2. With the development and release of reference (a), the Coast Guard recognized that increased assignment lengths would provide significant benefits to Coast Guard members. This policy established new tour lengths for several ratings and units, but it is the Marine Science Technician revision that is relevant to this proposal. Establishing five-year tour lengths for Marine Science Technicians assigned to feeder ports represented an increase from the four-year tours that were served previously. Since its release, both industry and members have come to realize the benefits associated with this change. However, these benefits …show more content…
To understand the benefits of this change, we must first connect two separate events and understand how the first made a significant contribution to the second. In 2008, maritime industry was placing tremendous pressure on the Coast Guard, citing proficiency among inspectors and continuity of operations at units as primary concerns. The Coast Guard developed a Marine Safety Enhancement Plan and undertook several initiatives to address these concerns. Feeder ports, first discussed in reference (b) and expanded on in reference (c), were responsible for training a complement of marine inspectors who would be capable of meeting industry demands at ports nationwide. Apprentices reported to professionally diverse ports