Comments on: Can We Crew USCG Hospital Ships? http://conflicthealth.com/can-we-crew-uscg-hospital-ships/ Armed Conflict, Public Health, Human Security, Health Diplomacy, and Medical Intelligence Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:32:17 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jim Dolbow http://conflicthealth.com/can-we-crew-uscg-hospital-ships/comment-page-1/#comment-333 Jim Dolbow Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:09:50 +0000 http://warandhealth.com/can-we-crew-uscg-hospital-ships/#comment-333 Concerns about about where the people will come from and the CG's ability to execute new missions are both canards in my book. Take World War II as an example. On 7 December 1941, the CG had 29,000 personnel. Less than 4 years later, it ranks swelled to over 175,000 plus new missions like ASW and operating landing craft. More importantly, just because it is a CG hospital ship, it's medical personnel don't have to wear CG blue. As pointed out in the article, the docs could be civilians, contractors, from the other 4 service branches, coalition personnel. Concerns about about where the people will come from and the CG’s ability to execute new missions are both canards in my book. Take World War II as an example. On 7 December 1941, the CG had 29,000 personnel. Less than 4 years later, it ranks swelled to over 175,000 plus new missions like ASW and operating landing craft. More importantly, just because it is a CG hospital ship, it’s medical personnel don’t have to wear CG blue. As pointed out in the article, the docs could be civilians, contractors, from the other 4 service branches, coalition personnel.

]]> By: TEJ http://conflicthealth.com/can-we-crew-uscg-hospital-ships/comment-page-1/#comment-332 TEJ Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:42:25 +0000 http://warandhealth.com/can-we-crew-uscg-hospital-ships/#comment-332 Sir CG would be able to spare the machinist mates, boatswain's mates, damage controlmen, etc. to man a hull or two, but unless you build it on an existing CG platform you would need new 'C' schools and training pipelines; new maintenance infrastructure including supply chain, forecasted dockside availabilities, etc; career paths for sailors leading in and out of these units; doctrine to guide a mission very different from most of what they do; etc. Of course these are not insurmountable obstacles, but my point is that CG is doing it now with the National Security Cutter and Response Boat Medium; will have to do it again with the Fast Response Cutter and Offshore Patrol Cutter; will do much of the same with new fixed- and rotary-wing assets; and also for any new polar rollers that come down the pike. That's a lot for a small service to digest. Over the last few and next few years the CG is integrating many new core and non-core missions and platforms. I don't see something as extraneous as a hospital ship being a higher priority than what's already in play. Sir

CG would be able to spare the machinist mates, boatswain’s mates, damage controlmen, etc. to man a hull or two, but unless you build it on an existing CG platform you would need new ‘C’ schools and training pipelines; new maintenance infrastructure including supply chain, forecasted dockside availabilities, etc; career paths for sailors leading in and out of these units; doctrine to guide a mission very different from most of what they do; etc.

Of course these are not insurmountable obstacles, but my point is that CG is doing it now with the National Security Cutter and Response Boat Medium; will have to do it again with the Fast Response Cutter and Offshore Patrol Cutter; will do much of the same with new fixed- and rotary-wing assets; and also for any new polar rollers that come down the pike. That’s a lot for a small service to digest.

Over the last few and next few years the CG is integrating many new core and non-core missions and platforms. I don’t see something as extraneous as a hospital ship being a higher priority than what’s already in play.

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