COMDTINST 1750.4D
related to relocation and deployments. The program is not intended to provide counselors to
Coast Guard families, but rather to provide a liaison between the Commanding Officer (CO)
and/or Officer-in-Charge (OINC) and families.
b. An effective Ombudsman program supports the CO/OINC in gaining insight on the state of the
unit, thus allowing a proactive response that can minimize or preclude the impact family
concerns may have on unit mission readiness.
c. Appointed Ombudsmen are volunteers who donate their services directly to the unit. These
volunteers are covered as federal employees in accordance with reference (a) and are provided
some protection against litigation in accordance with reference (b). In addition, they are
mandatory reporters of family violence as described in reference (c) and shall follow all
guidance within this Instruction as well as guidance provided by the CO/OINC.
d. This Instruction does not apply to volunteers who support the Ombudsman program but are not
officially appointed as an Ombudsman. The donation of their services to public, private, or
commercial organizations or contractors for the Coast Guard, even when such services are in
direct support of the Ombudsman program, are appreciated by the Coast Guard, but are not
authorized coverage under this Instruction.
e. This Instruction does not establish any rights or benefits to family services at specific units
throughout the Coast Guard. The program foundation is a collaboration among Coast Guard
auxiliary and reserve forces, all Coast Guard units, the Department of Defense (DoD), federal,
state and local agencies, and public and private civilian agencies. Collaboration ensures the
maximum use of resources to provide family support services to Coast Guard members and their
families and minimizes the duplication of services.
5. DESIGNATIONS.
a. The Commandant will appoint, in writing, an Ombudsman-at-Large to represent all unit
Ombudsmen and report on active duty and reserve family concerns. The Ombudsman-at-Large
will write reports of any field visit and provide them to the Commandant as requested, with a
copy to the Director of Health and Safety (CG-11).
b. Commanding Officers/Officers-In-Charge are responsible for determining the need for an
Ombudsman program at their unit and are accountable to their superior for this decision.
Officers-in-Charge also have the option of either appointing a unit Ombudsman or ensuring that
family members have access to an appointed Ombudsman within their geographic area.
c. Work-Life Supervisors at Integrated Support Commands (ISCs) and Headquarters Support
Command (HSC) shall serve as the Ombudsman Program Coordinator. The Work-Life
Supervisor may delegate this responsibility in writing to a volunteer or Work-Life Specialist as a
collateral duty.
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