Greetings on this holiday weekend Friday, NOAA Corps!
As you may be aware, CPC recently embarked on a renewed journey of improvement, largely encouraged by observations and recommendations from our CPC Advisory Team and the NOAA Junior Officer Advisory Committee. One of many recommendations involves evaluating and developing process improvements for NOAA Corps awards. A proven effective part of the successful leader’s tool box is timely public recognition for individual and group achievements; and we’ve noted several opportunities for improvement in internal CPC and UAB award review/approval processes. Know that we are actively developing award processing system enhancements, which we hope to implement in the next month or so.
However, innovating the review process only goes so far, as timely recognition also falls to each of us as supervisors and leaders. I recall receiving one of my first NOAA awards earlier on in my NOAA Corps career. Delivered to me on my desk by my then-boss, I realized it was for work that I had done nearly a year prior and was nominated for six months later; I had long since moved on to a new assignment. While ultimately happy about the recognition, it felt weird and somewhat disappointing to receive something so long after the fact, and with no opportunity to use an award presentation to convey gratitude and/or tell my colleagues about the team effort that supported me in the overall achievement.
I only share this story as a gentle reminder of one of our responsibilities (and, in my opinion, privileges) as NOAA Corps officers, to ensure that we nominate our people (NOAA Corps and civilian alike) for awards in a timely fashion, and when given the opportunity, do everything we can to present in public forums. For those of us who may struggle due to challenges with professional achievement writing, we can always pick up one of a multitude of publicly-available award writing guides; as well as reach out to colleagues, the CPC staff and/or UAB members for additional suggestions. Our personal investment in timely recognition is guaranteed to pay exponential dividends toward the leadership development and morale of our people and ourselves.
On that note, please continue sending us your constructive feedback, and take care of yourselves and each other.
Best Regards,
Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
| 14 Sep 2023 | Command Advisory Board |
| 4 Oct 2023 | Officer Assignment Board |
| 4 Oct 2023 | BOTC-142 Billet Night |
| 17 Nov 2023 | BOTC-142 Graduation |
| Late Nov - Early Dec 2023 | Aviation Advisory Board, Initial Flight |
| CDR Patrick Didier | 01 SEP 2023 |
| LT Conor Maginn | 01 SEP 2023 |
| LT Diane Perry | 21 SEP 2023 |
| LCDR Hadley Owen | 30 SEP 2023 |
| CAPT Michael Levine | 01 OCT 2023 |
| CAPT Edward Van Den Ameele | 01 OCT 2023 |
| LCDR Richard DeTriquet | 30 Nov 2023 |
| LCDR Alan Hough | 30 Nov 2023 |
| LCDR Bryan Begun | 01 Dec 2023 |
| LT Lee Shoemaker | 01 Dec 2023 |
| LTJG Samuel Umfress | 15 Dec 2023 |
| CDR Lindsay Kurelja | 01 Jan 2024 |
BOTC 142 with LTJG Amezcua, LTJG Waldsmith, LTJG Fulton, and LCDR Marwine. Photo Credit: LTJG Lesser |
BOTC 142 is now fully immersed in the program and is going full sail ahead! They have been busy with exciting and unique training exercises and visits from NOAA Corps Officers.
On 16 and 17 August, BOTC 142 met with Mr. Brian Holden and Mr. John Kihm of USMRC to practice proper radio etiquette. Officer Candidates had the opportunity to practice using the radios on the Coast Guard Academy T Boats!
19 August, BOTC 142 had the opportunity to partake in Helicopter Underwater Escape Training at Survival Systems USA in Groton. Officer Candidates practiced survival at sea and underwater escapes in emergency situations.
On 22 August, BOTC 142 joined their Coast Guard shipmates at Newport Naval Base at the Damage Control Wet Trainer also known as USS Buttercup for drills. Drills included repairing ruptured pipes, shoring doors, coordinating responses, and working as a team.
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In addition to training, BOTC 142 has had the opportunity to interact with a number of current NOAA Corps Officers. On 20 August, while passing through New London collecting remote sensing data aboard the King Air, LTJG Amezcua, LTJG Waldsmith, LTJG Fulton, and LCDR Marwine invited BOTC 142 to check out their aircraft and learn more about the research that they have been conducting.
BOTC at Survival Systems |
On 28 August, BOTC 142 also had the opportunity to meet with their class mentor, LTJG Mark Meadows, who is currently doing his land billet as part of the Navigation Response Team, New London. Mr. Meadows presented to the class on his work and experiences with the NOAA Corps and gave words of encouragement for pushing through the intense and exciting training that BOTC 142 has in store!
The class also was able to hear from CDR Perry and LCDR Buesseler on their experiences in the Corps and ask questions about potential career paths in both fisheries and hydrography.
Just this week, BOTC 142 was given their available billet list. With this new information, they are excitedly anticipating Billet Night on 4 October, where they will confirm which of these available billets they will call their own for the next two years. Other exciting events on the horizon include their class cruise on Coast Guard Cutter Eagle on 18 September, ARPA/RADAR training, fast rescue boats, advanced firefighting and graduation on 17 November.
As CPC approaches the coming new fiscal year, we look to the past to address the future NOAA Corps needs in maintaining a balanced workforce. While CPC cannot predict what the future brings, we provide our best calculations to help make sound decisions in meeting growth, force-shaping and experiential demands. OCMP development incorporates a top-down approach, incorporating officer attrition and succession, starting with captains and working down to ensigns in shaping the NOAA Corps. As such, we consider the number of officers needed overall as well as grade percentage distribution in estimating promotions.
The intent of the OCMP is to better manage grade distribution consistency for command and control, as well as enable experienced officers to move forward in career assignments. As more senior officers advance, a trickle-down effect occurs to maintain strength percentages in each grade. Historical attrition rates help estimate potential losses and keep the number of promotions as predictable as possible. However, unforeseen circumstances may disrupt the intent of maintaining officer strength by grade, such as unexpected officer separations and not having enough officers approved for promotion to fill the resulting gaps, thus slowing the lower grade advancements.
After the Director, NOAA Corps approves the OCMP, we encourage you to take some time to read through the document, paying close attention to the discussion portion as this tells the story of circumstances that impact the NOAA Corps from one year to the next.
We are in the final stretch of the FY2023 Field Season, and OMAO Leadership has dedicated additional resources to the Marine Operations Crew Branch to address ongoing challenges in fleet staffing.
CPC is reminding all Deck Officers that they are responsible for knowing and complying with OMAO Procedure 1211-01 Commissioned Officer Augmentation Policy. This Policy was highly requested by the workforce through feedback in the annual OMAO Safety Climate Assessment Survey. It requires participation from every Officer to properly implement. The policy is intended to better support deck officer leave requests, work-life-balance, and reduce fatigue at sea.
Thank you to the many officers that have already stepped up and provided relief or filled a key vacancy in the fleet. BZ!
Officers listed in the “active” period on the Marine Operations Augmentation List should be prepared to go to sea when contacted. All officers not assigned to a ship should be regularly checking the MO Augmentation list to know where they are positioned. Higher on the list means you are a higher priority for getting the next call. Any officer with a conflict within their assigned availability period should complete the Augmentation Conflict Form.
Officers may also submit available periods using the Deck Officer Augmentation, though this is used to identify times that are in addition to (not in lieu of) the assigned availability time in the MO Augmentation Tracker (Such as for professional development or potential assignment).
Upon assignment for Augmentation, an officer should follow the Sea Duty Augmentation how-to guide posted on CPC’s website for submitting your TDY endorsed orders. Specific categories and details are required when submitting your TDY endorsed orders so that the system can track and verify that you have completed the augmentation.
Officers should note that Personnel Boards considering Officers for promotion have access to TDY information for use in their evaluations and deliberations.
Please contact CAPT Joe C. Bishop (MO Crew) at joe.c.bishop@noaa.gov or CDR Andrew Colegrove (Chief, CPC OCMD) at chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov with any questions.