I was sitting in the office on a Saturday, minding my own business , when I heard an adjacent Sector/Group responding to a distress call on VHF Ch 16.

"In My Day", we were taught to respond and get the following, otherwise known as "The Big 4":
Position, Description, Nature of Distress, Number of Persons on Board/Involved".

I heard the nature of distress passed as being a single person in the water that had been recovered.

The comms watch asked twice, specifically "What is your GPS position?". Then asked "Do you have a GPS on board?"

The mariner finally answered saying he did not have GPS and was actively conducting CPR on the person he had just pulled out of the water.

A total time of 45 seconds was wasted asking a very specific question like that instead of a simple "What is your present location?"

I might be old-fashioned, but I always ask "What is your present location?" I don't care how that location is given, whether it is by Lat/Long, LORAN "C", GPS, or geographic reference!

I heard 2 more "you gotta be sh***ing me" transmissions from this unit during the day:
Same case, telling the mariner he must continue CPR until relieved on scene. Different case, asking a mariner who had just reported his boat on fire, but extinguished it, to pass a cell phone number so they could speak to him L/L! Hello!.....maybe other mariners close by could hear the Ch. 16 conversation and be ready or able to assist if possible or necessary!


What is being taught at OS School about "The Big 4" these days? Have the basic, simple procedures changed?

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What is being taught at OS School about "The Big 4" these days? Have the basic, simple procedures changed?

Who knows... not being in the new guard I couldn't tell ya... but I'd still be for the "Big 4".. That's what they taught us in SAR school.

Wray..

There's been a small change, but no excuse for the watchstander's GPS questions.

We actually use the Big 5 now. Not sure if this was an offical change, or just some body's idea. The Big 5 are.....

1. Position (GPS, Geographic or otherwise)
2. Problem (What is the nature of distress?)
3. Persons (How many people on board)
4. Paint (What is your vessel's description? Paint color, length, skiff/cabin cruiser/trawler, etc.)
5. PFD's (Are there enough life jackets for everyone, put them on)

Hey Paul, Sorry to get off topic but haven't seen ya around lately. Hope all is well with you and family.

Tom

Perhaps the "new guard" just needs a little leadership from people "sitting in the office minding their own business"
But instead you just complain to a bunch of bloggers on Military.com??? Doesn't sound like the most productive option to me.

Maybe in today's Coast Guard there's to much time spent polishing their M-16's

Problems with radio communications and responses is nothing new in the old or new guard. Comm's are always a problem in a stressful situation.

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Problems with radio communications and responses is nothing new in the old or new guard. Comm's are always a problem in a stressful situation.

That could be true, but one would expect the CG side of the conversation would be more directed than what has be posted by the OP.

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Originally posted by Ropechocker:
Maybe in today's Coast Guard there's to much time spent polishing their M-16's

You mean like this guy?

quote:

Perhaps the "new guard" just needs a little leadership from people "sitting in the office minding their own business"
But instead you just complain to a bunch of bloggers on Military.com??? Doesn't sound like the most productive option to me.

Sounds like you are real open to the thoughts and advice from retired Coast Guard members. Maybe, he was gathering some background info before approaching someone with his thoughts.

And, Oh No, he has pens sticking out of his pocket!!

His mustahce may not be within the regs either. Rather "thin"

I alwasy kept my dust cover shut as well...

quote:

Originally posted by Brechty:
Perhaps the "new guard" just needs a little leadership from people "sitting in the office minding their own business"
But instead you just complain to a bunch of bloggers on Military.com??? Doesn't sound like the most productive option to me.

Kind of like this post huh?

Not so sure about the finger on the trigger stance?

quote:

Originally posted by MikeHunt:
And, Oh No, he has pens sticking out of his pocket!!

His mustahce may not be within the regs either. Rather "thin"

I alwasy kept my dust cover shut as well...

Pens are within regs for this uniform. Or were you being facetious?

And what's wrong with his trigger finger?

I thought at first glance that it was wrapped around the trigger, my bad.

quote:

Originally posted by militia1:


Kind of like this post huh?

I do, I haven't seen that picture in forever! That guy is skinny.

And yes I do like getting advice from the retired, usually very knowledgeable and have a lot of good input. But when there is an obvious problem and the opportunity to solve it take action. Maybe the radio watch standers truly didnt know better and needed some extra guidance to break the bad habit.

and for the record I still can't grow a half decent mustache.

I'm surprised nobody noticed the metal collar devices and tried to make it the end of the world....lol. Must be an older picture....wink.

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and for the record I still can't grow a half decent mustache.

HAA... Just bust'n b@lls

OH, great! It's not enough to call out the Commandant on the internet! Now we are going to go around calling out Third Classes...

Yep... That right there is called "leadership"... (he said dripping with sarcasm... Must be that Old School Leadership.)

quote:

Originally posted by Brechty:
Perhaps the "new guard" just needs a little leadership from people "sitting in the office minding their own business"
But instead you just complain to a bunch of bloggers on Military.com??? Doesn't sound like the most productive option to me.

Well....the "sitting in the office..." comment was tongue-in-cheek that must have escaped you. I should have been all official-like and say "There I was on watch, listening to our radios, when all of a sudden....".

I *do* teach our younger folks at this unit better than what I described. But that day, it was best not to start a border war with the folks next door.

Complaining to a bunch of bloggers is not even part of the equation - it was posing a question, for which the consensus seems to indicate that what I heard the day in topic was incorrect use of recognized procedure.