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Each year the senior leaders from all over the service come to
the U.S. Coast Guard
Academy to discuss, debate and learn about the problems facing
the cutters. The four-day conference, which ended March 3, 2017, was
packed with classes on topics such as cyber strategy, logistics and
fleet priorities, but by far the most important lessons the
cuttermen learned are comradery and networking.
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February 28, 2017 - Attendees of the Commanding Officer conference take part in
discussing, debating and learning about the problems facing Coast
Guard Cutters in New London, Conn. The conference
was packed with classes on topics such as cyber strategy, logistics
and fleet priorities. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd
Class Nicole Barger)
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The conference is attended by not only commanding
officers (COs), but every major command; from the
commandant of the Coast Guard to Pacific Area staff
members, from
deputy commandant for mission support to
deputy
commandant for operations. The attendees spent time with
cadets and officer candidates during mealtimes to answer
their questions and learn about the concerns of their future
junior officers.
Capt. Darran McLenon just attended his eighth commanding officer
conference and one of his goals is always the same: “to make the day
to day lives of our sailors better and meet the objectives of the
fleet.” Our commanding officers take this opportunity to do just
that. If you have never been to a CO conference you might be taken
aback. When you step outside a room small groups of people are
talking, debating and enthusiastically defending their positions on
a range of issues, but most of all they are addressing the fleet’s
problems. According to McLenon, these breakout sessions are when the
real business of solving the fleets problems gets done and comradery
is built.
Capt. Jose Jimenez, who will be retiring this summer after 29
years of service, gave this advice to anyone who is or will one day
attend the CO conference. He urged everyone to, “make connections,
build comradery and immerse yourself in what is going on in the
fleet.” Jimenez urges those in the breakout sessions to bring up
what issues you are having at work and often times you will find
that your shipmates have had the same issues, but now you can also
hear what others have done to resolve them. According to Jimenez
this is the time when you learn who’s who and who you can call when
you need help.
Many believe this conference is the springboard for developing
solutions that will be implemented into the fleet. For example
operation specialist rating force Master Chief Petty Officers
Luke Cutburth and Sean Smith, spoke of how conference attendees were
“in violent agreement,” that it is time to review the process for
enlisted personnel advancement.
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Senior leaders gather at the Coast Guard Academy in New London,
Conn., from February27, 2017 through March, 3, 2017, for the
Commanding Officer conference. The conference
was packed with classes on topics such as cyber strategy, logistics
and fleet priorities. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd
Class Nicole Barger)
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In conclusion, Cmdr. Robert Mohr, who was attending his first CO
conference, summed up the purpose perfectly. “Networking is my big
takeaway. There are people here to help you. You learn what is
happening and you can take that information back to the crew. I
learn what I am doing well and what I should change. You get a
deeper understanding of the needs of the Coast Guard and our focus
is aligned and precise. When I am at the CO conference, I can shape
and develop my command philosophy.”
By U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Alexis A. Davis
Provided
through
Coast
Guard
Copyright 2016
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