Comments on: Adm. Papp testifies at Senate Appropriations hearing

By: John Sprague

John Sprague — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Weather Adm Papp will have been a “good” boss or not will have to wait until he is gone. His predecessor is known today as a “great” Commandant, mainly for Katrina and the BP problem. Nothing to do with the “infrastructure” of the service. Adm. Papp suffers, along with the DOD Chiefs, with the rampant PC dictated by the current administration. He can/will only be able to do so much. One hand tied behind his back….a reminder of Vietnam….I was there, on a CG WHEC (great Navy “hand me down” built in 1943)…….in 1971!! Papp will only be able to do for us (once a Coastie, always a Coastie), what this current dysfunctional, in all things military (which we are…..so few know this) administration will, politically correctly, allow him to do. Just one example…..the USCGA has been directed to use diversity (increase the numbers of female’s, minorities) to its ranks….rather than merit, which has always been the case (and, over all other Academy’s) in its student acceptance policy. Nuff said. JLS

By: Obi-wan

Obi-wan — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 02:27:00 +0000

RPC doesn’t care about lost USA shipyard jobs does he. Poor construction doesn’t nessesarily follow poor engineering design. The non altered “Island” class cutters are in service currently. While unfortunate, the problems were identified, nipped in the bud with no loss of life. We don’t always get it right.
My 6+ USCG service years were all spent on other service hand me downs, personally I envy the current crop of Coastguardsmen and their equipment from what I was station with. Still Pride of Service maties and always,Semper Paratus

By: RPC

RPC — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:23:00 +0000

Oh yes? then why was the latest fleet of cutters declared unseaworthy and are now laid up or scraped?
Let the Koreans build our cutters because American yards have proven to be not up to the task

By: RPC

RPC — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:21:00 +0000

After the USCG squandered billions on an unseaworthy fleet of new cutters, why should we trust them again? I would hire the Korean coast guard to build these hulls then add any classified equipment after seaworth hulls were delivered

By: RPC

RPC — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:36:00 +0000

The USCG contracted for an entire new fleet of cutters that proved to be unseawothy and are either laid up or scrapped. Billions in waste
Why should we trust the USCG to take on another program for building their own ships?

By: RW Draper

RW Draper — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:24:00 +0000

I know nothing about the politics involved negotiating the capital requirements of a service like the Coast Guard. I CAN say that the Guard has always been charged with incredibly diverse missions: SAR, Drug Interdiction, Oil Pollution, Border Security…To administer the best service Academy, continually update A schools and B schools (if they’re still called that) and train, train and train some more, is a daunting, daunting task.

The public’s awareness of the Guard has never been greater, however. CG people continue to distinguish themselves and the Service. I believe that the Guard’s leadership has indeed been doing a great job! The behind-the-scenes managing, budgeting, lobbying, is not the work that will make a reality show plot, though it probably should. It’s obvious to me the Guard is well prepared for their current missions. The recent commission of new ships and aircraft augers well for needs of the future. I am aware I only hear of high profile missions or rescues. I seldom hear about the methodical, rigorous, repetitious and dangerous training that occurs daily.

This is a long way around to say that the Guard is in good hands with great people from bottom to the top. I’m proud of my 4 year participation in the Coast Guard and prouder still to witness the incredible rescues, ice breaker missions, air ops and swimmer activities. And I continue to be impressed by the Guard’s Natural Disaster leadership. Semper Paratus

By: Glynn Smith

Glynn Smith — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:59:00 +0000

Mr. Mergele,

I could not disagree with you more. Coast Guard leaders have successfully navigated our service and made the necessary changes, especially since 9/11, to ensure we maintain the operational edge across the array of valued missions we perform. This is probably most evident in the effort to recapitalize our ships, aircraft and boats, for which, we have had great success in building state-of-the-art replacements. The Coast Guard men and women serving today deserve nothing less and leadership is delivering for them.

v/r

CDR Glynn Smith