Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Bi-monthly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/140140
U.S. Coast Guard Boat Forces Protective Clothing and Equipment Boat Forces protective clothing and equipment -- formerly referred to as Boat Crew PPE -- is divided into two standard ensembles, the Basic and the Cold Weather. The Basic Ensemble is required in all geographic areas. The Cold Weather Ensemble is required in designated geographic areas and where otherwise prescribed, such as Deployable Specialized Forces units. The required ensemble is personally issued to all identified personnel assigned to boat crew billets. Funding is provided for issuing Protective Clothing and Equipment to Reserve force boat crews. Reservists are expected to bring protective clothing and equipment with them while conducting waterborne operations when mobilized or during periods of inactive duty (IDT) and active duty training (ADT). Members issued orders to a boat crew "C" school should check with the school staff for information on protective clothing and equipment requirements for attendance and participation. The Personal Flotation Device/Survival Vest is included in the basic ensemble for forecasting/funding purposes only; the member's unit shall retain and manage these items. Specific information and geographical zones can be found in the Rescue and Survival Manual. Story by CWO Donald Hartmayer, CG-731 Basic Ensemble (Personal) Parachute Bag (Unit) Type III PFD Protective Footwear Survival Vest Anti-exposure Suit Strobe Light/Signal Mirror/Whistle Rain Gear Work Gloves Sunglasses Ballistic Helmet Ballistic Goggle Deck Shoes Personal Locator Beacon Cold Weather Ensemble Dry Suit Undergarments (Layer I/II) Thermal Socks Glove System Balaclava Insulated Footwear Neoprene Hood Additional Rescue and Survival Systems information can be found on the Office of Boat Forces website at: http://cgweb.comdt.uscg. mil/G-RCB/RSS.htm. iCS-300 qualifed auxiliarists provide hands-on training. Sector LA-LB: fnding ways to ICS qualify Reserve personnel As reservists report aboard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach (LALB), they are assigned a specific Watch Quarter Station Bill (WQSB) Incident Command System (ICS) position. As part of their description of duties, they are required to attend ICS unit exercises, submit Short Term Training Requests (STTRs) for "C" schools and seek out additional ICS opportunities. In an effort to further assist members and utilize them as force multipliers, Sector LA-LB's Contingency Planning and Force Readiness Branch has partnered with local Auxiliary members qualified as ICS-300 instructors to create ICS workshops for the Task Force Leader/Strike Team Leader and Division/Group Supervisor positions. With limited Inactive Duty Training (IDT) periods for each Reserve member, the workshops are designed to ensure reservists are taught ICS concepts and principles in a classroom environment along with a field training experience in a logical sequence to match actual ICS response incidents. Taught within a four hour drill period, this unique approach reinforces each lesson to ensure students understand the concept and the task at hand in the shortest amount of time. To further advance each individual's experience as Division/Group Supervisor or as an Operational Section Chief, members are offered ICS positions during annual ICS planned events such as annual holiday boat parades. These planned events test and solidify each trainee's newly acquired skills. At the completion of the workshops, students who meet preexisting requirements are given the opportunity to submit their individual qualification packages for evaluation and ICS position certification. Within the past seven months, 12 Reserve members qualified as Type 4 Incident Commanders, another 12 qualified as Task Force Leader/Strike Team Leaders and two members qualified as Division/Group Supervisors. This program increased the Sector LA-LB's ICS qualified reservists by 43 percent. — Submitted by Mr. James M. Dupureur Issue 2 • 2013 � RESERVIST 15