Enjoy.

Port Security Specialist
FORCE NOTE NOVEMBER 2007
Please disseminate to all PS rated personnel in your AOR. Thanks!
Official disclaimer: This newsletter is for the sole purpose of passing information to those members of the Port Security Specialist rating. The material contained within is not for record purposes nor does it represent any official Coast Guard policy.
By now everyone should have devoured all their remaining Halloween candy……… ;-)
This will be the last time I have a hand in the PS Force Notes. As was mentioned in the last set I sent out, my tour at HQ is at an end. PSCM Allred wanted to do a joint set and since I have been out of commission (still am to some degree) due to a motorcycle accident, we have not been able to coordinate and get them done. Being in the hospital and doing extensive physical therapy was definitely NOT the way I intended to spend my remaining time at CGHQ but things happen.
The pundits say that time flies when you are having fun, as fast as the past 4 years have gone by I must have been having a blast! I am not going to try to list all the things I have accomplished because somebody would either accuse me of bragging or trying to justify my existence. We have accomplished tremendous growth in the rating and with the impending release of the new PS EPQs I truly believe that we have positioned ourselves as a premier rating within the CG.
It was a privilege and a real pleasure to get out to a large portion of the country visiting the hard working PS personnel out in the field these past 4 years. I made a lot of friends, renewed many old acquaintances and probably made an enemy or three as well. The field is still our single best source for what is really going on out there, without your input we absolutely cannot ground truth data and will consequently not be as effective at representing your needs as we need to be.
In that vein, if you think back to my set of PS Force Notes I made a request for information and suggestions and with it willingness to accept complaints. But I put a qualifier on the complaints: specifically if you can’t tell me why it is a problem and come up with at least one viable solution, then maybe it really isn’t so much of a problem as your non-willingness to accept the situation. The point is nobody gets everything that they want every time and their way every time. It’s called being willing to compromise and get the mission
done. Not trying to throw stones or pick on anyone, but there are a (fortunately) limited number of you out there who have taken the fine art of legitimate complaining to the point of whining. Sort of reminds me of the little kid who threatened to take his marble and go home. Sorry folks, life is about a bit of give and take, the bottom line is: are we accomplishing the mission, if not then we need to take steps to correct our operations. And that’s enough about that lest someone accuse me of whining!
In my last set of notes, I mentioned that the LETSGO team was looking at the possibility of creating some sort of full time (read active duty) version of the PS rating. FLASH – this is nothing new and has been talked about in one form or another for as long as I can remember. There were folks out there who chose to interpret what I had to say as the potential changes were imminent. Again, this is nothing new – there have been 2 major adjustments within the PS Rating during my career and it is entirely likely that there will be others within your career as well. Don’t get worried about your future as a PS; IF any changes take place (within your lifetime) there will be sufficient time, instructions and guidance to allow you to continue to be a productive member of the CGR. Focus on what you need to do now to be proficient in your current assignment and to position yourself for advancement if you choose to do so. I’ve talked about that before, there is nothing demeaning or that casts doubt on your personal ability or integrity if you either do not choose to advance to higher grades or circumstances do not allow it. With 1213 PS billets and only 10 PSCMs, not everyone will be able to advance to E9; it’s just not physically possible.
If you look at your LES (if you don’t you need to as it contains a ton of important info) you noticed a one time payment for uniforms in September. The amount is exactly the cost of the new version of the AWP (All Weather Parka). This is also called the Gore-Tex jacket. It is now an issue item at Cape May and will be a required item for your seabag. It replaces the prototype and the 1st generation AWP. The principle difference between 1st and 2nd generation is that the garment has been lengthened to accommodate the new untuck version of the ODUs. I put in a question to the uniform folks to determine if the optional fleece liner will work in the new version, the jury is apparently still out on that; I suspect that it will but haven’t found anyone with the new version to test my old liner on. If you try to order one from UDC, you will be put on a waiting list; current production is going to new recruits. No specific guidance has come out as to when it will be required, prudence would dictate to obtain one at the earliest opportunity.
PS2s, if you are not aware, per ALCOAST 256/07 you will be obligated to have completed LAMS to be eligible for advancement
on 01 JAN 2009. The way I read that is you will need to complete LAMS prior to 01 JUN 2008 to sit for the OCT 2008 RSWE with advancement eligibility for 01 JAN 2009. If you have not attended LAMS, work with your respective command to attend at the earliest opportunity.
I am sure there are a lot of other things that need to be distributed but since PSCM Allred wanted this to be a joint venture I will let him address what he sees fit.
I will still be around for a while burning up my final leave and recuperating so will have ready access to CG computer for that period if anyone needs to contact me. I expect to be released back into SELRES status for the remainder of my enlistment which will take me to 30 years total service.
Fare Winds and Following Seas to each and everyone of you.
PSCM Gary Sherrill
Let me introduce myself to anyone who does not know me. I am PSCM William “Sam” Allred and I have relieved PSCM Gary Sherrill as the Rating Force Master Chief. I want to personally thank Master Chief Sherrill for carrying the torch for the past four years.
I enlisted into the Air Force in 1967, then after an 11 year sabbatical from the military I joined the Coast Guard Reserves. As they say, the rest is history. I retired from the U.S. Postal Service with 31 years service after performing several active duty missions. Over the last six years I had tours with the Maritime Safety and Security Team/ Maritime Special Response Team 91102 and hurricane Katrina Wreck, Salvage and Debris Removal. My wife Pam and I moved to Fairfax Va. in September, leaving our five children and three Grandchildren behind in North Carolina. I have degrees in Criminal Justice and Business Administration and have over 30 years combined Air Force and Coast Guard experience.
For the record, I view the Force Notes as YOUR newspaper. It is how we as Port Security Specialist pass information about the rating and rating specific issues. Not all information needs to come from me. I believe that there is more information out in the field that needs to be passed on, so starting now the PS Force Notes will be written largely by YOU. Please submit material for the Force Notes (FN) through your Senior Enlisted PO to me with a note designating them as FN material.
Here are the guidelines and only rule:
Subject matter is open to any PS issue or material. Of course OPSEC stuff is not to be considered, such as unit size and future deployments. I will have a small section too but SMTC,
PSU's, PS "A" School, MSU's, PS Test/Course Writers and the D.O.G. (and anyone who I left out who has PS relevant information to pass) will all have input into the Notes. A young E-3 can tell his/her side of the PSU story and what it means to be in the CG and in the PSU community. MSU Wilmington, NC may have information about their unit that they want to tell everyone and might submit an article. ONLY RULE is that all articles must have unit Senior Petty Officer or Command approval. I will edit materials submitted for content and may call the submitting command to verify some information. Submit all photos, articles and information for the next FNs by Jan 4 2008. If enough articles are sent in, I plan to have FNs every two months.
I look forward to humorous stories, serious questions/comments and generally a set of Force Notes that folks can not wait to read. The view from MY cubical is limited and my view of the Rating is not always that enlightening, so lets all, PS types, get involved and use this opportunity to keep in touch and keep informed.
The only material I see as off limits is answers to test questions. I plan to have the test writers explain to everyone how a question is developed and how a question is selected for the SWE, otherwise....the door is open. I have talked to several units about this they were delighted and felt they wanted to get some "ink" time.
My goals for this tour are three fold: (1) Visit as many PS’s as possible and keep you informed (2) Work to make the PS rating an Active Duty rating and (3) Represent the PS rating in a positive manner on all issues.
I can only accomplish my number one goal if you invite me to visit your unit. Sure I can drop in to see you, but there is a proper way, and it is through your command. I will be working hard with LETSGO Phase II to make goal # 2 a reality. There are NO promises being made on this issue, except, I will give you my very best effort to make this goal happen. Lastly, it is my Honor to represent all who wear the Port Security Specialist rating badge. Meeting goal #3 is my pleasure and in some ways the easiest to achieve. If it is not clear: I LOVE MY JOB!
There were 2 convening’s of the Reserve CPO Academy for this year (2007). Due to people NOT attending we lost one whole class date for 2008. It is important that you attend the CPO Academy for advancement to E-8. As of today, there are 15 vacant seats for the ’08 CPO Academy and they must be filled ASAP. If there is any way to attend the Active Duty (AD) CPO classes, (almost 5 weeks long) this will require going to the academy on very short notice, then we might be able to make this happen with a lot of
luck and work. Contact me if you are interested and I can give you more info regarding orders for travel etc.
As Master Chief Sherrill mentioned time is running out for members to take the LAMS course, which is now required for advancement to E-6. Courses have been cancelled due to lack of participation and let me make it perfectly clear; there will be no waivers for this class. If you do not complete the course you will not be advanced. Also in the near future there will be a message release that will cover the addition of competencies for advancement within the rating.
Last year your Tuition Assistance was vastly under used. One fund alone, the Vander Putten Family Scholarships, had over $14,000 in grants were returned to the Foundation due to lack of use. Let’s do better in 2008 and apply for the assistance needed to pay for educational opportunities.
I hope a lot of us took the SWE and did well. Before you even ask, I’ll tell you now that PSCM Sherrill DID NOT leave me a crystal ball to forecast advancements. So, don’t ask me how many of what rank will be advanced, because I do not know and I do not control who or how many persons get advanced. The position of Rating Force Master Chief has no direct power here at HQ. What I do have is an opportunity to influence the decision makers who make policy that affects the work force, with emphasis on PS matters. So if you thought I ruled from a throne and had unlimited powers, thanks, but that’s not how it works.
In closing, take time to read the other rating force notes. It is good to know what the rest of our sisters and brothers are saying and doing. Force Notes are the ‘newspapers’ for the ratings. You will read and see information in the notes that can only be printed there because the notes are “not for record purposes nor does it represent any official Coast Guard policy.”
Stay safe, do the right thing, and feel free to call or email me anytime.
PSCM Willam “Sam” Allred
USCG HQ CG-7D-1
2100 2nd Ave SW
Washington, DC 20539
Phone: 202-372-1004 (office) 202-731-4151 (cell)
Email: william.b.allred@uscg.mil
" I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby

http://www.uscg.mil/comdt/mcpocg/rate%2Dforce%5Fnotes/docs/PS.pdf