SUBJ: ALL HANDS - COMMANDANT'S NEW YEARS' MESSAGE
1. WE HAVE WITNESSED THE PASSING OF ANOTHER YEAR.  PROPER LOG
ENTRIES HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE WATCH CONTINUES.  FOR THOSE DEPLOYED
OR STANDING THE WATCH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON I PASS ON THE THANKS OF
YOUR SHIPMATES AND OUR NATION FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.  WE
HOPE THAT SOON YOU CAN EMBRACE THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW YEAR, RESTORE
YOUR PERSONAL READINESS, AND SPEND TIME WITH LOVED ONES.  FOR THOSE
FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
I HOPE YOU RETURN TO YOUR DUTIES HAVING TAKEN TIME TO REFLECT AND
REFRESH.
2. IN THE LAST YEAR YOUR PERSONAL EFFORT AND DEDICATION HAVE BEEN
CRITICAL IN POST-HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF, DRAMATIC SEARCH AND
RESCUE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES, COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSES,
RECORD SETTING DRUG SEIZURES, EFFECTIVE MARITIME SAFETY AND
SECURITY, UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT TO U.S. COMBATANT COMMANDERS AROUND
THE WORLD, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRESENCE ON THE NORTH SLOPE
OF ALASKA.  YOU ARE AMERICA'S MARITIME GUARDIANS.
3. LOOKING FORWARD, THE NEW YEAR BRINGS A TRANSITION IN OUR
NATION'S GOVERNMENT. THE PEACEFUL, ORDERLY AND RESPECTFUL TRANSFER
OF POWER FROM ONE ADMINISTRATION TO ANOTHER IS THE ENDURING LEGACY
OF OUR EFFORT TO CREATE "A MORE PERFECT FORM OF GOVERNMENT."
WORKING WITH OUR HOMELAND SECURITY PARTNERS WE ARE PROVIDING
BRIEFINGS, BACKGROUND MATERIALS, AND DATA THAT DESCRIBE THE COAST
GUARD'S UNIQUE ROLE AS A MARITIME, MULTI-MISSION, LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND MILITARY SERVICE.  WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE A
SEAMLESS TRANSITION WITH THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S AGENCY REVIEW TEAM
(ART) AND THE DESIGNATED SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY. AT THE
SAME TIME WE ARE COMMITTED TO INSURING THE CONTINUITY OF MISSION
EXECUTION.  I CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY WITH SECRETARY CHERTOFF
AND RECENTLY HAD MY FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY DESIGNATE
NAPOLITANO.
4. TRANSITION AND CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP ARE ROUTINE FOR MILITARY
PERSONNEL.  THE TRADITIONAL CHANGE OF COMMAND SCRIPT RECITES THE
PURPOSE AS "CONVEYING TO THE OFFICERS, ENLISTED PERSONNEL, CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES AND AUXILIARISTS THAT ALTHOUGH THE AUTHORITY OF COMMAND
IS RELINQUISHED BY ONE PERSON AND IS ASSUMED BY ANOTHER, THAT
COMMAND AUTHORITY IS MAINTAINED WITHOUT INTERRUPTION."  THE
UNINTERRUPTED TRANSFER OF TOTAL AUTHORITY MIRRORS THE TRANSITION OF
OUR CIVILIAN SENIOR LEADERSHIP. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE
TRANSITIONS IS THE TRANSFER OF POLITICAL POWER OF OUR CIVILIAN
LEADERSHIP AND THE APOLITICAL CONTINUITY BY THE MILITARY IN
PROVIDING FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE NATION.  IT IS A LONG ESTABLISHED
CONCEPT THAT BEGAN WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON'S VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION
OF HIS COMMISSION IN 1783 BEFORE BECOMING OUR FIRST PRESIDENT.  IN
THAT LONG STANDING TRADITION WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXECUTE OUR
MILITARY ROLES AND MISSIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION AND ORDERS OF OUR
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AS WE "SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION
AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC."
5. LET US COMMIT OURSELVES TO MISSION EXECUTION AND MISSION SUPPORT
IN A MODERNIZED COAST GUARD, TO LIVING OUR CORE VALUES, AND BEING
GUARDIANS OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND ONE ANOTHER.  THANK YOU FOR
THE TREMENDOUS WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
6. ADMIRAL THAD W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.