Guest Post from BMC Paul Wells (OIC of Station Provincetown):
With any new system or equipment we receive, typically we get little to no training with it. On the job training and learn as you go has been the usual way of life. With the Aviation Logistics Management Information System (ALMIS), I have to say that this is without a doubt the best training I think I have ever seen in my 25 years of active duty.
When the civilian trainer arrived at the Station, the training was kept simple and to the point. I was very happy to see the amount of work that went into this prior to it hitting the streets, not after we were told to use it. We have contact information, day and evening numbers, for individuals that we are able to call when we have questions. And the number works too! How many times have we in the past received little to no assistance for a training program that is introduced to the field?
Welcome to the new Coast Guard where we not only keep up with the times, but actually have people who teach us properly, and make themselves available to help when we have questions. I am thrilled to see this new system and take a step forward. ALMIS is new to us in the boat world. Let's take it out for a spin and see what it has to offer us.
I whole heartily support this step forward. There is no kicking and dragging from me, and there won’t be, not even behind closed doors.
We have to change our thinking. I always want my boats to be ready to run 100 percent of the time. I used to send someone into town to the local hardware store to buy a nut or bolt to fix the MLB just to get it into a B-0 status and I would pay for it! Not anymore. That was the old way of doing business. Now we track how much time transpires before we receive a new part, how much time we spend fixing things, and how much time we spend on maintenance. This takes some of the guess work out of our job. As some of my fellow CPOs have already mentioned, as a leader, Chief, and Officer in Charge, I am the one who needs to show the younger kids that this is a good thing. Lead by example, accept change, support my command, and the Commandant. Any of this sound familiar? If you went through LAMS, CPOA, or any other leadership school, it should!
ALMIS is not coming, it is already here. Get on board and lead your subordinates by example. You can complain all you want, but it is not going away. It is time to accept it and move forward. By the way, the training is available if you really want it. If you choose not to show up for training, you can only blame yourself, not the system. It is time we all took a step into the future and allow ALMIS to succeed or fail on its own. To me it makes sense to try and figure out how much time and money we spend on these platforms. I know how much my budget says I receive, but I never knew what I really spent on any one of my boats. I do not have to stock pile parts anymore in the hopes of actually using one of them. I do not receive my past budget for each platform, but I also do not have to spend money on anything over 50 dollars. Makes sense to me.
I am happy to see the Coast Guard finally put so much time and effort into the type of training we received along with the quality. Like I said before, let's take ALMIS out for a spin and see what it has to offer.
BMC Paul Wells
OIC, Station Provincetown
