Food Service Specialist
Force Notes
September 2009
All information published in FS Force Notes for September 2009 is listed for
informational purposes only and is NOT official CG or FS Policy
Note: I will be attending the CPO Academy from 31 October 2009 through 3
December 2009. I will most likely NOT be doing RFMC work during that period.
Please contact LT Neal Hinkel at 202 475 5760 with issues that cannot wait for my
return.
MARITIME ENFORCMENT SPECIALIST (ME) RATING
I am very supportive of the development of the ME rating. I highly encourage all FS’s
that are interested in becoming a ME to discuss this with their supervisor and Command
Master/Senior/Chief.
Any FS that wants to submit a change in rate (CIR) package to become an ME is highly
encouraged to do so.
ALCOASTs 409, 410, & 411 are out for MLES Warrant Specialty, AD & Reserve ME
Advancements for 2010 and beyond.
Air Station Corpus Christi
A Resource Proposal to open a new Dining Facility (DF) at ASCC is moving through the
approval process. If approved and funded as requested, we will create 23 new FS
positions including a highly coveted FSCM position to serve as the Food Service Officer.
This RP is scheduled to become active in FY 2010. A word of caution: Unless you see
the billets advertised on the Assignment Officer’s list, you are advised not to make a
life changing decision to become assigned to ASCC. This RP may be cancelled,
unfunded or suspended at any time.
As of September 2009, the actual construction of the facility that will house the DF has
NOT started. I will keep you posted on this subject in future editions of the FS Force
Notes.
Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) for FS’s serving aboard the 110’
and 87’ Cutter Platforms
We were successful in acquiring an increase to the SDAP level which becomes effective
on 1 October 2009. The new SDAP is Level 2. We had done what the board asked us to
do last year to increase the level which was to show improvement to the account.
I want to explain to you why we targeted the FSO positions aboard the 110’ and 87’
cutter platforms vice any other FSO position serving either aboard a cutter platform or at
a shore based Dining Facility.
We have experienced significant problems in managing the PB account in terms of
preparing folks for their assignment (thus the reason we created the IDFSO resident
based course at TC Petaluma) and created the SDAP for the PB platforms. We also
created new policy that requires CG-1111 official notification for any time any FSO is
relieved for cause. We need to know what the problem is at a unit so we can look at it
and determine what if any intervention (training, policy change, etc) is required to
minimize the detrimental impacts to both the unit and the FS being affected.
We need to attract and RETAIN these folks to these positions (and all FS positions). We
spent almost half a million dollars several years ago just to transfer in early replacements
for the FSO’s that were sent to these PB platforms who could not/would not complete
their assignment due to multiple reasons.
We were able to stabilize the PB account in terms of early transfers and generating a
waiting list of applicants to go to the PB community. Certainly, we relied heavily on our
partners at EPM and CG-12A to help us build our business case when we went before the
board to compete for resources.
We truly do value our entire workforce, each and every one of you that work so hard to
do the best you can for your unit. We simply had to address this community first. As
time and situations change, we will look at other communities within the FS rate to
determine what problems they may be facing that we need to address.
I urge all of you to keep your FSAT informed about the challenges you face so when we
meet with them, we can look at your issue.
IDFSO Course
FSC Reagan has some more information regarding this course, but I wanted to explain to
you why we created this course. I have also received a considerable amount of input
from the 140’ cutter platform commands as well regarding this course.
Years ago (way before I started here in 2004), a decision was made (I have no idea by
who) that the existing resident-based FS paperwork management/PVA/FSO courses
conducted at TRACEN Petaluma resident based training were going to be “virtual” or
“computer based training”-CBT.
I remember calling the FS Program Manager, CWO Averill, about the course. He
explained to me that it would allow individuals that were subject to frequent and or long
term deployments to get training at either their home (with laptops that were sent from
Petaluma) or to use the training rooms at their units for 8 hours a day. This meant they
would not have to leave home to get training.
The “e”learning system within the CG is a phenomenal training resource. When it is
done right, it is an awesome tool that trains our workforce, cuts costs, makes some
training more user-friendly, etc. That is called course architecture when it is done right
by folks who know how to create training in an “e”learning environment.
Unfortunately, our FS Paperwork Management Course never got that architecture.
Frankly speaking, it was a mess from day one. This is not being said to throw anyone
under the bus. Had I been in a position of leadership at the time, I might have agreed
with the concept and voted yes.
The CG has grown leaps and bounds in the “e”learning field over the last 10 years and I
know it to be the way much of our training is conducted (and should be conducted), but
not ALL training can effectively be conducted via “e”learning.
To make a long, miserable story short, it didn’t work. We were hearing from the field
that many of the FS’s that were going to IDFSO positions (especially those in the PB
community) were having a very hard time at their new units even having completed the
online Paperwork Management Course.
It took some time (actually way more than I expected) to gather the data and conduct a
couple of expensive and required analysis’ (nothing happens without an in-depth
analysis).
What we found was that there was a considerable difference in what was required of the
IDFSO (focus on the PB community) and what was given to prepare them for their new
assignments. Think of it like this: You are tasked with preparing all the food at your unit
for one day. You arrive at your Galley only to find about 1/3 of the equipment and food
you need to do the job.
We worked extensively with the curriculum development specialists at TRACEN
Petaluma (they do this for a living) for about 7 months to get the curriculum developed so
we could run a pilot course (we did that earlier this year).
I personally underestimated the amount of time that the course of instruction would
require to deliver all the requirements that were obtained from approximately 50 current
and former FSO’s during the two analysis’ that were performed. I expected it might take
5 days, maybe 7. It actually takes 15 training days to deliver all of the requirements
necessary to complete the IDFSO course.
We get 18 seats per class; there are 3 classes per year. Our first priority (again) is to
ensure that each IDFSO position within the PB community is assigned a TONO to attend
PRIOR to arriving at their unit (listed as Pre-Arrival Training in the Master Training
List).
There are approximately 120 PB-IDFSO positions. About half of these rotate each year
which means that approximately 60 IDFSO’s need to get this training to replace the
qualified IDFSO they are scheduled to replace. There are not a lot of leftover seats.
However, we will work with each unit/command of any platform to see if we can get
a FSO who is not a member of the PB community into the course. This will be done
on an individual basis.
We had to pay for this course by cutting some quotas in other courses since we don’t
have any budget to work with to speak of. That is why is so important that you attend the
training if you have orders. If you know you cannot attend, you need to inform your
command so they can inform FSC Reagan, who in turn will look for another replacement
for you. I will remind you, per the Cutter Training Manual, that unit operations, moving,
etc, are not authorized as reasons for not attending mandated training.
I urge you to work through your command to contact either myself or FSC Reagan if you
have questions or input regarding this course.
FS Career Path/F&S/MWR-CGES
I have a meeting in September of 2009 with the Deputy Director of the Coast Guard
Exchange System (CGES), Mr. Gary Scheer; to discuss a possible permanent career path
for FS’s that will work in the MWR-CGES community and have decided to pursue their
commission as F&S Warrant Officers.
Basically, I will be speaking with him to see if we can attach some mandated Class “C”
schools that are generally more of the SK rating that an FS who makes F&S may find
beneficial once they accept their commission and are assigned with the F&S community.
These “C” schools would be listed on the MTL as mandatory requirements for personnel
serving in these positions throughout the CG and working in the MWR/CGES
community.
While there have been many successful individuals that have done extremely well in
transitioning from being a FS to an F&S, there is another side to the situation.
I have seen far too often that many FS’s are not as optimally prepared for their F&S roles
once they leave the FS rate. This holds many capable individuals back from pursuing the
F&S career path. Having dedicated venues like the CGES-MWR positions serve as a
vehicle to set the future F&S up to be competitive and technically competent benefits the
entire workforce as much as it does the member.
Here is an example of a pilot program we started this year at the MWR Facility at
TRACEN Cape May.
I acquired a FS1 position for assignment anywhere in the CG. I had been to TRACEN
Cape May a few times and had met with the Comptroller, LCDR Hallman, to discuss a
possible F&S career path with the CGES/MWR facility located there.
Mr. Hallman and I worked out a few details and we got the position established and filled
in AY 2009. We put the word out and waited to see who was interested in participating
in the program and wanted to be a F&S that would come to TRACEN Cape May.
FS1 Hamman decided he wanted to pursue the F&S career path.
Our FS AO, Mr. Carpenter, worked with me to identify a prospective F&S career path
minded individual to fill the newly created position (FS1) at the TRACEN MWR
Program.
LCDR Hallman continued to be an enabler of this pilot program as he was crucial in
determining what role and function the new position would serve as while ensuring the
member in the position was being prepared for their new assignment as a F&S.
As you can see by the comments listed below, we have had some success in this process.
We haven’t got it all figured out exactly, but I believe we are on the right path to improve
our workforce, our service delivery and meet the next mission.
Dining Facility Automation Management
Hello from the DFAM specialist!
The team at OSC Martinsburg and I have been very busy getting units incorporated into
the DFAM system. We currently have 38 units in the system, with a total of 13 more
scheduled by the end of October.
We will be taking a 3 month break on rolling out new units between November 2009 and
January 2010. We plan on getting rolling again in February.
The number one question I get is "When will my unit get DFAM?". Well, all of the Shore
units in D14, D17, D11, D13 and D9 have or will have the system by 31 Oct 2009. In
February, we will begin rolling again with the following agenda for shore units:
February - 75% of D8
March - 25% of D8, 50% of D9
April - 50% of D9, and a separate training, location TBD for members transferring to a
DFAM unit from a non DFAM unit.
May - D5
June - 50% of D1
July - 50% of D1
If you are a large unit in these areas, I will be contacting units for hosting requests in
December.
The second most asked question I get is "Why is the shipboard development taking so
long?". The answer is one word - Vista. When the DFAM software was purchased, it
worked in Vista, and still does if you use an off the shelf copy. However, the CG image
6.0 is a different beast. We expect to have the Vista issue resolved before the end of the
Shore side roll out, but due to security issues with Vista, CG-1111 and OSC are obligated
to get DFAM up and running in 6.0 before we move on to other things.
That being said, we have a plan in place on a way forward with shipboard development,
and the vendor has experience in a detached environment. We also have a list of lessons
learned from other systems that have deployed to afloat units.
Lastly, I would like to speak about bar code readers. We were on track to have those
testing in early spring 09, but the flash drive ban made us hit a brick wall. Working with
all of our partners, we have gotten permission to move forward, and development and
testing will take place later this year. We are looking at the Intermec CN3 for the device
to be developed, and I for one am excited at the potential time savings.
That is all for these force notes. In addition to checking the force notes for DFAM
information, please be sure to review the FSAT newsletter and occasional AIG message.
FS1 Ian Weiss
Dining Facility Automation Management Program Specialist
COMMANDANT (CG-1111)
ATTN (Food Service Program Office)
US COAST GUARD
2100 2ND ST SW STOP 7902
WASHINGTON DC 20593-7902
DFAM Trouble Ticket Web Site http://csd.osc.uscg.mil/cghelp/
e-mail Ian.S.Weiss@uscg.mil
Phone (202) 475-5152
Cell (202) 494-5152
Fax (202) 475-5907
FS Professional Development Specialist
FSC Dena Reagan-CG-1111
FY10 “C” School dates are now available on the TQC Website which can be accessed
through this link: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/tqc/default.asp or the SMS homepage. Click
on FS Information Portal<Courses & Qualifications<A&C School Schedules<Class
Schedules<C School Schedules<Food Service.
Course information on the website includes Course Code number, class duration,
prerequisites and special information, purpose of the course and class convening dates.
Choose the course and date you wish to attend and submit an ETR. Courses found on the
TQC website are CG approved and funded by AFC-56 (training money). They are NO
COST to your unit.
FS “C” schools include Nutrition, Shipboard Baking, Advanced Pastry and Plated
Desserts and the new resident Independent Duty Food Service Officers (IDFSO) course.
For members interested in attending the Advanced Culinary Skills Training Course at FT
Lee, VA, a command endorsement shall be forwarded to the respective FSAT for
Recommendation. Members must be E-5 to E-7 to apply; E-4 recommendations will not
be accepted.
If orders need to be cancelled or substituted with another member at the unit, it is now
required by TQC that the unit send a cancellation or substitution message. Message
templates can be found on the website. Cancellation requests based on CART/TACT,
deployment and PCS/HHG moves will generally not be considered as schedule
conflicts, per the Cutter Training and Qualification Manual, M3502.41.
Students with orders who do not report for school are documented as “No Show” in
Direct Access. This is a lost training opportunity, not just for the member with orders,
but for another member who could have been substituted into that seat.
The chef’s uniform is the only authorized uniform for all FS “C” schools. The only
exception is the IDFSO course; students may wear ODUs when attending this course
only.
Quotas for Shipboard Baking have increased from 18 to 36 for FY10; quotas for
Advanced Pastry and Plated Desserts increased from 22 to 36. These are substantial
increases and will give many more FSs the opportunity to attend both these course in
FY10.
The new IDFSO course is required for all E-5s with orders to the 87’/110’s. The Master
Training List (MTL) has been updated to reflect this course as pipeline training for these
platforms.
The FS17 Competency Code has been created for the FS2 positions on the 87’/110’s.
This code will not be automatically assigned upon completion of the IDFSO course; the
FS-RFMC will be the sole issuer of the code. The CO/OINC shall observe the FS for 3
months after completing the IDFSO course and submit an email to the FS-RFMC stating
that the FS demonstrates/does not demonstrate full capability to serve as the unit FSO.
Members may apply to the FS-RFMC for a waiver based on previous assignment
and performance history prior to execution of PCS orders. Members and commands
can reference ALCOAST 226/09 for full details regarding this course and
competency code.
As is the case with many of our “C” schools, I have more requests than seats available. I
work directly with CWO2 Duchososis in assigning these seats so please be patient and
we will do our best to get folks into these seats.
For additional information or questions regarding FS “C” Schools contact me at
Dena.L.Reagan@uscg.mil or at 202-475-5151.
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP)
The creation of Stores Web accounts for all Coast Guard dining
facilities is currently at 80%. This is a great accomplishment
considering the large change over in FSO's throughout the fleet.
Unfortunately, 20% of the dining facilities are still unable to meet the
requirements for Critical Incident Messing. With the flu season at our
door step and hurricane season still in full force, your unit may be
required to procure MRE's to subsist your customers. Without an active
Stores Web account, you may be unable to meet this emergency feeding
requirement.
Also, FSO's are required to contact CG-1111 and FSAT prior to ordering
MRE's through Stores Web. If procured, the MRE's are linked to the
unit's dining facility fund and must be maintained on inventory until
consumed or until they have reached the end of the documented shelf
life. If not consumed prior to expiration, the units dining facility
fund (your galley operating allowance) will be responsible for funding
any and all approved surveys from expired MRE's. Proper planning and
guidance from CG-1111 and your FSAT's will help in determining if you
meet the requirements for procuring MRE's and possibly help you avoid a
costly mistake.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns regarding Stores Web,
MRE's and Prime Vendor. You will never get the right answer to a
question that you do not ask!
FSC Scott Bowen
Coast Guard Liaison
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
700 Robbins Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Office: (215)737-2915
Fax: (215)737-2161
Scott.Bowen@dla.mil
EPM-FS ASSIGNMENT OFFICERS INFORMATION:
From your hardworking and underappreciated FS AO’s, here is a link that will give you
the latest information regarding the upcoming AY:
Shortcut to: http://www.uscg.mil/psc/epm/AO/FS.asp
CWO2 Michael V. Carpenter
CG PSC EPM-2
Food Service Assignments
FSCM/FSCS/FSC/FS1/SCA
(202) 493-1297 office
(703) 217-8051 cell