Guardians,
We released the following message today complimenting all those involved with the planning and support for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver:
SUBJ: BRAVO ZULU – OPERATION PODIUM
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPICS. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DEDICATED SO MUCH TIME IN THE PLANNING, PREPARATION, AND EXECUTION OF THIS HISTORIC OPERATION. FROM THE CUTTERS, BOATS, AND AIRCRAFT PATROLLING OFFSHORE TO THE WATCHSTANDERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, OPERATION PODIUM WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
2. THIS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS THE TREMENDOUS VALUE THE COAST GUARD PROVIDES TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE GLOBAL MARITIME COMMUNITY. TO PROTECT THE OLYMPIC VENUES, YOU CREATED A SEAMLESS SECURITY REGIME ACROSS AN INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY BY LEVERAGING ALL OF OUR CAPABILITIES, AUTHORITIES, AND PARTNERSHIPS. YOU OPERATIONALIZED THE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE STRATEGY FOR 21ST CENTURY SEAPOWER BY MERGING NAVY AND COAST GUARD SKILL SETS AND INTEGRATING THEM WITH OUR CANADIAN PARTNERS TO CONSTRUCT A UNITED SECURITY FRONT.
3. OUR SHIPRIDER AGREEMENT WITH THE CANADIANS AND ABILITY TO EMBED CG PERSONNEL IN CANADIAN INTERAGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS WERE CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN PREVENTING TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINALS OR TERRORISTS FROM EXPLOITING THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY. THESE STRONG INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS PROVIDE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE SAFETY AND SECURITY EFFORTS ACROSS THE NORTHERN BORDER. I KNOW THIS LEVEL OF COLLABORATION REQUIRES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK SO PLEASE PASS ALONG MY PERSONAL APPRECIATION TO ALL THOSE WHO EXECUTED OR SUPPORTED OPERATION PODIUM.
4. I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICED AND APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS. SECRETARY NAPOLITANO AND GENERAL RENUART, COMMANDER U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND, ALSO NOTED YOUR EFFECTIVENESS AND HIGHLIGHTED IT AS A MODEL FOR FUTURE INTERAGENCY AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS.
5. BRAVO ZULU!
6. ADMIRAL T. W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
