Shipmates,
I received a very thoughtful e-mail from Auxiliarist Robert Dittman regarding access to our posts in the .com domain. Robert is an active member of my Diversity Advisory Council. While he is visually impaired he demonstrates great vision and his comments raise some good questions. Some of them touch on the issues raised earlier by Senior Chief Vittone regarding our Human Resource IT systems. Both will be addressed in a series of future posts. For commenters that encounter access problems on the internet, you can send comments to ccgcomms@uscg.mil and they will be reviewed and posted in accordance with our published policy.

My thanks to Robert for his continued participation in the DAC and his support for the Coast Guard.

ADM A
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I am emailing you directly, as I am unable to post directly to your blog due to the CAPCHA (The letters and numbers required to tell the blog system you are not a spammer). As I am sure you are aware, section 508 of the rehab act of 1973 that provides guidelines for disabled persons to access web pages, is not across the internet as of yet, and as this sight is outside of the Coast guard's control, we should find ways around this so that everyone has equal access to comment. One way is to provide an email address such as "blogcomments (AT) USCG.MIL that your staff could repost comments to the blog for those who are unable to post directly. Another thought is to invite persons who can not post direct to email you direct. This would keep with transparency, and prevent "gate keeping." Just a thought. I forwarded that thought to CG-635 when I was at HQ this October briefing you as part of the DAC. I am sure they will act on it, but as you know, things take time.
As you asked that comments be given, and for us to "find our voice," I must say that I read the blog every day as it gives prospective to what the Commandant is up to, and provides insight onto the major issues that our Coast guard face each day. Keeping up to date with such issues even if they do not directly touch my duties helps me, and I am sure, others be Semper Paratus to reacting to them and thus being better able to complete our duties no matter where we sit in our Coast guard.
I would like, if I may, to comment on the personnel support command's post. Although the Auxiliary was included, I must ask if the Auxiliary is always kept in mind when standing up the new systems. Web outlook, CG Central, T-PAX, Direct Access, are all systems that are currently unavailable to many Auxiliarists. While it is true that many Auxiliarists in the normal execution of their duties do not have need to access the systems on a day to day bases, when an Auxiliarist attempts to complete a STTR, or a travel claim, or, to check if completion of Coast guard training such as the LAMS or IDC course has been recorded, lack of access to these systems poses a problem. You may also be aware that the personnel records of Auxiliarists are largely paper based, and are kept at the district director of Auxiliary’s office. This paper based records system lends itself to errors, inadvertent omissions such as awards that are awarded outside of the Auxiliary not being included, or other documents that should be in the records not being there. This results in the Auxiliarist having to keep their own copy of their personnel record, or, having to write the director of Auxiliary to enquire what documents they have on file, and if needed, mailing documents for inclusion into their personnel record. ADM, I hope you understand this is through no fault of the staff assigned to the Director of Auxiliary offices, but rather the system being paper based and in many ways out dated. Also taken into account is the two systems of "AUXDATA" that serves the Auxiliary functions", and "People soft" that serve the rest of our coast guard.
ADM, while this is not the time or the place to raise many concerns reguarding these topics, I felt it would be a place to ask if such concerns are always in mind as these new systems are stood up.
I have always believed if I don’t ask, you can’t say "Yes", and looking to what the Auxiliary could be in five, ten, fifteen years, and the level it will bring to enhance our Coast Guard, I must ask these questions to as many people, and as many times as it will take until we bring the auxiliary on part and parcel with the level of support given to our active duty, reserve, and civil service components. This includes I.D. cards accepted and recognized as Coast Guard credentials, a personnel system that fully integrates the Auxiliary’s personnel with the rest of the Coast Guard and so on. These questions are best answered by the new command that will be servicing the personnel of our Coast Guard now, and that is why I comment on them here.
ADM, I am sure you would agree that if it could be done, Such practices should be put into place now from the get go rather than trying to slip them into place after the new command is underway and making steam.
The problems are not going to be solved over night, although, we have taken many steps and made progress to this end. There is still much to do, and these steps will call for progressive thinking and support from the Auxiliary, and our active duty shipmates, one effort from the whole Coast Guard.
if we all sing to the same music, that of support of our people to enhance mission execution, we will reach our objective.
I hope you will find these questions, comments, and concerns in keeping with the postings of the blog. I thank you for your time.
Very Respectfully, and Semper Paratus,
AUX Robert D. Dittman
"I am a Guardian"