ridge Rear Admiral Jo-Ann F. Burdian, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy Hello from Coast Guard Headquarters! When I was asked to contribute this issue’s From the Bridge, I jumped at the chance. I am excited to send you an important message–Thank you! It is difficult to make the choice to wear the cloth of our nation, perhaps even more so when it’s not your only professional pursuit, and it’s a choice that gets more difficult in the long term. I had the privilege to spend two years as a drilling reservist at Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. I saw firsthand how our Reserve crews fully integrate in Coast Guard units every single day–enhancing our missions, our culture, and our ability to address complex geostrategic challenges in joint operations around the globe. As the Assistant Commandant for Response Policy (CG-5R), I have the honor of working alongside a talented crew who develops strategy and policy for eight of the eleven Coast Guard missions. I want to focus on a single mission–Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE)–in this issue. In the summer and fall of 2022, we observed multiple maritime law enforcement operations–by Coast Guard operators and by partners–in which deadly force was required. In all cases, there was no doubt deadly force was applied in accordance with training and policy, and consistent with the scenario each officer faced. But these situations brought forward more difficult questions: has the risk environment for Coast Guard LE operations changed, and, if so, what must we do to meet the increased threat? Thus, we began a Law Enforcement Threat Environment (LETE) Mission Analysis Report (MAR). The effort included direct engagement with thousands of Coast Guard members serving in all nine districts–Master Chief Patterson, the Maritime Enforcement Specialist Rating Force Master Chief, and I traveled to units in four districts and met hundreds of generous leaders–to listen and to learn. I am deeply grateful for the feedback we got during the sessions; as it directly influenced the MAR. The LETE MAR confirmed what you already know: the threat environment has changed. Likewise, our organization, training, policy and equipment must continue to change to best support operators and to reinforce a culture of safety in Maritime LE. The MAR yielded actionable recommendations across policy; tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP); equipment; and use of force reporting including items I could act on immediately: – We authorized alternate LE clothing for our LE crews. – We mandated the wear of individual first aid kits for every member conducting LE operations. – We authorized the use of weapon-mounted lights to improve officer safety in low/no-light situations. – In direct support of our Reserve workforce, we provided a mechanism to apply non-Coast Guard law enforcement training toward a Boarding Officer qualification. We aren’t finished. The Commandant directed, and I chartered, a one-year sprint to continue the work of the MAR. Current and previous MLE professionals from around the Coast Guard are meeting with us every other week to develop and implement LE initiatives to enhance officer safety, proficiency and deepen the culture of safety across our LE workforce. We need your continued support to make meaningful progress throughout this sprint—and beyond. Please keep talking with your colleagues and crews about what is going on in your operating environment. To our senior enlisted leaders, please lift this conversation into your Chief’s Mess. What you do every day is inherently dangerous and we need to normalize talking about it to show our shipmates the care and concern they deserve. I also encourage you to submit ideas and input through our CG_Ideas@Work! Campaign. (Law Enforcement Policy, Equipment, and Tactics). Check out the complete LETE Mission Analysis Report (MAR); announced by ALCOAST 345/23; with a video to the workforce; and a recent MyCG article. I hope you have seen these, but if not, I encourage you to seek them out. Thanks so much for the work you do every day to serve our Nation and our Coast Guard. I am grateful to serve alongside you. Semper Paratus. From the Bridge — WINTER 2024 2
