Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/149372
A key to mission success. byCAPTKATHLEEN A. DUIGNAN Chief, Planning and Force Readiness U.S. Coast Guard District 17 Forseveralyears,theCoastGuardhasbeenevaluating howtooperateeffectivelyintheArctic.Missionsthat canbeeasilyplannedandexecutedinthe"Lower48" andinthemoreaccessiblesouthernreachesofAlaska, arefarmorediffculttoexecutenorthofestablished portsandrefuelinglocations. Thechallengesofharshweather,lackofestablished transportation routes, and under-charted regions increaserisksinplanningandexecutingmissionsin theArctic.Amechanicalbreakdownorotherunexpectedincidentthatmightbeeasilyovercomeinmore accessibleregionscanbecomecriticalwhenassistance ismorethan12hoursaway ngoodweather. —i Blizzard Ops Weather is an ever-present challenge throughout AlaskaandespeciallyintheArctic.TherealitytelevisionshowCoast Guard Alaska depicts the hazards of operatinginaharsh,unforgiving,andremoteenvironment.TheshowisfeaturedontheWeatherChannel for a reason. InAlaska,hurricane-strengthstormsthreaten,their mightrivalingthoseencounteredontheEastandGulf CoastsoftheUnitedStates.ButthestormsinAlaska aremuchmorefrequentandcomewithlotsofsnow. Additionally,theunpredictableseaicemakesnavigationmorediffcult,ifnotimpossibleforamajorityof commercial vessels. Asidefromweatherconditions,Arcticwintershave long periods of darkness. Moreover; time, distance, andgeographyalsoworkagainsttheCoastGuard. www.uscg.mil/proceedings Partnerships and Governance Partnerships in the Arctic Movingassets,equipment,andpersonnelsuccessfully requires coordination, partnerships, expert planning,funding,adequateinfrastructure,andluck. Resource Challenges Forthesereasons,theCoastGuardplansitsArctic missionswithself-rescuecapability.Butplanningand executingoperationsprudentlycomesatadditional cost.Inatimeofshrinkingbudgets,thetradeoffs betweenbeingsafeorforgoingmissionsarediffcult tomanage.Toavoidthisconundrum,theCoastGuard hasleveragedpre-existingrelationshipsandestablishednewonestoensurethatresourcesarecombinedtogreatesteffect.Itisthesekeypartnerships thathaveenabledtheCoastGuardtoexecuteitsmissionsinthedynamicArcticfrontier. Ofcourse,truepartnershipgoesbothways.TheCoast Guardmustbeatrustedallyandablepartnerinthe Arcticandmustbeabletocallonassistancewhen needed. Key Partnerships United States North American Aerospace Defense Command, United States Northern Command, and Joint Task Force Alaska Command TheU.S.CoastGuardmaintainsanexcellentrelationshipwithitsDepartmentofDefense(DOD)colleagues.TheCoastGuard,asthefftharmedservice, Summer 2013 Proceedings 57