Commandant
2100 Second Street, S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-WKW-2
Phone: (202) 267-1329
COMDTINST 1754.3
3 FEB 5 1999
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 1754.3
Subj: CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM)
Ref:
(a) Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: An Operations Manual for the Prevention of
Traumatic Stress Among Emergency Services & Disaster Workers, Jeffrey T. Mitchell,
Ph.D., George S. Everly, Jr., Ph.D., F.A.P.M.
1.
PURPOSE. To establish policy for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), which
assists those affected by traumatic events to cope with stress effectively. CISM includes pre-
incident training and post-incident services to help those who have suffered a catastrophic
experience.
2.
ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics
commands, and commanding officers of headquarters units, assistant commandants for
directorates, Chief Counsel, and special staff offices at Headquarters shall ensure compliance
with the provisions of this directive. Because CISM promotes their members' mental health
and well being, commanding officers and officers-in-charge shall be familiar with CISM,
training requirements, and the procedures to request support outlined in this directive.
3.
APPLICATION. This Instruction applies to Team Coast Guard: regulars, reserves,
auxilarists, civilian appropriated and non-appropriated fund employees, and dependent family
members. The Coast Guard Work-Life Staff also shall provide CISM services to any other
Uniformed Services member and his or her dependent family while the member serves with
the Coast Guard or is located at a Coast Guard facility.
4.
DISCUSSION. Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge are responsible under Coast
Guard Regulations for the well being of assigned personnel and the operational readiness of
the command. Search and rescue, law enforcement, and other humanitarian and emergency
operations may require our members to perform their duties in harsh environments and in the
face of great human tragedy and suffering. Our members may experience stress, frustration,
and empathy with those involved in a traumatic incident. The affected individual(s) or their
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