[MilCom] USCG Article

[Ken]

"Military Officer", March 2005 edition, has an article "On Guard, Post Sept
11, Vice Adm Viven S. Crea leads the Coag Gurd's Atlantic Area".

It's got some good pictures of the Maritme Safety & Security Teams (Watching
over Brooklyn Bridge, LNG Tanker Escort Boston Harbor. etc), As well as a
picture of some of the new night vision/radar equipment that's been
installed in some of the aircraft.  Additionally some pictures of small
patrol boats.

Bottom line in the article is the Coast Guard has a really challenge to meet
on Homeland Security.   After "9/11" 60% of Coast Guard resources were
committed to port security, this has now leveled to approx 28%.  More highly
mobile Maritime Safety & Security Teams have been formed.  Better
coordination between the other players (e.g. customs, local/state PD harbor
patrol units) is making the patrols more effective.  Also ships inbound must
provide info about 72 hours out from port.  Furthermore, private martime
ship operators/shippers, etc. must now develop their own security plans that
must be reviewed by the Coast Guard and also exercised by the business.

Also mentioned was the problem with HH65 Helos & engine power loss problems
(172 as of 9/30/04).  C130 aircraft use CASPER a sophisticated sensor
packages linking radar to forward-looking infrared systems-- but this also
has had part shortages.

The Coast Guard is having to change it's priorities with it's limited
resources.  Traditional missions such as counter-drug ops, fishery
enforcement, merchant vessel inspection, boating safety, enviromental
protection, aids to navigation, ice breaking, & wartime duties are still
being performed.  HOWEVER, fisheires patrols have been rolled back.

>From a monitoring standpoint we don't get that many postings to this list on
USCG operations with the exception of Mac down in GA.  So perhaps folks near 
the
coasts would try to do some monitoring.  Remember that's there's new USCG 
aero freqs
but the traditional VHF maritime freqs are also used, as well as the typical 
ATC freqs in
each geographic area.


Ken