Security Levels


 

  National Threat Level: Elevated

Reporting Aboard

Color guardThe USCGC ALERT is a great way to get hands on experience for those who are reporting aboard for their first unit.

All Seaman and Seaman Apprentices can expect to become GPOW (Gangway Petty Officer of the Watch) qualified as well as Helmsman, Lookout, Basic and Advanced Damage Control qualified. Your break-in watch rotation will be 1 in 3 until qualified. Then expect to be in a 1 in 4 and sometimes a 1 in 5 rotation.

For those reporting as a Fireman or Fireman Apprentice, you can expect to become qualified as Aux Watch, Basic and Advanced Damage Control. Your break-in watch rotation will be 1 in 3 until qualified. Then expect to be 1 in 5 rotation upon qualification.

Those reporting in as petty officers (E-4 or E-5) not in an engineering field can expect to become GPOW qualified as well as Basic and Advanced Damage Control Qualified. As E-5 you will be a section leader and at E-4 you will break in as a section leader. Rotations for E-4 are generally 1 in 4 and sometimes 1 in 5 while the rotations for E-5 are generally 1 in 5 to 1 in 6. Those reporting in as a petty officer (E-4 or E-5) in an engineering field will stand the Aux Watch which is generally 1 in 5 to 1 in 6.

Housing for all E-2 and E-3

Alert crew in formationIf you are married you will be given government leased housing or given BAH to live in the economy. All E-2 and E-3's reporting aboard that are single can expect to live on the boat until they have become basic damage control qualified and GPOW qualified. Once qualified, government leased housing will be granted through the chain of command.

All E-4's and above are given government leased housing when availiable or given are given the chance to opt for BAH to live on the economy.

Welcome Aboard Message

SUBJ: WELCOME ABOARD!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT TO USCGC ALERT (WMEC 630), HOMEPORTED AT THE COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM IN ASTORIA, OR. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ARRIVAL AND HOPE YOU WILL FIND YOUR TOUR CHALLENGING AND REWARDING.

2. xxxxxxxx IS YOUR DESIGNATED SPONSOR. xxxxxxxxx CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL AT xxxxxxxxxxx@USCG.MIL OR BY PHONE AT (503)325-7213/4 WHEN ALERT IS IN HOMEPORT. xxxxxxxx IS YOUR BEST CONNECTION TO ALERT AND WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF YOU. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT xxxxxxxx AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GET ACQUAINTED.

3. xxxxxxxx IS AN ALTERNATE FOR YOUR DESIGNATED SPONSOR. xxxxxxxxx CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL AT xxxxxxxx@USCG.MIL

4. YOUR BEST POINT OF CONTACT FOR GROUP ASTORIA SPO WILL BE YN2 JENNIFER LANHAM. SHE CAN BE REACHED AT JENNIFER.R.LANHAM(AT)USCG.MIL OR BY PHONE AT (503)861-6188. YOU WILL NEED TO CONTACT HER IF YOU REPORT WHILE ALERT IS UNDERWAY.

5. OUR UNIT OMBUDSMEN IS MRS. AMY PETERSON AT (503)325-2826 OR DAP02@CHARTER.NET. SHE IS A GOOD SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON LIFE IN THE ASTORIA AREA, INCLUDING THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, AND ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY (IF YOU HAVE ONE).

6. COAST GUARD OWNED AND LEASED HOUSING IS AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL. PLEASE CONTACT MR. DONNY LEE AT (503)325-0203 REGARDING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND AVAILABILITY. DUE TO LIMITED RENTAL VACANCIES IN THE AREA, AND THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT HOUSING LIST APPROX. A 3-6 MONTH WAIT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT MARRIED MEMBERS CONSIDER REPORTING UNACCOMPANIED UNTIL HOUSING IS ARRANGED AND CONFIRMED.

7. ARRIVAL INFORMATION: IF FLYING, YOU SHOULD MAKE AIRLINE RESERVATIONS TO ARRIVE AT PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (PDX). SHUTTLE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ASTORIA FOR ABOUT $50 THROUGH BAY SHUTTLE AT (360)642-4196. IF DRIVING, CGC ALERT IS LOCATED ON MARINE DRIVE (US 30) AND 17TH STREET AT THE COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM.

8. GROUP ASTORIA HAS A CLINIC WITH DENTAL FACILITIES. ASTORIA IS ALSO IN A TRICARE PRIME AREA. THE LOCAL HOSPITAL IS COLUMBIA MEMORIAL, WHICH IS A VERY NICE FACILITY.

9. THE FOLLOWING IS GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ASTORIA AND CLATSOP COUNTY: ASTORIA (POPULATION 12,000) AND WARRENTON (POPULATION 3,800) ARE THE MORE POPULAR PLACES TO LIVE. THE CITY OF PORTLAND IS 100 MILES INLAND. THE AREA SEES SEVERAL MILLION VACATIONERS AND VISITORS PER YEAR. VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE MAJESTIC COASTLINE, LUSH FORESTS, MILD CLIMATE, AND SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE. SNOW IS UNUSUAL HERE, BUT IT RAINS APPROXIMATELY 70 INCHES PER YEAR. AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TEND TO BE THE WARM AND SUNNY MONTHS. THE AREA'S ECONOMY IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE LOCAL RENEWABLE RESOURCES SUCH AS SEAFOOD AND TIMBER. LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT IS ABOUT 5 PERCENT, AND THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FOR THE AREA IS ABOUT $35,000. THE AVERAGE SINGLE FAMILY HOME COSTS ABOUT $175,000 WITH PROPERTY TAXES BEING $15.50 PER THOUSAND DOLLARS. THERE IS NO SALES TAX IN OREGON.

10. THREE MAJOR HIGHWAYS CONVERGE IN THE AREA: US 26, US 30, AND US 101. THE I-5 INTERSTATE IS 50 MILES TO THE EAST. THE AREA HAS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRADESCHOOLS, AS WELL AS CLATSOP COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHICH HAS THE LOWEST TUITION PRICES FOR ANY PUBLIC COLLEGE IN OREGON.

11. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU OBTAIN A PERSONAL PASSPORT UPON REPORTING TO THE SHIP DUE TO OPERATIONAL PURPOSES.

12. YOU CAN VISIT THE ALERT WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO:WWW.USCG.MIL/PACAREA/CGCALERT.

13. WELCOME ABOARD AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT TO USCGCALERT (WMEC 630).

Last Modified 7/17/2008