Being a junior officer on the deck- watch officer track on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter is a challenging experience that can be recalled as the best— or worst—time in an officer’s career. The most significant worry that junior officers (JOs) have at this point in their careers is managing wisely the time spent on their many duties. To be done correctly, collateral duties can require about 75% of a JO’s time, leaving only 25% for the primary duty—underway officer of the deck (OOD).
At present, all ensigns graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy are required to serve their first tours with an afloat unit—cadets must prepare for their role as deck watch officers. The Academy must develop and present a curriculum that meets the requirements for bachelor-of-science-degree accreditation—and also one that transforms cadets into junior officers through professional study.
During four years at the Academy, the professional classes are the same for all; however, the summer underway experiences are varied. For example, in the third-class summer, one cadet may spend five weeks on board the barque Eagle and three weeks at a small boat station. Another cadet, however, may spend those final three weeks on board an operational cutter. And during the first-class summer, one cadet may be assigned to a patrol boat where there is ample opportunity to qualify as an underway OOD; another may be assigned to a medium- or high- endurance cutter where cadets must compete for "driving time” with newly commissioned ensigns. Because of this, not all ensigns begin their first assignments with the same levels of knowledge, experience, or confidence. Some need more time than others learning how to be proficient deck watch officers. With many other collateral duties begging for their time, this becomes a difficult job.
Collateral duties are essential for the development of junior officers’ administrative and managerial skills. Nevertheless, the Coast Guard needs to increase the time its future seagoing COs spend learning their trade. We need to refocus on this primary duty by ensuring that the amount of time spent on collateral duties does not interfere with learning and growing as an OOD—even after one has qualified.
In balancing these competing demands, there is a risk of taking shortcuts. For instance, if the Communications Security Material Systems (CMS) Custodian cuts corners, mistakes in accounting will sooner or later lead to severe security violations—a show-stopper in which everyone suffers.
Pressure to qualify quickly—especially if watch rotation is tight—must be monitored closely. By being pressured to qualify quickly, JOs tend to fall into the just-get-it-signed-off mode with regard to the Personal Qualification Standards. Watchstanding and shiphandling skills cannot be briefed and signed off. It takes practice and experience to become proficient— and it takes longer for some than for others.
The Coast Guard Academy has recognized the problem of varied summer experiences and has conducted a study to determine exactly what is going on with JOs, and how the problem can be remedied. The study recommended a minimum number of underway days as a graduation requirement for cadets in order to complete written portions of the PQS before first reporting on board as an ensign. This is a good start, and I also believe it would be in the best interest of junior officers if commands would wait until they qualify as underway OODs before sending them to any class-C schools. If any of the many schools JOs must attend happen to occur during the cutter’s underway time, that ship’s deck watch officers-in- training are missing valuable experience and will be even farther behind when they return. I encourage JOs— even those already OOD qualified—to seek additional underway opportunities with other cutters during yard or in-port periods. This will provide insight into new ways of watchstanding at their permanent stations.
Handling collateral duties is a complex, but manageable problem. Minor collateral duties can be assigned to junior petty officers, because senior petty officers also have many collateral duties. Some collateral duties might even be handled by Coast Guard Group offices or support centers.
We need to take another look at those areas in which we particularly want junior officers to excel; then we need to see where they are spending most of their would-be training time. The absence of a proper matchup might be an unpleasant surprise.
Ensign Cinamella was graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1995. He is a deck watch officer on the USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621), homeported in Miami. Florida.