Message from the Director

Good afternoon, fellow NOAA Corps officers,

I hope everyone is doing well on this last Friday in April. The FY20 O5/O6 promotion recommendation package continues to route through DOC on its way to the White House and I hope to be able to share additional updates as they become available. I'd also like to commend the members of the Officer Personnel Boards that convened for the FY21 O2-O4 promotions last week for a job well done and can report that those recommendations are now routing through OMAO before heading up for the same path for approval. Again, I will provide updates as I can and am optimistic that they will route smoothly.

Otherwise, please continue to take care of yourself and each other and enjoy the spring weather. I continue to encourage everyone to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination and remind everyone that they are required to submit documentation of the vaccine, along with all other medical documentation, to their OPF.

On a final note, I am looking forward to traveling up to New London, CT to attend the graduation ceremony for BOTC-137 at the US Coast Guard Academy and can't wait to welcome the newest round of officers to the NOAA Corps. I'm going to borrow a quote that the Commanding Officer of Aircraft Operations Center, CDR Chris Sloan, recently shared with his team for a point of reflection as we all close out our week:

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”
- Maya Angelou

Thank you for all you are doing.

Stay healthy,

Directors signature
CDR Douglas MacIntyre, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

On the Horizon

May 03 2021 BOTC 137 Graduation

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

CDR Paul Kunicki 01 May 2021
LTJG Lyle Robbins 01 May 2021
LTJG Sarah Donohoe 25 Jun 2021
LTJG Tyler Fifield 30 Jun 2021
LTJG Jackson Vanfleet-Brown 30 Jun 2021
RDML Shepard Smith 01 Jul 2021
LT Calandria DeCastro 01 Jul 2021
LT Michael Silagi 01 Aug 2021
LT Danial Palance 20 Sep 2021

BOTC 137 Graduation

BOTC 137 has reached the end of their time at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Having wrapped up shiphandling and their Leadership Philosophy Panels, the class will graduate alongside their USCG shipmates, of OCS 2-21, on May 3rd. Following graduation, the class will head to the United States Maritime Resource Center in Middletown, RI to finish up their BOTC curriculum with coursework in ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System), Introduction to Watchkeeping, and Bridge Resource Management. On May 19th, the new batch of Ensigns will depart training to meet their ships and begin their NOAA Corps careers.

Updated Official Passport Application Guidance

Although there is very little foreign travel planned, all ships’ crew and passengers must have current government-issued passports aboard when sailing (and aircrew when flying internationally). Personal passports are okay for contractors or temporary guests.

Please use this link to find instructions on renewing or initiating a government passport. These instructions apply to everyone.

Tips:

  • Photos cannot be taken in uniform
  • Photos must be taken within the prior six months
  • Passports MUST BE SIGNED
  • If applying for an initial government passport, you can mail in your personal passport to expedite the process (you will get it back)
  • If renewing a government passport, you can mail in your old/expiring government passport to expedite the process (it will be cancelled and you will get it back)
  • You can be reimbursed for passport photos, so keep your receipt if you so choose
  • Foreign travel training is now Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT – replacing the previous training)
  • Turnaround time could be up to 12 weeks
  • Please include the appropriate Passport Letter with your renewal/application packet
  • Please include a Passport Memo with your renewal/application packet addressed to Ms. Cherrie with line of accounting for applicable charges
  • In the mailing address section, block #8 on the application, the traveler should enter "In care of DOC/NOAA" and the following address: 8403 Colesville Road Suite 500, Silver Spring MD 20910

Your primary contact for passports is Ms. Harrie Cherry (harrie.a.cherry@noaa.gov). She will have the most up-to-date information and can answer your questions (including a template Passport Memo for line of accounting information).

Her mailing address for passports and accompanying paperwork is:
Harrie Cherry
Resource Management / Passports
8403 Colesville Rd
Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910-6333

American Red Cross Resiliency Workshop

The Red Cross resiliency program offers three distinct programs: Coping w/ Deployments (psych first aid), Reconnection Workshops, and Mind-Body Workshops. All are different, and all aim to help participants build their resiliency skills.

Join us to learn how Red Cross workshops can provide resiliency skills training as a full program or to support your own programming. All workshops are free of charge and facilitated by Red Cross mental health professional volunteers.

See this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-cross-resiliency-program-partner-presentation-tickets-151222294955