ALCOAST 135/08 COMDTNOTE 7100 SUBJ: RELEASE OF INAUGURAL COAST GUARD POSTURE STATEMENT 1. THE COMMANDANT RECENTLY TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS TO PRESENT THE COAST GUARDS FY 2009 BUDGET REQUEST AND OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. HIS TESTIMONY PROVIDED JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO MEET GROWING DEMANDS FOR OUR SERVICES, FULFILL RECAPITALIZATION IMPERATIVES, AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NATION THROUGH SUPERIOR MISSION EXECUTION. 2. CONCURRENT WITH THE ROLLOUT OF OUR FY 2009 BUDGET, WE DEVELOPED AND PUBLISHED THE COAST GUARDS INAUGURAL POSTURE STATEMENT. THIS NEW PUBLICATION IS THE CENTERPIECE FOR CONVEYING THE MESSAGE OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. YOUR UNIT WILL RECEIVE COPIES SOON. IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED ONLINE AT WWW.USCG.MIL/COMDT/. READ THE POSTURE STATEMENT. IT WILL MAKE YOU PROUD OF OUR SERVICE. 3. OUR FELLOW ARMED SERVICES PUBLISH POSTURE STATEMENTS. OURS REFLECTS THE UNIQUE DUAL CHARACTER WHICH DISTINGUISHES THE COAST GUARD. WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY AND AT ALL TIMES AN ARMED SERVICE AND FEDERAL AGENCY WITH SAFETY, SECURITY, AND STEWARDSHIP MISSIONS. WE DEFEND THE HOMELAND. WE SAVE LIVES. WE REGULATE AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY. WE ENFORCE U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. WE PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE UNIQUE IN THE NATION AND THE WORLD. 4. OUR $9.3 BILLION FY 2009 BUDGET REQUEST WILL SUSTAIN SERVICE DELIVERY AND CONTINUE CRITICAL RECAPITALIZATION EFFORTS WHILE FOCUSING ON THREE STRATEGIC AREAS: ENHANCING MARINE SAFETY, IMPROVING COMMAND AND CONTROL, AND ESTABLISHING COMPREHENSIVE INTELLIGENCE AND AWARENESS REGIMES. 5. THE POSTURE STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF OUR FY 2009 BUDGET REQUEST INCLUDING: $353.7M FOR NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER #4, $86.6M FOR TWO HC-144A MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT, $64M FOR 14 RESPONSE BOAT-MEDIUM VESSELS, $50M FOR SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, $29.2M FOR EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE ON LEGACY ASSETS, 276 NEW MARINE SAFETY INSPECTORS/INVESTIGATORS, 101 NEW COMMAND CENTER WATCHSTANDERS, $87.6M FOR RESCUE 21, $25.5M FOR NATIONWIDE AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (NAIS), AND $17.6M FOR NEW INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVES. THESE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR FY09 REQUEST WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE MISSION EXECUTION AND MULTI- AGENCY INTEROPERABILITY. 6. THE FY 2009 BUDGET REQUEST AND POSTURE STATEMENT AFFIRM OUR STRATEGY AND VISION. OUR FUTURE LIES IN A FLEXIBLE, AGILE, TRAINED FORCE OPERATING MODERN VESSELS, AIRCRAFT AND COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, BACKED BY A ROBUST AND RESPONSIVE MISSION SUPPORT STRUCTURE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING THIS FUTURE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR SERVICE. ALL THREATS. ALL HAZARDS. ALWAYS READY. SEMPER PARATUS! 7. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE POSTURE STATEMENT, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAMS (CG- 821) AT 202-372-3500 OR VIA E-MAIL AT CG82@USCG.MIL. 8. RADM STEVE BRANHAM, ASSISTANT COMDT FOR RESOURCES/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SENDS. 9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.