All Hands Messages
Implementation of the Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME) Rating - Update One
To the Men and Women of the Coast Guard:
On 23 June, I announced my decision to authorize the stand-up of a new law enforcement and security rating. Work is well underway to implement that decision. Today I am pleased to announce the name of the new rating and the target date for establishment. The MCPO-CG, MCPO-CGRF, and several of our senior enlisted leaders considered dozens of recommendations and suggestions before arriving at the new name. Our new rating will be the Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME).
The Law Enforcement, Tactical, and Security Group Occupation (LETSGO) III implementation team has established six working group cells. They are hard at work addressing the myriad of performance, training, personnel, resource, public information, human resource, and reserve issues associated with establishing the Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating. Though much work remains, I am confident we will establish the rating and be ready to implement laterals by January 2010. The working group cells will provide recurring updates on their progress. You will see announcements and updates as key milestones are reached. Some of the key milestones include:
- Selection of the rating force Master Chief, service-wide-exam writer, and Maritime Enforcement Specialist A-school chief (ooa Sep 2008).
- Completion of Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating EPQS (ooa Nov 2008).
- Preliminary decision on the location of Maritime Enforcement Specialist A-school (ooa Nov 2008).
- Release of the manpower requirements analysis survey which will inform the size of the rating and location of billets (ooa Dec 2008).
- Completion of the final Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating billet maps (ooa Jun 2009).
- Release of the lateral solicitation message which will provide application instructions for personnel who want to be considered for laterals into the Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating (ooa Jul 2009).
- Announcement of lateral selection panel results (ooa Nov 2009).
- Implement laterals establishing the Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating (ooa Jan 2010).
You will soon see a message soliciting applications for the Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating’s first three Master Chief billets. This is the initial step toward achieving our first critical milestone.
This is an exciting time to be in the Coast Guard. The Maritime Enforcement Specialist rating is a major step forward for our law enforcement and security missions. Look for future updates on our progress as we move toward full implementation. A link will be created on CG-Central to facilitate the timely exchange of information.
LETSGO!
Admiral Thad Allen
Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard