Page 47: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2018)

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My philosophy – my strategy – (regarding the need to build

U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers) is talk about a 6/3/1.

We need a minimum of six (6) icebreakers – that’s consistent with my predecessors – that’s based on the high latitude study.

Within that 6/3/1, a minimum of three (3) heavy, or Polar Security

Cutters, and then the one (1) is we need one now!

Admiral Karl Schultz

Commandant, United States Coast Guard

I understand you have three guiding principles, for the Coast Guard, too?

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was the ‘3 R’s’. Can you explain? With unemployment below 4 percent, it is a offered the opportunity to interview Admiral I will tell you this, Greg, coming into this transi- very competitive space. The Coast Guard has to tion, it was an advantageous position. I was well- be an employer of choice. When I talk about a

Karl Schultz, the 26th Commandant in the led on my predecessor’s senior leadership team, so “ready” organization, that’s a commitment with history of the United States Coast Guard, there were not any big, major course changes. So the men and the women of the Coast Guard, too. in his of? ce in Washington, DC. Just ? ve the guiding principles are in the three basic prem- I expect them to come to work ready to do the na- ises I talk about at Coast Guard, that is Ready, Rel- tion’s work on the maritime front lines. months into his tenure, his plate is predict- evant and Responsive. What do they expect from their Coast Guard? ably full with a number of challenges, in- The ? rst “R” is Ready, meaning that the Coast They expect a rewarding experience and a trusted

Guard is ready to serve the national security and organization. (With healthcare, retirement system cluding: Attracting and retaining future U.S. the interests of the nation. and opportunity) we’ve got to be attractive to folks

Coast Guard personnel; addressing a num- The second “R” is Relevant. The Coast Guard is – we’ve got to be investing in technology. These one of the ? ve armed services. We are a law enforc- are bright young men and women; the caliber (of ber of assymetric threats, including cyber er, we are a commonsense regulatory agency, we the people) is not a problem as we are getting great attacks; and ensuring captial and operat- are a ? rst responder. (A role that has been promi- men and women, and we are meeting our recruit- nent in the last three years with multiple responses ing goals. But it is competitive. We’ve got to make ing budgets are adequate to safely and ef- in the aftermath of ever strong hurricanes.) sure we’ve got a brand that people want to be part ? ciently carry out a global mission envelope, And then the third “R” is Responsive; which I of. I’ve got to ? gure out a way to train and retain to name but a few. But while the job ahead think is our hallmark trait 228 years into our ser- them and that all comes down to the quality of the vice history. We bring responsiveness to all mis- experience. is complex, Admiral Schultz sees success in sion execution, whether it is law enforcement and ful? lling his “Three R’s” to ensure that this stopping close to 500,000 pounds of illegal drugs That sounds like a solid plan. What about di- coming to American streets, or whether it is the versity in your ranks?

United States Coast Guard is Ready, Rel- regulatory role We absolutely need to be a Coast Guard that is evant and Responsive.

That to me was a common framework where I more representative of the society that we repre- could articulate what this Coast Guard is all about, sent. We’ve got some good news stories, like at moving forward. the Coast Guard Academy, the cadet corps is made

BY GREG TRAUTHWEIN up of about 40 percent female cadets. That’s a

Attracting and retaining quality people is a per- great news story there. If you look across our of- petual problem for this industry. Is it an issue ? cer ranks, there’s 20 percent females across the www.marinelink.com 47

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