CAPE MAY, N.J. — The U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Board of Advisors is holding their semi-annual meeting at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, Thursday, to review and validate the vision, mission, strategic plan and purpose of recruit training.
The board is expected to provide input and support to several training center initiatives including the training center's changes to its live-fire range capabilities and its measured impact on the service as a whole. Additionally, they are scheduled to review analysis regarding changes that were made in the selection and training policies for company commanders who would be responsible for preparing recruits for service.
"The support and advocacy of the board is crucial to our mission success," said Capt. Todd Prestidge, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. “The board enables us to have a voice at the highest levels of command, which in turn, ensures that the best policies are in place to maximize our impact on the quality of our enlisted service members.”
In addition to reviewing the needs of the training center, members of the board can get familiarized with the Coast Guard’s relationship to the local area.
“Opportunities like this offer senior leaders in our service a chance to see, first hand, the relationship the Coast Guard has with Cape May County and why we call this the ‘Coast Guard’s Hometown,” said Prestidge.
The board consists of leaders throughout the Coast Guard including Rear Adm. David Throop, commander of Coast Guard Force Command, Rear Adm. Kurt Hinrichs, director of the Coast Guard’s Reserve and Military Personnel Directorate, Master Chief Steven Cantrell, the service’s top-enlisted advisor, and many others.
The meeting is scheduled to end Friday.
A collection of covers sit on a table outside of the room where the Board of Advisors are holding their semi-annual meeting aboard the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., March 17, 2016. The board is made up of both enlisted and officer ranks whose purpose is to advocate and support issues relevant to the training center's mission readiness. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards)
Rear Adm. David Throop (right) provides opening remarks to the Board of Advisors, Thursday, March 17, 2016, at the board's semi-annual meeting held aboard the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J. Throop is the commander of Coast Guard Force Command and a member of the Board of Advisors. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards)
Capt. Todd Prestidge, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., provides a information about the training center to the Board of Advisors, March 17, 2016. The board acts as an advocate for the training center to the highest levels of command within the organization. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards)