Dry Suits

[BMC Trent Spiroff]

Good Morning,

Does anybody know why the Kokatat dry suit changed the seals from rubber wrist/neck seals, to neoprene seals? The new suits we received over the past six months come with neoprene vice rubber seals.

The neoprene might be more comfortable in the dry environment, but in a wet environment, let me just say that the Chesapeake is colder than the waters of the Caribbean. Everyone that swam this week in the new suit all took on water.

I thought I’d kick it around here first prior to running it up the chain.

T.S.

[BMC Chris Gempp]

We have them here also. If everyone took on water, this may be a dumb question, but where the seals tight?

[BMC Trent Spiroff]

I couldn't get mine any tighter. I was last to go in the water. My first thought was the others fogot to tighten the seals using the velcro tabs, maybe an open zipper etc.

The old rubber seals you could adjust to the members neck. Maybe the neoprene seals need to be fitted and changed out depending on the size neck. Maybe I need a bigger neck.

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

Trent. Not sure why the suits would come with neoprene. When we order awhile back you had to specify and pay more. We received a couple neoprene and it was not for us. Maybe if the Mil spec was thicker. No more neoprene until something comes out that is a little more water tight.

Regardless, new drysuit contract is right around the corner. You'll be ordering from someone else for the next 5 years on your next procurement.

CS

[CWO Eugene Diotalevi (BMC)]

Hey Gents,

A tad off topic, but related. Does your unit have a reserve funding tail to support reserve PPE? If so, do you outfit your reserve crew with the exact PPE as your active folks?

Best,

Gene

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

Eugene, I want to say in the past I have. There was recently a message released that I believe specifically talked about getting the sizes for all your reservist so that PPE could be ordered and issued. I'll check tomorrow at work, I believe that is how I read it.

CS

[CWO Eugene Diotalevi (BMC)]

Chris,

Thanks much, I think I remember that message as well. More to the point, and for the sake of full disclosure, I'm a reserve BMC trying to help my XO bring the reserve team in full compliance. This said, I'm trying to get a snapshot of how other stations run reserve funding issues. Is the reserve funding tail based on the number of reserve assigned? Can the station use reserve money for anything other than reserve issues? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Gene

Ps - Next question: reserve qualifications.

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Eugene, on your first question, the info did come out in an ALCOAST, I dont remember which one but Im sure you can find it on the Boat Forces Website.
As far as Reserve Qualifications there the same as Active Duty. Since the platform's have different Qualifications and Certifications then the Currency Maintenance does also. What are your thoughts on those?

[CWO Eugene Diotalevi (BMC)]

Thanks Senior.

I’m on the top of qual regs, but I was wondering if you had any reserve members with the HL desig. If so, do you allow the reserve team to conduct reserve boards (BO/BTM)? Do you require active duty members to be present? Same goes with boat crew and coxswain. Do you have OPS or the XPO go for the check ride, or do you allow the reserve team to conduct check rides? Senior, what I’m asking is how independent do you allow the reserve crew to be with regards to qualification and training?

What do/did you find as weaknesses/strengths with your reserve program with regard to qualifications? Did you find your qualified members to be more productive or more lackadaisical towards making regularly scheduled drills et al?

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Eugene, first to answer your question, nope never had a HL Comp member who was a reserve.
As far as qualification/re-certification boards. Never had a "reserve team" conduct boards. I dont understand why you would want to have two different boards composed of two different components?
Checkrides-my XPO conducted the checkrides for boatcrew members and I conducted them for Coxswains, again regardless of what component they were in. My Ops was not qualified on any platform as a Coxswain so he didnt do any checkrides (prior QM, first smallboat station).
As far as leeway in the reserve program, if a reserve was certified and current they were treated no different than an AD member.

If a member was scheduled for a drill regardless if they were certified or not they were expected to show up. Unless they contacted the XPO and conveyed a good reason why they couldnt.

[BMC Trent Spiroff]

Chris & Chris - Dry Suit leakage - I'll look into seals. I'm willing to bet we didn't take the option of the rubber seal upgrade. The RS&S manual still calls for rubber seals, I really don't know why we went with the neoprene.

Eugene - Reserve funded billets are funded the same as Active duty. You have to squeeze funding out of that pot to maintain equipment for your unbudgeted reserves. The message mentioned in a previous post is directed at reserve PPE shortages.

Reserve training – Though we have some reserves with 20+ years at this unit, the active duty side still takes care of the boards/check-rides. In addition to my XPO, I only have two other active duty members that conduct crewman boards/checkrides. Active duty members are here full time and are more aware of what’s expected (performance and administration). My reserve members are invited to sit in on the board.

T.S.

[CWO Eugene Diotalevi (BMC)]

Senior,

Thanks for the input. I did not expect “leeway” towards reserve qualification. In addition, I was not looking to separate reserve from active duty, I was asking how folks manage reserve qualifications while dealing withthe standard high op tempo - read: reserve weekend while active duty team members try to train and manage daily ops over a limited period of time.

Trent, that's what I was looking for.

Best,

Gene

[MKC Craig Thorngren (Ret)]

Hey Gents,

A tad off topic, but related. Does your unit have a reserve funding tail to support reserve PPE? If so, do you outfit your reserve crew with the exact PPE as your active folks?

Best,

Gene

Gene,
It may seem hard to believe but HQ actually funded all reserve members PPE almost $60 more than active duty members. Reserve members were funded at $296 per person on your PAL, active was funded at $232 per person on PAL (those designated as being boat crew members). In addidtion, if you are in an a certain oparea reserve and active personnel should have also received the "cold weather" kicker. Some other units also were funded a little extra here and there, like D17 ANT's and D9 units that are engaged in ice rescues. I'm attaching a spread sheet that show's how the money was dispersed by HQ, it's kind of interesting when you see how much they gave you, and how much you've been taxed by Area, MLC, District and the Sectors...

Craig

Sorry folks, the system wouldn't let me upload an excel file, if you'd like it, let me know and I'll send it to you...

[CWO Eugene Diotalevi (BMC)]

Craig,

Thanks much! Please send to eugene.j.diotalevi@uscg.mil

Best,

Gene

[ASTC Ronny German]

I think this might be relevent to the discussion:

UNCLAS //N10470//
SUBJ: DRY SUITS AND LINERS FOR RESERVE BOAT FORCES PERSONNEL
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 151732Z DEC 05/ALCOAST 622/05
B. RESCUE AND SURVIVAL SYSTEMS MANUAL, COMDTINST M10470.10 (SERIES)
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 091440Z MAR 06/ALCOAST 136/06
1. PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO INFORM AREA AND
DISTRICT BOAT FORCES MANAGERS THAT THE OFFICE OF RESERVE AFFAIRS
(CG-131) HAS PROCURED A NUMBER OF DRY SUITS AND LINERS FOR BOAT
FORCES UNITS WITH RESERVES ASSIGNED AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW
THESE DRY SUITS AND LINERS ARE TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
2. BACKGROUND: REF A ENCOURAGED BOAT FORCES UNITS TO AUTHORIZE
ASSIGNMENT OF RESERVISTS TO UNBUDGETED POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE
FY06 RESERVE RECRUITING MISSION. WHILE ASSIGNMENT OF RESERVISTS TO
UNBUDGETED POSITIONS BENEFITS THE UNIT, IT ALSO CREATES A FUNDING
GAP FOR THE PPE REQUIRED BY REF B. THE BOAT FORCES PPE BUDGET
MODEL DOES NOT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR UNBUDGETED POSITIONS. TO OFFSET
THIS FUNDING GAP, REF C OUTLINED THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO FUND
PPE FOR RESERVISTS ASSIGNED TO UNBUDGETED POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF
REF A. RESERVIST ALREADY ASSIGNED TO UNBUDGETED POSITIONS PRIOR TO
IMPLEMENTATION OF REF A WERE NOT AUTHORIZED PPE FUNDING UNDER REF
C.
3. DISCUSSION: IN SUPPORT OF BOAT FORCES PPE REQUIREMENTS, THE
OFFICE OF RESERVE AFFAIRS (CG-131) SECURED ADDITIONAL NON-RECURRING
FUNDING AT THE END OF FY06. DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS IT WAS
DETERMINED THAT THE FUNDING WOULD BE BEST USED PURCHASING DRY SUITS
AND LINERS. A TOTAL OF 1000 DRY SUITS AND LINERS WILL BE PROCURED
WITH THE FOLLOWING DISTRIBUTION: CGDONE (125), CGDFIVE (125),
CGDSEVEN (20), CGDEIGHT (10), CGDNINE (130), CGDELEVEN (120),
CGDTHIRTEEN (120) AND CGDSEVENTEEN (10). EACH PSU WILL BE SHIPPED
(40) DRY SUITS AND LINERS.
4. ACTION: DISTRICT BOAT FORCES MANAGERS ARE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE
THE OFFICE OF RESERVE AFFAIRS (CG-1312) A CONSOLIDATED MSG
OUTLINING THE DISTRIBUTION OF DRY SUITS AND LINERS WITHIN THEIR
AOR. DISTRIBUTION PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE RESERVISTS IN
UNBUDGETED BOAT FORCE POSITIONS FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THOSE RESERVISTS
CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO BOAT FORCES RESERVE PAL POSITIONS. BECAUSE
OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS ON RESERVE FUNDING, THE
FOLLOWING REPORTS ARE REQUIRED:
A. DISTRICT BOAT MANAGERS' CONSOLIDATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN SHALL
INCLUDE:
1) UNIT NAME/ADDRESS
2) UNIT POC
3) QUANTITY AND SIZES
4) WHETHER THE DRY SUIT AND LINER(S) ARE FOR UNBUDGETED AND
OR PAL POSITION(S).
B. DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES WHEN THE DRY SUIT AND LINER(S) ARE
RECEIVED BY THE BOAT FORCES UNIT:
1) RECORD THE ISSUANCE OF THE DRY SUIT AND LINER ON THE
AF-538 IAW REF B.
2) FORWARD A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AF-538 TO OFFICE OF
RESERVE AFFAIRS (CG-1312).
5. POCS:
A. QUESTIONS REGARDING RESERVE PERSONNEL ISSUES, UNBUDGETED
POSITIONS AND RESERVE FUNDS USED FOR PPE, LT CHRISTA JACKSON,
OFFICE OF RESERVE AFFAIRS (CG-1312), AT (202) 475-5446 OR
CHRISTA.D.JACKSON(AT)USCG.MIL.
B. QUESTIONS REGARDING DRY SUITS, UNDERGARMENTS, AF-538, AND
RESCUE AND SURVIVAL SYSTEMS, CWO TOM DARDIS, OFFICE OF BOAT FORCES
(G-RCB-2), AT (202) 372-2459 OR THOMAS.J.DARDIS(AT)USCG.MIL.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
7. CAPT SCOTT W. ROBERT, CHIEF, OFFICE OF BOAT FORCES SENDS.
BT
NNNN

[BMC John Marschhauser]

When we saw the previously listed order, we traded some dry suits with each other in order to achieve better fit and seal. When we were done, it appeared that our unbudgeted reserve personnel needed dry suits. I hope they got moved higher on the list.
On a related note, I post a sign every year in our R&S locker stating that "MAY IS DRYSUIT REPAIR MONTH". We need to address this issue every summer before it becomes critical in the cold weather.