The recent growth of Reserve Engineering Support Units could be more organized to offer more efficient support to the Fleet. In many places, the Coast Guard has implemented the replacement of the MK rating at Small Boat Station with the ME rating. This shift in assignment for Reserve MKs has been a topic for multiple years and is recently come to fruition. While the subject concept is an arguably sound cost saving initiative (the cost to train an MK vs. ME), a proactive approach on the senior enlisted level would improve overall efficiency for the Service.
The background on reserve MKs is generally as follows; Reserve MKs stopped weekend “drilling” on Coast Guard Cutters some 20 years ago, at this point the Reserve MKs were expected to …show more content…
Consolidation of multiple units, either in the Coast Guard or civilian world, will have teething issues. However, the concept is to minimize teething. For example, the Reserve Engineering Support Units at SFO Atlantic City consists of reserve MKs from Station Atlantic City, Station Barnegat, Station Philadelphia, Station Indian River, and Station Cape May. Because members are comfortable with those from their prior units, the members tend to gravitate towards their prior unit co-workers. This is undesirable. Arguably they could be split up into sub-teams to accomplish their tasks by the Chief. A formal training and qualification program would address this situation without micromanagement by the Chief, since member would be confident in their knowledge and thus ability.
A training and qualification program would consist of a requirement that each pay grade must be able to perform certain Maintenance Practice Cards (MPC). The program would be of the “Teach, Show, Do” methodology. Cutters, in turn, could depend on the Reserve Units to perform necessary routine MPCs – such as sea strainers or air filters. The EPOs/EOs could schedule leave or focus on higher level repairs while the Reserve forces handle routine
The background on reserve MKs is generally as follows; Reserve MKs stopped weekend “drilling” on Coast Guard Cutters some 20 years ago, at this point the Reserve MKs were expected to …show more content…
Consolidation of multiple units, either in the Coast Guard or civilian world, will have teething issues. However, the concept is to minimize teething. For example, the Reserve Engineering Support Units at SFO Atlantic City consists of reserve MKs from Station Atlantic City, Station Barnegat, Station Philadelphia, Station Indian River, and Station Cape May. Because members are comfortable with those from their prior units, the members tend to gravitate towards their prior unit co-workers. This is undesirable. Arguably they could be split up into sub-teams to accomplish their tasks by the Chief. A formal training and qualification program would address this situation without micromanagement by the Chief, since member would be confident in their knowledge and thus ability.
A training and qualification program would consist of a requirement that each pay grade must be able to perform certain Maintenance Practice Cards (MPC). The program would be of the “Teach, Show, Do” methodology. Cutters, in turn, could depend on the Reserve Units to perform necessary routine MPCs – such as sea strainers or air filters. The EPOs/EOs could schedule leave or focus on higher level repairs while the Reserve forces handle routine