ALCOAST 174/09
COMDTNOTE 5351
SUBJ: MID-GRADE OFFICER LEADERSHIP ANALYSIS (MOLGA) UPDATE
1. A 2008 ALCOAST PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO THE FIELD REGARDING EARLY
RESULTS FROM THE MOLGA, A COMMANDANTS LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL
(LAC) INITIATIVE TO EXAMINE POTENTIAL GAPS IN LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT FOR MID-GRADE OFFICERS (O-3 AND O-4). THIS FIRST STAGE
ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE GREATEST SERVICE WIDE GAP AMONG MID-
GRADE OFFICERS EXISTED IN THE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES OF STRATEGIC
THINKING, POLITICAL SAVVY, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (PARTICULARLY
MANAGEMENT OF CIVILIANS), AND VISION DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION. THIS MESSAGE REPORTS ON THE SECOND STAGE OF THE
ANALYSIS WHICH IDENTIFIED ROOT CAUSES OF THESE GAPS AND
INVESTIGATED PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS/INTERVENTIONS FOR EACH OF THE
FOUR COMPETENCIES WITH IDENTIFIED GAPS.
2. TRACEN YORKTOWNS PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY CENTER (PTC) COMPLETED A
STRATEGIC NEEDS ASSESSEMENT (SNA) TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSES AND
SUGGEST INTERVENTIONS NEEDED TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.  THE ANALYSIS
CONSISTED OF DATA GATHERED FROM A SURVEY SENT TO ALL O-5S IN THE
COAST GUARD. THE SURVEY HAD A RETURN RATE EXCEEDING 50 PERCENT,
WHICH ALLOWED FOR SUBSTANTIAL DATA TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSES.
FROM THE INTERVIEWS WITH SENIOR LEADERSHIP, 42 PERCENT DISAGREED OR
STRONGLY DISAGREED THAT THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
PROVIDES MID-GRADE OFFICERS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
3. THE ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CURRENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE HINDERING THE
COAST GUARDS CURRENT EXPERIENTIAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MODEL. THE
ROOT CAUSES IDENTIFIED WERE AS FOLLOWS:
 A. LACK OF NEEDED RESOURCES TO DEVELOP MID-GRADE OFFICERS,
SPECIFICALLY NO/MINIMAL TRAINING TO ADDRESS PERFORMANCE NEEDS
(STRATEGIC THINKING, POLITICAL SAAVY, VISION DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION).
 B. NOT ENOUGH TIME: OPTEMPO DOES NOT ALLOW UNITS TO FOCUS ON
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (STRATEGIC THINKING, POLITICAL SAAVY).
 C. NO PIPELINE TRAINING FOR JOBS THAT REQUIRE MID-GRADE OFFICERS
TO MANAGE CIVILIANS, EXISTING TRAINING PRIMARILY TARGETS CIVILIAN
MANAGERS. COMPETENCY IS ONLY NEEDED FOR SPECIFIC UNITS THAT HAVE
CIVILIANS AND JOBS THAT REQUIRE THE MANAGEMENT OF CIVILIANS (HUMAN
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT).
4. THE FOLLOWING INTERVENTIONS WERE RECOMMENDED:
 A. CG-133 AND THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTER (LDC) SHOULD
CREATE A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONTINUUM THAT IS UNIFIED AND
DISTINGUISHABLE.
 B. O-2S AND JUNIOR O-3S SHOULD ATTEND A BASIC OFFICER LEADERSHIP
COURSE (SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT LAMS TRAVELING COURSE) THAT
INTRODUCES THE 28 LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE
INCORPORATED AT THE JO MANAGEMENT LEVEL.
 C. SENIOR O-3S OR O-4S SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE
SENIOR LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES AND SKILLS (SLPS) COURSE.
 D. OFFICERS THAT RECEIVE ASSIGNMENTS THAT REQUIRE THE MANAGEMENT
OF CIVILIANS SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISOR OF CIVILIAN
PERSONNEL TRAINING.
5. THIS STUDY IS JUST THE FIRST STEP IN IDENTIFYING THE LEADERSHIP
AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLS NEEDED FOR OUR MID-GRADE
OFFICERS. COMDT (CG-133), LDC AND THE LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL
WILL BE
USING THESE RESULTS TO GUIDE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSALS
FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFICER LEADERSHIP CONTINUUM.
6. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND CANDOR THAT EACH MEMBER INVESTED IN
THIS PROCESS.  YOUR INPUT HAS HELPED TO ENSURE THAT ANY
INTERVENTIONS DEVELOPED TO ENHANCE THE LEADERSHIP CLIMATE OF
TOMORROWS ORGANIZATION WILL REFLECT OUR ORGANIZATIONAL REALITIES.
THIS STUDY AND YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR GUARDIAN
ETHOS OF TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN AS WELL AS THOSE WE SERVE.
7. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FULL MOGLA REPORT, YOU CAN ACCESS
IT ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/LEADERSHIP/LAC.
8. THE LAC WILL MEET AGAIN IN MAY 2009. THIS STUDY WAS INITIATED BY
FEEDBACK FROM YOU TO THE LAC. TO SUBMIT A LEADERSHIP TOPIC TO THE
LAC, SEND AN E-MAIL TO LAC(AT)USCG.MIL OR CONTACT A LAC MEMBER
(FIND MEMBERS AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/LEADERSHIP/LAC.
9. FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ALCOAST, CONTACT LCDR CHARLOTTE
PITTMAN AT (202) 475-5519 OR EMAIL CHARLOTTE.E.PITTMAN(AT)USCG.MIL
10. RDML D. R. MAY, DIRECTOR OF RESERVE AND TRAINING, SENDS.
11. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.