ALCOAST 458/24 - DEC 2024 MISSION READINESS - REDUCTION OF MANUAL DATA COLLECTION AND ENTRY BURDEN

R 101730Z DEC 24 MID120001620560U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 458/24
SSIC 1321
SUBJ: MISSION READINESS - REDUCTION OF MANUAL DATA COLLECTION AND
ENTRY BURDEN
A. U.S. Coast Guard Data Strategy 2021-2026
B. Directives System Program: Commandant Instruction (CI), ALCOAST,
and Other Publications, COMDTINST 5215.6 (series)
1. REF (A) directs: "We will reduce the burden of manual data
collection on crews at the tactical edge. We have over the past
two decades pushed the burden of manual data collection and data
entry for operations and mission support to our crews at the
tactical edge, distracting them from maintaining readiness and
conducting operations. We will take deliberate steps to use
technology, tools, automation, and improved processes to reduce
that burden."
2. Recurring reports can be a valuable tool for conveying timely,
accurate information on a range of topics related to Service
readiness and mission execution. A recurring report is any action
that requires the collection and manual entry or manual reporting
of data on a repeating basis to higher authority. Recurring reports
are normally documented or established in CG Directives per REF (B)
(e.g., Commandant Instruction or General Message), but are also
commonly created at Headquarters or levels within the chain of
command by other means (e.g., message, memorandum, email).
3. Recurring reporting requirements continue to proliferate. Many of
these recurrent reports are redundant, of little value, and create
alternate unofficial data pools that are separate from authoritative
data sources. The current burden of unchecked recurrent reports
forces personnel to spend too much time manually collecting and
entering data instead of leading crews and focusing on proficiency
and readiness.
4. This Mission Readiness policy sets restrictions on the authority
to generate new recurring report requirements and establishes a
process to either validate or eliminate existing recurring report
requirements that are not promulgated in existing CG Directives.
5. Effective immediately, the authority to require or establish a
recurring report is restricted to those promulgated as part of the
CG Directives system or issued by memorandum personally signed by a
Flag officer/Senior Executive Service member or the MCPOCG. This
authority is non-delegable.
6. Not later than 1 March 2025, all Flag officers/Senior Executive
Service members and MCPOCG shall review existing recurring reporting
requirements within their scope of authority that are not
promulgated in the CG Directives system and validate the need for
the requirement. For recurring reports not validated by 1 March 2025
in a personally signed memo by the Flag officer/Senior Executive
Service member or MCPOCG, the reporting requirement will become
unauthorized and should be disregarded.
7. Going forward, we will continue to improve data governance,
leverage new tools to automate data collection and entry, and
eliminate redundant reporting within the CG Directives system
Any existing Commandant Instructions requiring obsolete reporting
must be updated in 2025 per REF (B).
8. ADM K. E. Lunday, Vice Commandant (VCG), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.