Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Dave Shuster, Flotilla Commander


February was a month of settling into the business of getting the job done.  It was not a month of big events or new programs.  Rather, it was something better: moving the flotilla forward on a steady pace towards our 2012 goals.

The staff officers are working with their respective teams and posting the numbers we need to support the Coast Guard, and inform and assist the boating public.  Our flotilla dashboard readings, as well as the reports from the staff officers, show a healthy and growing flotilla. 
Prospective new member interest continues at a steady pace.  All of our new members are engaged in training to begin their Auxiliary service.  Vessel safety checks are maintaining a steady pace, and program visits are growing in numbers substantially over last year.  We’re holding our own with number of students attending our safe boating classes.

Our operations departments have been very busy.  We had twelve patrols on the water during the month of February.  We have one of the busiest patrol schedules in the Division.  As if the operations team didn’t have enough to do; Ned Herrmann and Mike DiPierro washed the exterior of the communications trailer the evening before the Bonita Bay Boat Show.  I thought I might drop by with my car before the next boat show at Fish Tale Marina.  
We have qualified two new watchstanders, with three more about to qualify.  Our next watchstander class will most likely have five more trainees preparing for qualification.  The quality of our TCO class has developed a reputation with neighboring flotillas.  Flotilla 93 has asked us to invite their trainees to our next class.

March is shaping up to be even busier than February.  We have five speaking engagements scheduled, fifteen patrols, and member training activity in VE, PV, boat crew, and watchstander qualifications.

Please thank our staff officers and participating members for their hard work.  Without the staff officers’ leadership and the efforts of our members, nothing would be accomplished.

At the monthly flotilla commander’s meeting, there was considerable discussion about recurrent boat crew training.  This would be training between the three-year requalification examinations.  Station Fort Myers Beach Commanding Officer Jeffrey Kerner participated in a portion of these discussions.  This of course included continuing discussions about SABOT, the new Standardized Auxiliary Boat Operations Training. 






The rollout of SABOT has been an agonizingly slow process.  However, I think that will work to everyone’s advantage.  It is allowing the Auxiliary and active-duty leadership the time to get it right.



Without going into unnecessary detail, let me say that essentially all of the flotilla commanders support the program.  Further, the Station supports it and they will most likely be participating in some aspects of the program.


The Division is beginning the process of organizing the program so that it will be administered consistently to all flotillas in the Division.  The important thing for all boat crew personnel to understand is that this is designed as a supportive program.  Its objective is to help boat crew personnel maintain their competency between their three-year requalifications and improve their proficiency in task performance.  So, even though the wait for rollout continues, it is on a steady pace towards implementation.

As always, we are Semper Paratus.