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From: Randy Kafka
Date: March 10, 2015
Subject: Coast Guard Relieves Cutter CO of Duty in Rare Move
Roger that. Enlisted pilots were still around when I came in in 1970. I went to the retirement of Master Chief Blackie Pitman from VR-24 in 1982, he had been in 44 years. He was not flying anymore, but till wore the wings.
From: Ron Turner
Date: March 9, 2015
Subject: Coast Guard Relieves Cutter CO of Duty in Rare Move
A former student of mine attended the USCG Academy many years ago. Her third year ended about the time of one of the Haitian crises. She, as a midshipmen, was placed in charge of some boat in the Caribbean looking for refugees. To me, she said something to the effect of: "they placed me, a kid, in charge of real coastguardsmen" . I've always been of the opinion that all Coast Guard training and the procedures (and high standards) that go with it are considerably more enlightened than the military services. They seem to make leaders in more than name!
Regards, Ron
From: Dick Ellis
Date: March 10, 2015
Subject: Coast Guard Relieves Cutter CO of Duty in Rare Move
Thank you Admiral...Reminds me of NCO pilots in WWII!!
DIckie
From: Randy Kafka
Date: March 10, 2015
Subject: Coast Guard Relieves Cutter CO of Duty in Rare Move
Hi Dickie,
Yes lowly enlisted swine are in charge of many cutters under a certain length and tonnage. Son Eric was the OIC of a Tugboat, or as Navy classified him.....a Tug Master. USCG calls them CO's.
From: Dick Ellis
Date: March 9, 2015
Subject: Coast Guard Relieves Cutter CO of Duty in Rare Move
Someone please help me here....is this a mistake or is an NCO captain of a ship....and is an NCO commander of a Coast Guard Base? Lowly enlisted scum....
Dickie
Coast Guard Relieves Cutter CO of Duty in Rare Move
Bangor Daily News
Mar 09, 2015 | by Abigail Curtis
JONESPORT, Maine -- U.S. Coast Guard officials said Saturday morning the officer in charge of Jonesport-based cutter Moray has been relieved of his duties because of loss of confidence in his ability to command. Senior Chief Petty Officer Christopher Bouchard was relieved Friday by Rear Adm. Linda Fagan of the First Coast Guard District and Capt. Brian Gildaof Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, according to Lt. Karen Kutkiewicz, a spokeswoman for the service branch. "The investigation is ongoing," she said Saturday morning. "It's rare that a commanding officer is relieved of his post. It doesn't happen in the Coast Guard very often at all." She said that Bouchard, who has served more than 15 years in the Coast Guard, is being investigated for having "lost confidence in his ability to navigate the cutter safely and to lead his crew." He has been in charge of the Moray and its 13-person crew for a little over a year and a half. The 87-foot coastal patrol boat has two primary missions: search and rescue and law enforcement. It is not an icebreaker, Kutkiewicz said. Bouchard temporarily is assigned to Coast Guard Sector Field Office Southwest Harbor. A final decision about whether he will be permanently removed from his duties or resume command of the cutter will be made by the commandant of the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C. Lt. Nolan Cuevas, the commanding officer of the Gloucester, Massachusetts-based cutter Grand Isle, has assumed temporary command of the Moray. A previous report from the Coast Guard indicated Senior Chief Petty Officer Charles Petronis, the officer currently in charge of Coast Guard Station Jonesport, would assume temporary command of the cutter. "We have high expectations of all coast guardsmen," Kutkiewicz said. "We hold commanding officers to the highest standards."
Coast Guard
March 2015
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