R 261909Z AUG 03 ZUI ASN-A00238000241 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-C//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N01200//
ALCOAST 401/03
COMDTNOTE 1200
SUBJ: AVIATION MISSION SPECIALIST
A. UNIFORM REGULATIONS, COMDTINST M1020.6E
1. IN SUPPORT OF MY EMPHASIS ON COAST GUARD PEOPLE AND OPERATIONAL
READINESS, THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF THE AVIATION
MISSION SPECIALIST QUALIFICATION AND BREAST INSIGNIA. AVIATION
MISSION SPECIALISTS ARE NON-AIRCREW OFFICER AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL
WHO PERFORM SPECIALIZED MISSION FUNCTIONS ABOARD COAST GUARD
AIRCRAFT. AERIAL ICE OBSERVERS, SENSOR SYSTEM OPERATORS, TACTICAL
SYSTEM OPERATORS, WEAPONS SYSTEM OPERATORS, AND AVIATION MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS ARE CURRENTLY AMONG THE SPECIALIZED POSITIONS THAT ARE
ELIGIBLE TO QUALIFY AS AVIATION MISSION SPECIALISTS. QUALIFICATION
ELIGIBILITY TO WEAR THIS DISTINGUISHING DEVICE WILL BE APPROVED BY
COMMANDANT (G-OCA).
2. THE DESIGN OF THE INSIGNIA IS A TWO AND ONE-HALF INCH DEVICE
WITH GOLD WINGS EXTENDING FROM A SILVER RING DISPLAYING AN
UNBRAIDED SILVER ANCHOR. THE U.S. NAVY CURRENTLY USES THIS
IDENTICAL BREAST INSIGNIA TO DESIGNATE ITS NAVAL AVIATION OBSERVERS
AND FLIGHT METEOROLOGISTS.
3. QUALIFICATIONS FOR AVIATION MISSION SPECIALISTS WILL VARY BY
SPECIALTY AND AERIAL PLATFORM. HOWEVER, ALL AVIATION MISSION
SPECIALISTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A UNIT SYLLABUS PERTAINING
TO THEIR SPECIALTY AND AN AVIATION SYLLABUS COVERING THE FOLLOWING
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
 A. ANNUAL SWIM TEST/ WET DRILL.
 B. ANNUAL EMERGENCY GROUND EGRESS.
 C. INITIAL CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (CRM) TRAINING OR
 EQUIVALENT TEAM COORDINATION TRAINING (TCT) AND FOLLOW ON CRM
 BIENNIAL REFRESHER TRAINING. TCT REFRESHER TRAINING IS NOT
 ACCEPTABLE.
 D. ANNUAL SAR EQUIPMENT AND PYROTECHNICS TRAINING.
 E. LOW-PRESSURE CHAMBER TRAINING COURSE FOR PRESSURIZED
 AIRCRAFT.
 F. 9D5/9U44 DUNKER QUALIFICATION FOR ROTARY WING PLATFORMS
 (VALID FOR 72 MONTHS).
 G. ANNUAL EGRESS BREATHING DEVICE/SHALLOW WATER EGRESS
 TRAINING FOR ROTARY WING PLATFORMS.
 H. FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING.
 I. ANNUAL OPSEC/COMSEC TRAINING.
 J. ANNUAL OPERATIONAL HAZARD AWARENESS TRAINING.
 K. ANNUAL LAND SURVIVAL TRAINING.
 L. MAINTAIN AIRCREW CLASS II PHYSICAL.
4. AUTHORITY TO TEMPORARILY WEAR THE MISSION SPECIALIST BREAST
INSIGNIA WILL LAST AS LONG AS THE INDIVIDUAL IS ASSIGNED TO A UNIT
WITH RESPONSIBILITIES TO PERFORM ONE OF THE MISSION SPECIALIST
DUTIES AND MAINTAINS THE APPROPRIATE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA.
INDIVIDUALS MUST ACCUMULATE AT LEAST 200 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROTARY
WING AIRCRAFT OR 800 FLIGHT HOURS IN FIXED WING AIRCRAFT WHILE
TRAINING FOR OR PERFORMING THEIR MISSION SPECIALTY BEFORE THIS
INSIGNIA CAN BE WORN PERMANENTLY. PERSONNEL QUALIFIED OR PREVIOUSLY
QUALIFIED AS PILOTS, NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICERS, FLIGHT SURGEONS,
AIRCREW OR RESCUE SWIMMERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE MISSION
SPECIALIST BREAST INSIGNIA. THIS INSIGNIA CAN BE RESCINDED AT ANY
TIME IF THE COMMANDING OFFICER DETERMINES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS NO
LONGER PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED AND REVOKES THE DESIGNATION AND/OR
THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS TO BE PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM THE
DESIGNATION.
5. AVIATION MISSION SPECIALISTS QUALIFY FOR HAZARDOUS DUTY
INCENTIVE PAY (HDIP) AS A NON-CREWMEMBER IN THE MONTHLY AVIATION
INCENTIVE PAY STATUS. TO HELP COMMANDING OFFICERS TRACK HDIP AND
HOURLY REQUIREMENTS A CHANGE TO THE AVIATION LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM (ALMIS) WILL BE MADE TO INCLUDE MISSION
SPECIALISTS. MISSION SPECIALISTS WILL BE LISTED ON THE CG-4377 AS
MISSION ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL USING THE CODE (MS).
6. PROCUREMENT: THE INITIAL ISSUE OF THE INSIGNIA WILL BE PURCHASED
USING UNIT AFC-30 FUNDS. SUBSEQUENT PROCUREMENTS ARE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SERVICEMEMBER. NEITHER THE FULL SIZE NOR
MINIATURE SIZE NAVAL OBSERVER AND FLIGHT METEOROLOGIST INSIGNIA
(MISSION SPECIALIST INSIGNIA) WILL BE CARRIED BY THE UNIFORM
DISTRIBUTION CENTER. NAVAL OBSERVER AND FLIGHT METEOROLOGIST
INSIGNIAS CAN BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE NAVY EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND
FROM OTHER COMMERCIAL MILITARY UNIFORM PROVIDERS.
7. MANNER OF WEAR: THE MISSION SPECIALIST INSIGNIA SHALL BE WORN IN
ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 3.E OF REF (A) AVAILABLE ON THE U.S. COAST
GUARD DIRECTIVES SYSTEM
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/CCS/CIT/CIM/DIRECTIVES/WELCOME.HTM.
8. FOLLOW-ON MESSAGES WILL BE RELEASED ANNOUNCING AND DESCRIBING
NON-AIRCREW AERIAL DUTIES, WHICH QUALIFY FOR THE MISSION SPECIALIST
INSIGNIA. ALL COAST GUARD MANUALS AFFECTED BY THIS MESSAGE WILL BE
UPDATED TO REFLECT THE FORMATION OF THE AVIATION MISSION
SPECIALIST.
9. BRAVO ZULU TO FUTURE AVIATION MISSION SPECIALISTS. MAY YOU
PROUDLY WEAR YOUR INSIGNIA IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR PROFESSIONALISM,
DEVOTION TO DUTY AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED
11. ADM T. H. COLLINS, COMMANDANT. SENDS
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