ALCOAST 013/09
COMDTNOTE 5350
SUBJ: COAST GUARD CREWMATES & CLASSMATES PROGRAM
1. COAST GUARD OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IS PLEASED TO OFFER THE COAST
GUARD CREWMATES & CLASSMATES PROGRAM GUIDEBOOK. THE PROGRAM
GUIDEBOOK PROVIDES MARITIME-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY AND
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE GUIDEBOOK WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR
USE BY CG MEMBERS WORKING WITH TEACHERS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE
ARE NOW OFFERING CG MEMBERS THIS PROGRAM GUIDEBOOK FOR USE BY ALL
COAST GUARD PERSONNEL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH PARTNERSHIP IN
EDUCATION (PIE) PROGRAMS. WE APPRECIATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE
GENEROSITY OF AUTHOR PATRICIA TURNER CUSTARD WHO WROTE THE
GUIDEBOOK (ORIGINALLY CALLED ADOPT A SHIP/ADOPT A CLASS) TEN YEARS
AGO AND RECENTLY UPDATED IT FOR CG USE.
2. FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS, COAST GUARD MEMBERS HAVE SUPPORTED
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PIE)
PROGRAM. ESTABLISHED IN 1991, PIE PROGRAMS PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ENHANCE STUDENTS ACADEMIC
ABILITIES THROUGH EFFORTS SUPPORTING LOCAL SCHOOLS, EXPOSE STUDENTS
TO COAST GUARD MISSIONS AND INCREASE POTENTIAL FOR RECRUITING A
DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
3. THE COAST GUARD CREWMATES & CLASSMATES PROGRAM GUIDEBOOK OFFERS
ACTIVITIES THAT INCORPORATE INFORMATION ABOUT COAST GUARD INTO
SUBJECTS SUCH AS SCIENCE, MATH, READING, WRITING AND HISTORY. WHILE
THE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THIS GUIDEBOOK ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE
STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF COAST GUARD AND ITS MARITIME MISSION, THE
ACTIVITIES ALSO SERVE TO ENHANCE STUDENTS SKILLS IN THE FUNDAMENTAL
EDUCATIONAL DISCIPLINES.
4. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM IS CG BEAR. THIS SURROGATE
CLASSMATE, IN THE FORM OF A SMALL STUFFED BEAR WEARING A COAST
GUARD UNIFORM, ACCOMPANIES CUTTERS WHILE UNDERWAY AND PROVIDES
REGULAR PATROL UPDATES TO STUDENTS. A CG CREWMEMBER REPRESENTING CG
BEAR REGULARLY COMMUNICATES WITH THE ADOPTED ELEMENTARY CLASS VIA
EMAIL.
5. THIS PROGRAM GUIDEBOOK WILL BE POSTED ON THE PIE MICROSITE ON CG
CENTRAL AND IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS WEBSITE.
6. THE POC FOR THE COAST GUARD CREWMATES & CLASSMATES PROGRAM IS
MS. GWENDOLYN WHITE, 202-372-4519 OR GWENDOLYN.E.WHITE(AT)USCG.MIL.
7. T.A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.