Balancing Quality of Life with Mission Requirements: An Analysis of Personnel Tempo on U.S. Coast Guard Major Cutters
Abstract
As part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has a broad mission in the maritime domain, including in the areas of law enforcement, incident response, and disaster management. The USCG has specialized assets to accomplish the multidimensional aspects of the tasks associated with this mission. These assets include several types of commissioned vessels with crew accommodations on board (cutters). Among these, the large white-hull cutter fleet includes many of the USCG's ocean going vessels; given their capabilities, these cutters spend substantial amounts of time away from their home ports. The USCG currently is in the process of recapitalizing its fleet; the addition of the 418-foot Legend class national security cutter (also referred to as the WMSL) is a key aspect of fleet recapitalization. The WMSLs are significantly more capable in virtually all aspects than their Vietnam-era predecessors. Major capability improvements include speed, endurance, ballasting, sanitation, berthing, aviation, and small-boat operations. Many of the improvements reflect changes to international shipbuilding and crewing standards, advances in technology, and environmental standards and regulations. These cutters have the capacity to carry out missions that require remaining away from their home ports for sustained periods. The USCG fleet will eventually include 11 WMSLs. Six have been commissioned to date, beginning in 2008, and a seventh and eighth are expected to be commissioned in 2019.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1097651
Entities
People
- Jennie W. Wenger
- Kimberly C. Hall
- Maria. C. Lytell
- Michael L. Hansen
Organizations
- RAND Corporation