Commandant's

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

I saw a thread that said something along the lines of "What has the MCPO-CG" accomplished.... got me wondering... how about taking that up a notch to the Commandant level... Got a favorite one, or one you felt didn't do much for the organization?

I'd like to leave ADM Allen out of this one, simply because he has just begun his tour... I'm sure most of us would feel he is doing a great job thus far. (He would certainly get my vote too) but how about those that have already had their full tour...

Thoughts?

Wray... :cool:

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Wow, 70 views and not one post...I guess everyone doesn't have any feelings one way or another about the past Commandants...

In my mind, one that did the least, was the last one, ADM Collins.. He started off all wrong trying to get MCPO Good in as his MCPO-CG... (ignoring the application/selection procedures) I had never heard of him prior to him getting selected, and certainly didn't see any accomplishments while he was in office....

Oh well, that's my icebreaker.. anyone care to pipe in now?

Wray... :cool:

[MKC Craig Thorngren (Ret)]

OK, this is going to sound bad, but without looking who was the COMDT and when, the only one I can remember is ADM Yost and the loss of beards. It didn't really matter to me because I was just a new member of the CG at the time, but I can remember quite a few people saying they were getting out, but I can only think of one that actually did it.

Craig

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Craig,
Yep, ADM Yost sure pissed a lot of people off with that move, I was one, but aside from that, I don't think he was so bad... he was definately a military man, and you knew what to expect....

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b317/Stingwray/Capstancoffee.jpg

That picture was taken some time while I was on CAPSTAN (78-82)

Wray... :cool:

[CMC Bruce Bradley]

I used to joke that the Coast Guard had survived Y2K (Yost, Kime, Kramek). But I think the current debacle with Deepwater (from 123 and up) is pushing Collins to the front (or bottom of the heap). He wasn't the most personable person either.

But I'm really looking forward to the next couple of years, because as Bob Dylan says "the times they are a changin".

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Bruce I certainly agree... I have yet to hear about something notable (positive) Collins did...

Wray.... :cool:

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Wray, come on, ADM Collins was named after a drink. Maybe some day we'll have an E-10 :D who's named George Killian.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Ahhh come on now Nick, you were just throwing that hook out to have me start a thread saying there is NO E-10 paygrade... but, I'm sure most here are smart enough to read a pay scale and plainly see it only goes up to E-9...

That was just the kids on military.com that couldn't read... ;)

As for the drink... it, in my opinion had a lot more going for it than the ADM did... ;)

Wray... :cool:

[ASTC Ronny German]

I don't have any favorites as I just follow their orders and direction, but I really thought it was cool when ADM Loy used his "stroke of the pen" to make instant changes to policies and avoid all of the red tape.

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

I have to agree with Ronny! ADM Loy made one of those stroke of the pen changes almost immediately after taking the reins. I think he made a few others during his tour and they all seemed to make a positive, more efficient Coast Guard.

If memory serves correctly, the first one allowed OICs to serve as Approving Officials on Marks, so the E3 did not have to have his/her marks sent to the Group Commander.

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Admiral Yost did attempt to remake the CG as a military organization. When I was on GOVIS, we all knew the beards would be history when he took the reins. He did stand by his beliefs.

Also during the Admiral's time at COMLANTAREA/D3, MARZDEZ came into existance.

I think the gang of 12, I think there were only 12 Admirals back then, all were in the loop, so the MARDEZ concept wasn't only a Paul Yost concept. This was during the Reagan years and the military buildup.

Admiral Yost certainly wasn't high on my list for the beards, but he was for all the other aspects. It's unfortunate he will be remembered most for the beards.

As I recall, when he took the reins, he asked all the CEAs [Gold Badges to you new CG types] what they thought of getting rid of the beards. Asking those who weren't allowed to wear beards to begin with was adding a bias to the survey in my opinion, but he's the HMFIC and gets to ask whoever he wished. Everyone needs to remember he didn't send the message immediately, but it certainly was within 30 days. If he really wanted to exert his authority, the Admiral could have said at the change of command ... "Break my flag and send the message getting rid of those damm beards." MDI [Mess Deck Intelligence] at the time has the message was drafted shortly after he we selected as Commandant.

I can't tell you how many times Admiral Yost expressed displeasure in the appearance of Coasties he seen in his daily travels, and I got that information second-hand.

As I've said numerous times, we always remember the negative. I am sure there will be many more negatives than positives on this thread.

Would Admiral Kime have been selected for Commandant had it not been for Joe Hazelwood? Sometimes strange events propels one to the national spotlight.

In the same vein as the above paragraph, a Gorbochev-Reagan meeting took place on GOVIS, at the Admiral's residence.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

"As I've said numerous times, we always remember the negative."

How true... in life as well as the CG...





"Would Admiral Kime have been selected for Commandant had it not been for Joe Hazelwood? Sometimes strange events propels one to the national spotlight."

I doubt it....

Wray... :cool:

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Wray, you're right. Just trying to add a little fun to the discussion.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Nick,
I knew that.. and I LIKE FUN!

Don't you need a Florida vacation yet?

Wray.... :cool:

[BMCS Burt Ford]

On Leave, welcome to the boards Wray!

E10- the pay scale my gys psoted in the office does have one on it. I thnk it was navy times.


Now didnt ADM collins give us these wonderful sectors?

[BMCS Nick Pupo]

Wray, actually yes I do.
Bruce and I were down in Orlando the week of 22Feb. Didnt know how far from you it was. Guess I coulda looked on a map. We may be heading down again in Apr or May. If so I'll be sure to get in touch this time.

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

E10- the pay scale my gys psoted in the office does have one on it. I thnk it was navy times.

Then the Navy times can't read 37 USC any better than others who believe in that fallacy.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

On Leave, welcome to the boards Wray!

E10- the pay scale my gys psoted in the office does have one on it. I thnk it was navy times.


Burt, thanks....

As we all know the person that is the MCPO-CG gets "special pay" hense the "sp" on their military ID card (E9sp)

If you have a pay scale with E-10 on it I sure would like to see it... was it hand made? ... pretty special to have a pay scale for one person...

All the military pay scales I have seen have a foot note at the bottom to denote the pay received by the senior enlisted person....

Wray... :cool:

[BMCS Burt Ford]

I will let you know where it came from when i get back to Kodiak. Two more weeks here in sunny maryland.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Then the Navy times can't read 37 USC any better than others who believe in that fallacy.

I guess the same could be said for the Coast Guard PME...


Burt, thanks....

As we all know the person that is the MCPO-CG gets "special pay" hense the "sp" on their military ID card (E9sp)

I've seen an ID card with E-10. I think there's a lot of confusion...at all levels.

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Deane,

I agree.

And the office responsible for CIM 1000.6 (Series) is one that doesn't read.