ALCOAST 157/09
COMDTNOTE 16114
SUBJ:  RETIREMENT OF THE 44 FT MOTOR LIFEBOAT
A. PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6 (SERIES)
1. THE RETIREMENT AND DECOMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR THE COAST
GUARDS LAST 44 FT MOTOR LIFEBOAT (MLB), 44301, IS SCHEDULED FOR 8
MAY 2009 AT COAST GUARD STATION CHATHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.
2. THE 44 FT MLB HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOAT DESIGNS
IN COAST GUARD HISTORY.  IN SERVICE FOR NEARLY A HALF CENTURY,
COAST GUARD 44 FT MLBS AND THEIR CREWS SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY.  THE 44 FT MLB REPRESENTED THE
CORE OF HEAVY WEATHER SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITY TO THE AMERICAN
BOATING PUBLIC FOR FORTY SIX YEARS.  ITS STALWART PRESENCE WAS
ALWAYS READY FOR THE CALL WHEN STORM DRIVEN WINDS, SEAS, AND SURF
BEGAN TO BUILD.  WITH SUPERIOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND
SEAWORTHINESS, THE 44 FT MLB SWIFTLY BUILT A REPUTATION AS A BOAT
THAT SAFELY BROUGHT BOAT CREWS HOME IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
3. THE OFFICE OF BOAT FORCES, FIRST COAST GUARD DISTRICT, SECTOR
SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND, AND STATION CHATHAM WISH TO EXTEND AN
INVITATION TO COAST GUARD MEMBERS (ACTIVE DUTY, RETIRED, RESERVE,
AUXILIARY, AND CIVILIAN) TO ATTEND THIS HISTORIC OCCASION.  EVENT
DETAILS WILL BE POSTED TO STATION CHATHAMS WEB SITE AND
CONTINUALLY UPDATED AS THE DATE DRAWS NEAR.  PERSONNEL PLANNING TO
ATTEND ARE REQUESTED TO CLICK INTO THE SIGN IN SHEET ON STATION
CHATHAMS WEB SITE (LINK BELOW) SO THAT AN ACCURATE COUNT IS
AVAILABLE FOR PLANNING.
  A. OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE PERMISSIVE
ORDERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF (A) FOR THOSE MEMBERS REQUESTING TO
ATTEND.
  B. REQUEST WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF THIS MESSAGE THROUGH ALL
EXISTING CHANNELS (RETIREE GROUPS, LOCAL CHIEFS MESS, CPOA, ETC).
4. POCS.
  A. EVENT ORGANIZER. LT ROBERT GRIFFIN AT (508) 989-4802 OR
ROBERT.E.GRIFFIN(AT)USCG.MIL.
  B. OFFICE OF BOAT FORCES. LT LAWRENCE AHLIN AT (202) 372-2457 OR
LAWRENCE.F.AHLIN(AT)USCG.MIL.
  C. STATION CHATHAM WEB SITE:
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/D1/STACHATHAM/44RETIREMENT.ASP
5. RADM WAYNE E. JUSTICE, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR CAPABILITY,
SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.