) within
90 days of change of command. Expected implementation date NLT
September 2024.
8. Boat Crew Qualification Handbook, Volume 8 - Boat Forces
Readiness and Quality Assurance Specialist was promulgated on
21 March 2024.
    a. A standardized qualification program that will ensure a
thorough and practical training process for personnel assigned
to OARS Team and RFO billets. Additionally, this will provide
minimum standards of training for OARS Team and RFO billets
across the Coast Guard to ensure Readiness and Quality Assurance
Specialists accurately determine the readiness of our Boat Forces
units. RFO team members completing this standardized qualification
process will also meet Afloat Training Organization (ATO) minimum
standards for small cutter assessments and will be able and expected
to augment TSTA-S events in their AOR.
    b. OARS and RFO Team members shall certify as a Readiness and
Quality Assurance Specialists, based on their assigned billets. All
current members will be assigned an interim certification, and all
Readiness and Quality Assurance Specialists requirements shall be
completed within one year of promulgation of this ALCOAST. An
electronic version of BQH-8 is located on the Office of Boat Forces
(CG-731) SharePoint site:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg731/SitePages/Manuals.aspx

    c. Interim certification PQS will be signed off by the OARS Team
Section Chief, The Operational Commander, or their delegated
authority.
    d. Certification for personnel assigned to Training Center
Yorktown rests with the OARS Team Section Chief.
    e. Certification for personnel assigned to an RFO Team rest with
the Operational Commander or delegated authority.
    f. The Readiness and Quality Assurance Specialists competency
codes have been developed and are live in Direct Access.
9. Point of contacts (POC):
    a. Office of Boat Forces (CG-731) POC is Mr. Kevin Jones,
Kevin.M.Jones@uscg.mil (571) 608-1678. For general policy
questions contact COMDT (CG-7311) at: HQS-DG-Ist-CG-7311.
    b. FORCECOM POC is LCDR Jason Harczak, Jason.M.Harczak@uscg.mil
(571) 608-4673.
10. Ms. Lisa R. Schleder-Kirkpatrick, Acting, Assistant Commandant
for Capability (CG-7), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.