ALCOAST 342/24 - SEP 2024 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUTTERMAN INSIGNIA/EIGHT BELLS - A SEA SERVICE CELEBRATION

R 041048Z SEP 24   MID600117601470U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 342/24
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUTTERMAN INSIGNIA/EIGHT BELLS -
A SEA SERVICE CELEBRATION
A. Coast Guard External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5700.13A
B. Cutter Recognition and Heritage Programs, COMDTINST M1650.20A
1. On 18 October 1974, the Office of Personnel Management
promulgated the Coast Guard Cutterman Insignia program to
"recognize the contributions and qualifications of our personnel."
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the
Cutterman Insignia. Since 1790, professional mariners have
manned the deck of our cutters and braved the high seas, Great
Lakes, and inland waterways. Today, we celebrate more than 234
years of our sea-going traditions, currently upheld by more than
8,000 active-duty personnel aboard our 245 cutters.
2. The Coast Guard Office of Cutter Forces (CG-751),
the Heart of the Service, is sponsoring an Eight Bells - Sea
Service Celebration to recognize the hard work done by all who
serve in the cutter community, including career cuttermen,
cuttermen-to-be, and the thousands of shoreside personnel who
support Coast Guard cutters and enable the fleet to operate. Our
seagoing traditions serve as the basis of our Coast Guard culture
and unite the cutter community. While our cutters operate globally
in diverse missions, a new crewmember can report aboard a cutter
of any size or class and be comforted by the shared traditions of
the ringing of eight bells and testing the ship's alarms and whistle
at noon, completing underway checklists, checking the setting of
material condition Yoke, closing the brow at first call to morning
and evening colors, and, of course, coffee break for the crew,
among many others.
3. As part of Eight Bells - A Sea Service Celebration,
COMDT (CG-751) encourages all Cuttermen, operational commanders,
and cutter support elements to participate in the following events:
    a. One-page essay/poem/sea story contest - deadline for
submission is 27 September 2024. All are invited to submit an
original one-page essay, story, or poem, on the theme of
"Navigating 50 Years Together." Submissions are encouraged to
reflect on our roots and culture carried forward from the Revenue
Cutter Service. Submissions have no format requirement beyond
the one page limit. The poem may rhyme like a New Year's Day log
entry, be free flowing like a body of water, or even a haiku or two.
Pictures and other artwork are also encouraged if they add value
to the essay, poem or story. Submissions must include the name
of the author, unless unit, department, or group name applies.
Chain-of-command approved submissions should be sent via email to
the two POCs listed in paragraph 4 below.
    b. Audio/Video contest - deadline for submission is 27 September
2024. Submit an original audio or video clip of no more than
4 minutes around the theme "Navigating 50 Years Together."
Submissions may incorporate the actual sounding of eight bells and
should highlight cutters' sea service traditions and Cutterman pin
ceremonies. Winning videos may be posted on social media platforms,
so do not use copyrighted music. Chain-of-command approved
submissions should be sent via email to the two POCs listed in
paragraph 4 below as .mov, .mp4, .wmv, or .avi formats.
    c. The top three winning entries may be posted on social media
platforms, the COMDT (CG-751) SharePoint page, and shared with
Surface Naval Association Presidents, Rating Force Master Chiefs,
and Operational Commanders for distribution within the cutter
community.
    d. Entries will be judged on creativity, quality, and ability to
inspire esprit de corps. Do not submit entries from prior years.
    e. All submissions should be of good taste and professional in
nature. For more information on this and other public affairs
policies, see REF (A).
    f. Submissions will be judged by a panel consisting of
representatives from COMDT (CG-751), Board of Directors of the
Douglas Munro Chapter (CGHQ) of the Surface Navy Association,
other illustrious Cuttermen, and King Neptune.
    g. Local events: Commands are encouraged to host appropriate
functions that celebrate sea service traditions during the month of
October. Suggestions include: local Cuttermen's Calls, Dining-Ins,
cutter round-ups with friendly competitions (DC Olympics,
shiphandling challenges, etc.), and wearing cutter t-shirts. Notify
POCs in paragraph 4 below of any planned events and tag any
social media posts with #EightBells and #Navigating50YearsTogether.
    h. Headquarters event: COMDT (CG-751) will host a Cutterman
Insignia Anniversary/Eight Bells Celebration at CG Headquarters on
17 October 2024 from 1200-1400. All CGHQ and interested personnel
are invited to attend.
    i. TDY costs will be funded by the member's unit, subject to
availability. Permissive orders are authorized. Interested personnel
must request attendance through their chain-of-command for unit
level approval.
    j. Civilian Employees: Employees may be excused from work to
attend this event in accordance with the appropriate approval
authorities.
    k. For the concurrent annual Surface Naval Association (SNA)
photography and video competitions showcasing the Naval Surface
Warfare and Coast Guard Cutter communities, submit photos and videos
by 1 October 2024 at the website below under the CAPT Raymond
Komorowski Photo Award section and Video Competition section.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

http://navysnaevents.org/awards/

4. POCs: Primary: LT Kiana Kekoa, Kiana.T.Kekoa@uscg.mil
Secondary: LCDR Keith Nicholson, Keith.Nicholson@uscg.mil.
5. RADM Shannon N. Gilreath, Assistant Commandant for
Capability (CG-7), sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.