Shipmates,
Today we made history at Coast Guard Headquarters when the first ever Coast Guard-National Guard staff talks were held. I extend my personal thanks to my friend and shipmate (wingman?) General Craig McKinley for agreeing to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest.
We have much in common with our National Guard partners. We both operate under dual authorities that carry both national defense responsibilities and domestic law enforcement authority. We both are critical forces in responding to natural disasters. Our forces are generally dispersed and not near large bases and the support services available there.
Today we discussed how we can better plan, exercise, coordinate, and execute our missions. We have tremendous local relationships that allow us to share resources and competencies. We have agreed to continue these meetings and seeks more ways that we can collectively serve the Nation.
My thanks, again, to General McKinley and his super team for a very constructive start to a new framework for Coast Guard and National Guard collaboration.
ADM A
