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
What Can We Learn from Cadets? The polar oceanography and policy class with instructors LT Victoria Futch, far left, and Dr. Martha McConnell, far right. Following the course, instructors surveyed cadets to see how they would approach the Coast Guard's Arctic operations. What do you see as the biggest concern for Coast Guard Arctic operations? "I see the lack of funding as the biggest concern for Coast Guard operations, because without money to repair or build ice-capable ships, there's not a whole lot that can be done in the Arctic. The Coast Guard is trying to make do, but eventually it won't be possible." "How few assets there are in the Arctic, especially with the opening of the Northwest Passage." "I see three big issues. First, our lack of assets, in particular, our minimal icebreakers; second, we need to focus on international relations with other Arctic countries like Russia; and third, we need to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." What did you learn from this course that surprised you the most? "How little of the Arctic we have mapped." "I knew the ice was decreasing in the Arctic, but I didn't realize the extent of the decrease and how rapidly it was occurring." What should all Americans know about what is happening in the Arctic? "Remind them that we are, in fact, an Arctic nation, and that the ice is melting." "They should know that there is still so much that is unknown, and we are not prepared to be an Arctic nation." "That the Arctic signifcantly impacts the global climate and that having ice up there is important." If you were the District 17 commander, how would you approach operations in Arctic? What would be your main focus? "Start with the necessities; ATON, infrastructure, new icebreakers. Get funding and operations going for these, so that when the ice retreats, we're ready for the implications." "I would utilize all the other agencies and organizations already in place up there to aid with operations." "Gaining more assets, working with other countries to get more cooperation for SAR, and getting more infrastructure up there." "There is no one solution to the issues in this region." www.uscg.mil/proceedings Summer 2013 Proceedings 87