ALCOAST 084/26 - MAR 2026 S+ PUBLICATION - UPDATE TO OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM COMMAND RESPONSIBILITES

R 311918Z MAR 26   MID320018615588U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 084/26
SSIC 1754
SUBJ: S+ PUBLICATION - UPDATE TO OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM COMMAND
RESPONSIBILITES
A. Ombudsman Program, COMDTINST 1750.4G
B. Ombudsman Program, COMDTINST 1750.4F
1. This ALCOAST announces the promulgation of REF (A) per the
Superspeed publishing process. REF (B) is hereby cancelled.
2. To ensure Coast Guard Ombudsmen are equipped to
support the readiness of Coast Guard families, Assistant Commandant
for Workforce and Family Services (CG-WFS) is updating and
clarifying command and service member roles and responsibilities
within the Ombudsman Program policy.
3. Ombudsmen are part of the command cadre with responsibility
for communicating with families in the event of an emergency or
other situations requiring urgent communications. Ombudsmen must
have appropriate family contact information to perform this critical
duty. REF (A) requires all commands to appoint an Ombudsman and
tailor their roles and responsibilities to meet the needs of each
command and to provide the administrative and funding support needed
to fulfill those responsibilities. The Ombudsman duties include
keeping accurate contact information to notify families with command
related updates and serve as a source of emergency and crisis
information as directed by the Commanding Officer or Officer-in-
Charge (CO/OIC).
4. Paragraph 20.k.(1) has been added to REF (A):
"Commands should work to include all members and their families
in command communication and support services from the unit
Ombudsman. The unit CO/OIC/Commander and XO/XPO/Deputy is
required to meet with service members at unit check-in to explain
the role of the unit Ombudsman and to provide an overview of the
program and the Ombudsman's contact information. The unit CO/OIC/
Commander and XO/XPO/Deputy will provide a briefing on Ombudsman
roles, responsibilities, and obligations to safeguard PII to assure
families that the Ombudsman has a legitimate role and is trained to
know how to keep information safe and only use as authorized. The
unit CO/OIC/Commander and XO/XPO/Deputy shall provide the Family
Check-In Form for Ombudsmen (Form CG-1750.4) to each service member
in their unit during the unit check-in."
5. Updated materials for the use of unit leadership during unit
check-in can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for
-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-
Work-Life-CG-111/Ombudsman-Program/Command-Cadre-Toolkit/

6. CGHQ staff symbols and unit names were updated post
reorganization. Policies in REF (A) not specifically addressed in
this ALCOAST remain unchanged.
7. The POC for the Ombudsman Program is Rose Neel, Office of Support
Services within the Assistant Commandant for Workforce and Family
Services (CG-WFS-2), Rose.Neel@uscg.mil.
8. The AREA POCs for the Ombudsman Program are Ms. Lori Gordy,
Atlantic Area Regional Ombudsman Coordinator, Lori.A.Gordy@uscg.mil,
571-607-3858 and Mr. Ryan Fahlenkamp, Pacific Area Regional
Ombudsman Coordinator, Ryan.J.Fahlenkamp2@uscg.mil, 571-610-5264.
9. RDML Shane Steiner, Deputy Assistant Commandant for Workforce and
Family Services (CG-WFS-D), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.