WHAT IS YOUR LEGACY

by

        Commander Mike Ryan

    So, how is your personal Coast Guard legacy shaping up?  No, I am not talking about financial resources or gifts that may be funneled to deserving support entities such as the Coast Guard Foundation or the Mutual Assistance program.  While these are great ways that our current and former service members can give back to an organization that hopefully has given them so much during long and distinguished careers, I am referring to much simpler and long-lasting impacts that each of you can have on the Coast Guard.

    Your legacy is more of a function of your day-to-day influence on the organization and how you will be remembered after retirement.  I am sure that each of you can recall a great SAR Station Officer in Charge, skilled Electronic Systems Support Detachment Supervisor, seasoned Ancient Mariner, or dedicated Gold Badge Master Chief.  These profiles may be easy to associate with a lasting legacy, but in fact, anyone that reaches the E-7 and above status should be concerned with what they will leave behind upon retirement.

    As members of an elite segment of our maritime service, Master Chiefs, Senior Chiefs, and Chiefs all have an opportunity and obligation to pass on their skills, wisdom, and integrity to the ensuing generation(s) of our workforce.  The outstanding successes of our senior enlisted personnel since the Coast Guard’s inception are well documented, and I would contend that they are due directly to the members’ commitment to the service and the concern for the long term viability of the organization.  Legacies are not built at retirement; they are a reflection of accomplishments throughout many years of service.  

   An easy metric that may be a gauge of a deep legacy could be your effectiveness at grooming your successors.  Count how many of your subordinates have advanced under your tutelage since you were promoted to Chief or how many of your former students or shipmates join you wearing anchors.  It may be an interesting exercise to include this comparison in a discussion thread on this website.  While there is no magical number that indicates success on this front, your efforts to nurture the professional development of those in your craft yield significant benefits for the Coast Guard.  We need increased focus to grow the XPO/OIC pools as well as continuing to develop qualified personnel that can fill key leadership and technical positions to meet our commitments to the maritime public.  

    Enlisted members are rising to higher levels of the organization at an expedited rate.  Supplemental advancement lists, service wide exam waivers, and increased billet counts all make this a great time to be pursuing advancement in the Coast Guard.  Given this trend, it is even more important for the seasoned veterans of our service to be aggressive in teaching their craft and positively influencing their crews and new Chiefs.  The benefits of an active Chief Petty Officers Association Chapter and Chief’s Mess can’t be underrated in a environment where there as so many external influences that jeopardize the camaraderie and dedication that we have enjoyed for so long.  Hopefully the founding of www.cgchiefs.com is another example of legacy building for our service.

    Recent climate surveys have indicated that we need to do more to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of our personnel.  Our senior leadership is keenly aware of this perceived deficiency and are aggressively highlighting to the Commanding Officer and Officer in Charge communities the need to cite and reward stellar performance among our crews.  Even this Chief’s web site has sparked a discussion thread to explore the merits and potential negative effects of carte blanche increases in the number of formal awards presented.  Obviously we would all like to keep a balanced workplace environment where our members feel that they are appreciated.  Areas of recognition that may be ripe for enhanced attention and Chief influence include reinvigorating reenlistment ceremonies, bolstering advancement recognition for junior enlisted, and being willing to be the subject of formal retirement ceremonies.

    In recent years, I have seen a number of occasions where members reenlisting are hesitant to participate in creative or novel venues that they can reflect back upon during subsequent years.  Not to say that there are not still localized traditions such as signing atop a lighthouse or in the crow’s nest, but particularly for members stationed at support or ashore units there may not be an overwhelming drive to signify their commitment to the service in anything other than an informal, mundane office setting.  Reenlisting is a special bond between the member and our organization, but it is also a great opportunity for unit personnel to witness the event and reflect upon the many positive reasons that this is a great outfit to be associated with.  I would strongly encourage Chiefs to exercise their influence and help steer their crew towards being the focal point in ceremonies convened before the entire unit.

    Retirement ceremonies and advancement ceremonies are similar events that many are reluctant to subject themselves to, out of a desire to downplay their importance or avoid the spotlight.  My unit recently conducted four retirement ceremonies within a six-month period but it took a significant amount of command persuasion to get the members to agree to anything beyond a sheet cake and handshake gathered around the coffee mess.  Fortunately, the members relented under pressure and we held meaningful, formal ceremonies to recognize the 100+ years of expertise and experience that these members dedicated in the service to their country.  I have to believe that the crowd of hundreds appreciated the opportunity to recap the legacy of their fellow Coast Guardsman, and in time the retirees will be thankful they did not pass up a fitting tribute to their sacrifices and contributions.  As you approach your final days of service, please don’t deny those around you the benefits of formally recognizing your outstanding legacy.  Who knows, listening to the highlights and accomplishments during your journey may be the inspiration that at least one member of the audience needs to solidify their career intentions.

    Every command is dependent upon the Chiefs to help lead the unit in the proper direction. Your efforts to solidify and secure your legacy will ensure that you leave the organization in a position where it can continue to function effectively and efficiently after your departure.  Keep up the great work and remain Semper Paratus.