COMDTINST 1541.1
June 1 1998
effective and ineffective behaviors. Diagnostic tools and corrective strategies are taught.
Through discussion, case study, class exercise and/or role-play, students gain an
Understanding of these skills and how best to apply them.
b.
History. Human error has been and continues to be a significant cause of operational
mishaps. These errors have resulted in the loss of personnel, cutters, boats, and
equipment. As an example,navigation mishaps between FY87 and FY92 exceeded
0,000 annually, excluding the loss of USCGC MESQUITE in December 1989.
Ineffective risk decisions many times have placed our personnel at.greater risk than
necessary. Technical knowledge and skill alone cannot prevent mishaps. It also takes
teamwork that minimizes, recognizes, and corrects human errors and a systematic process
to.continuously assess and manage safety risks. A boat consisting of a coxswain and crew
is one team, but seldom performs its mission without interacting with members of a larger
team. The larger team includes mission coordinators (the officer-in-charge or duty
officer), other Coast Guard assets, other government, commercial, and private parties, and
the "customer," who is usually the person or vessel which is the focus of the mission.
Because the majority of missions have inherent safety risks, effective communication
between the boat and the larger team is a cornerstone for mishap prevention.
Analysis of operational teams by several government sources identified the critical skills
that enhance productivity and minimize errors. A FY93 needs assessment of Coast Guard
navigation mishaps identified a need for training cutter personnel in these skills as well as
policy changes to reinforce effective team behavior. That assessment has been validated
by a recent Chief of Staff action item resulting from a Class "A" mishap and
substantiating the training need for ashore personnel. Between FY94 and FY95, training
material and policy were developed,resident courses were offered, and integration of TCT
into existing curricula began.
(1) During FY95, exportable team training was implemented and comprehensive training
packages were developed.
(a) The Ninth Coast Guard District successfully prototyped a district-wide exportable
training program, utilizing facilitators whose training and travel funds were
supported by Coast Guard Headquarters. This prototype became the benchmark
for service-wide unit-level training programs using a cadre of trained facilitators
with continued support from Commandant (G-WKS).
(b) Commandant (G-WKS) designed a comprehensive training package for
facilitators during exportable training, as well as for unit supervisory personnel to
conduct their own departmental training as needed. This training material is
further described in paragraph 7.d. below.
(2) The following resident courses now contain training on some, if not all, TCT skills:
(a) Cutter Prospective Commanding Officer/Executive Officer (PCO/PXO) Course
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