Plans need to be created that include numerous air, sea, and land readiness exercises to hone skills and effectiveness. It is not productive to learn a procedure or skill under the stress of a heightened security level. The learning and practice need to be done in a non-emergency, low threat environment.

USCG Auxiliary White Paper on Maritime Domain Awareness (2005)

Introduction

This Emergency Readiness Planning  OPR III page is provided by the Marine Safetyand Environmental Protection Department (MSEP) to assist you in developing your own Emergency Readiness Response Plan. 

This site will serve as a common resource for all Auxiliarists - For those who just need to become familiar with Emergency Readiness and for those who develop and manage Readiness Response Plans on their Flotilla, Division and District levels.

You will find examples of existing "Guidelines", "Scenarios for Drills", "Surge Plans", "District, Division and Flotilla level Plans", "Auxiliary Leadership Commentaries".

Plans are needed to conceptualize what to do and how to do.  But it must not end there! Drills are absolutely necessary to determine if the plan is practical and to teach all Auxiliarists  what to do in an emergency call-up.  Properly devised plans and drills will provide for your unit and for the USCG an accurate accounting of Ready Resources to be counted upon in the event of an emergency.

 Leadership Commentaries

From Commodore Gene Seibert: Commodore Seibert talks about Marine Domain Awareness (MDA) and forming Flotilla, Division and District READY RESPONSE PLANS. "Readiness is another critical part of our HLS Plan.  All of the resources in the world will do us no good if they are not yet ready to be deployed.  We would like to position our resources in a strong BRAVO status, which means they are ready to go at any time. As an end product of the Auxiliary's 'Operational Patriot Readiness - Operational Order', each flotilla and division should have or be in the process of developing it's Ready Response Plan.  Correspondingly, each member should know his or her responsibilities under the plan." "This will allow for consistency amongst the plans. Furthermore, elected officers of each unit should appoint a Ready Response Team, including key staff officers, to develop and implement your unit's plan."  "Whenever a security threat is detected, we in the Coast Guard Forces will need to be aware of our role.  We will translate the state of readiness into three scaleable Maritime Security (MARSEC) postures: MARSEC 1 - New normalcy; MARSEC 2 - Heightened risk; and MARSEC 3 - Incident imminent.  Ensure that all of our members are aware of their responsibilities within each of these states of readiness."  See the Spring 2003 issue of "Navigator", page 9 article by Commodore Gene M. Seibert, National Vice Commodore Chief of Staff, "MARINE DOMAIN AWARENESS AND HOMELAND SECURITY".  

Comments From USCG Commandant (2003): Admiral Thomas H. Collins "Readiness -  Capable...competent...and vigilant in all mission areas." Superior operational service is our purpose, and we have long been recognized as the world's best Coast Guard. America expects that we will bring the same level of professionalism and maritime leadership to the war on terrorism that we have traditionally brought to all our other missions. We must be ready in all of our mission areas, while building our maritime security capability as a priority.  As the lead federal agency for maritime safety and maritime homeland security, we will do all within our power to ensure our units employ sound and safe doctrine and tactics, are supported with vibrant integrated logistics systems, are adequately staffed with properly trained people, and are equipped with modern and well maintained cutters, boats, aircraft, equipment, and facilities.  Units will operate to the level that our support systems can sustain, within prescribed employment and crew fatigue standards, while aggressively managing risk. 

To improve our current and future readiness we will:

• Build robust maritime homeland security strategies, capabilities and competencies.
• Design and implement a maritime domain awareness capability that provides integrated afloat, ashore and airborne C41SR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) that is focused on meeting both the informational and intelligence needs of decision makers and the tactical needs of operational commanders.  Ensure supporting C3 (command, control and communications) organizational structures exist at the port level to meet tactical mission objectives.
• Ensure our future readiness by leveraging the Integrated Deepwater System project, Rescue 21 and homeland security initiatives as significant steps in the strategic re-capitalization of our required operational and support capability.
• Build strategic partnerships to enhance mission outcomes at all levels - federal, state and local; international, regional and bilateral; public and private - to bring clarity to mission planning and execution and to leverage the capabilities of Coast Guard forces and force structure.