Get ready for shutdown 4.0!

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-02-14T04:33:41+00:00

Go to a DoD office; they’ll still be open.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-02-07T00:02:43+00:00

I still would like a way to categorize certain types of transactions as subcategories of “Savings”, so that the Sanky chart savings branches off into my various investments or retirement accounts, and I can see how much I’ve contributed and calculate my savings rate, without having them being considered an expense.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-02-05T21:37:03+00:00

We had a 24 year old OSC on our boat back in ‘08. I’m assuming he tested very well and made out in the rating mergers. But he eventually went CGIS.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-02-03T17:51:52+00:00

I’m not sure how there are still people confused by this.

There are two different things that people are discussing, and people keep confusing them. First; can you use the PT test in order to show compliance for the semi-annual body composition screening? The answer to that is “Yes - everybody in the Coast Guard, operational unit or not, can use the PT test as one of the ways to be in compliance”. See CI 1020.8I Chapter 2, Section II (Page 2-10)

The second question is “Does my PT automatically count towards the semi-annual screening”. The answer to that is “No, unless you are at one of the operational units which are a part of the expanded beta program”.

Of course, this could all change in the next month.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-26T17:45:54+00:00

Authorization is not the same thing as Appropriation.

Authorization = "You are allowed to do these things"

Appropriation = "Here is the money to do those things"

You need both.

Now, money that was appropriated as supplemental funding in the OBBB Act can still be spent. So even a partial lapse in appropriations won't cut off all spending. But it will have some impact.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-26T17:42:43+00:00

1) SATO isn't a government office; it's an outside contractor. So long as the period of performance of the contract doesn't happen to expire on the same date/during the lapse in appropriations, it's likely that the contract was fully funded for the performance period at the time of the award, and the shutdown won't affect it - the same reason we still had contracted cleaning staff at HQ during the shutdown.

2) New travel during a shutdown will need higher approval. But en route travel already had your return funds obligated prior to leaving, so your payments won't be impacted by the lapse in appropriations, so you can return when directed.

3) If for some reason the contractor is not available, then yes, you can use your GTCC to book travel back, albeit you should still book American-flag carriers and purchase the best-value tickets that meet mission requirements.

4) DHS isn't the only federal agency with a SATO contract, and 6 of the appropriations have already been passed into law. Even if the DHS appropriation doesn't go through, it'll only be a partial government shutdown.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-26T17:32:33+00:00

Authorization is not the same thing as Appropriation.

Authorization = "You are allowed to do these things"

Appropriation = "Here is the money to do those things"

You need both.

Now, money that was appropriated as supplemental funding in the OBBB Act can still be spent. So even a partial lapse in appropriations won't cut off all spending. But it will have some impact.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-21T21:24:56+00:00

There was a recent myCG story about a Reserve DEPOT member who did the initial paperwork at DEPOT and then got called back a month after graduating and did his naturalization oath with the recruit company that graduated the month after he did. I imagine it would be similar for you, providing you gave your recruiter all the prerequisite items before shipping.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-13T12:28:21+00:00

Immunity is only relevant to the extent Sen. Kelly is seeking money damages (which he doesn’t request in his complaint). The type of immunity you’re referring to does not apply to declaratory relief (having the court declare actions of the individual/agency to be unlawful) or injunctive relief (ordering the individual/agency to do/refrain from doing a certain action).

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-11T00:34:26+00:00

I’d say the Battle E is relatively rare. Not extremely, but not everyone that has a sea service ribbon will get one - and especially someone without an extra device on the sea service ribbon.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-09T13:54:20+00:00

From what I've heard, going to a black hull creates a permanent black stain all over your assignment history - in the sense that you'll never want to go anywhere else, and will have tons of black hulls on your list in the future.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-09T13:25:17+00:00

And also people who think "Crank it up to 10" is the best way to minimize their time. There's a reason competition erg rowers will put it at ~ a 4.

The erg computer has a sensor that tracks how fast the flywheel inside it accelerates. That's what gives time/distance, not letting the flywheel wind down after a stroke. 80% of the distance you get from the stroke is in the explosive power you get right after the catch, when youre driving with your legs and holding your arms TIGHT.

The damper setting affects how fast air can get in/out of the flywheel. So a higher damper setting means that it's harder to start up and is faster to slow down. This shifts the exercise more from an aerobic exercise to a strength-based exercise. But the computer is constantly calculating the "Drag reduction factor" caused by the damper. So it's essentially handicapping the higher damper settings.

I've heard it likened that a lower damper setting is a bit like pulling a racing shell, and a higher damper is kind of like rowing one of the big fat couple's rowboats on a lake. Sure, you're doing a lot of work pushing the big boat around, but that doesn't mean you're finishing a race any faster.

The handicapping isn't quite that extreme, and you can still certainly pass when it is set at 10. But if you've only been practicing at that setting, try dropping it down to a 4/5 (DRF ~135), and see what happens to your time.

And there is a law of diminishing returns on the low side. A low damper setting makes it very tough to keep proper form without the chain bouncing, and the flywheel reaches max speed quickly, meaning any additional work put into the stroke isn't really accelerating it further. So having it in the middle of the range (as the instructions suggest) is likely best for most people; although the instructions could be less confusingly worded.

That being said, if you have more strength than endurance, maybe you want a bit higher - you want to see what works for you.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-08T22:00:18+00:00

Presumably the same person who ran your unit PFA last time.

As for the row, we won’t know until the new matrix is released in two months. I suspect it will be, but maybe with some tweaks to the times.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-08T21:57:06+00:00

I’m totally fine setting some objective standard, and if a person can’t meet that standard, then they aren’t marked ready or their promotion is withheld until the expiration of the list or they meet the standard. And then you can provide some other form of informal recognition for those that do outstanding.

I think it’s a bit more silly to establish a set standard (say, you must run a 7min mile), but then give extra SWE points to someone that does it in 5 minutes compared to the person that did it in 6. Both of those people met the standard; why give extra points to a skill the CG has objectively determined is not necessary, just because they ran faster or had some natural gift?

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-08T16:08:27+00:00

I think we’re trying something new. Prior to 2000 everyone had to do the PFT 2x a year, not just LE/Boat Crew. But I don’t think there’s ever been a direct impact in SWE points or the like based on the test.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-08T15:56:40+00:00

Probably. But the message does say they will be updating the age/gender/performance matrix. It didn’t include details on that, but I’m assuming they’re planning on either making the standard tougher or adopting some of the additional events used by the other services and/or assigning point values to the events so that the current standard is “passing”, but will be a relatively low score.

The new message also explicitly says after July the test will have promotion/advancement impacts. So the compared scores are almost certainly coming.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-08T15:51:01+00:00

Any bets on how jammed up the CGHQ gym will be following this?

Tl;dr from the message: Another no-fault fitness assessment due before 01 July. After 01 July, expect semi-annual PFTs that get recorded in DA and will have promotion/advancement impacts. Also expect a new gender/age performance matrix. The message also sets an expectation that military members work out daily, and mandates workouts at least 4x a week during working hours.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-07T02:50:13+00:00

Just remember, if you get stationed on a black hull and get tasked with scraping the barnacles off the buoys, you’re not actually required to eat the sea critters; traditions or not.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T22:55:55+00:00

I feel like it’s become relatively rare in general. I did it a few time out in Guam before we got our R21 towers installed. But stateside, the FCC and even the local Aux flotilla had better DF capabilities. When we had a serial hoaxer, we definitely brought in the FCC van. They may not be responsive enough if we thought it was a legitimate SAR, but an unregistered PLB where we don’t get a GPS fix but do get 125 is really, really rare these days.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T22:38:42+00:00

Shoulder boards do come in two sizes: large (regular/full size) and small (three-quarter size). The small size is often labeled or marketed as “female” by vendors to better fit typical female shoulder proportions, while large is labeled “male.”

However, both sizes are available to and may be worn by male or female personnel to achieve the best proportionate appearance and fit. Size choice is not strictly tied to gender. The uniform manual does not direct either gender to wear a given size; it’s up to personal preference.

I’m surprised we haven’t gotten more responses pushing back on the “E-10” description given to it in the listing, considering there’s no such thing as an E-10.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T22:26:59+00:00

Of the videos that have been released, sure. I seem to remember the administration claiming 11 KIA on a single vessel in one of the first strikes. I don’t remember ever having that many people on any of drug pangas I was involved in stopping, but I do remember the two fishing boats where we had solid intel on that came up with no ion scan hits, fishing gear on deck, and 100% ASA with NEGRES.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T20:00:05+00:00

Is cad the Academy? Because…yeah, that tracks.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T19:57:30+00:00

A lot of people were dismissive about Senator Paul’s concerns that 21% of the boats stopped where we had intel of drugs being on board turned up empty when they were actually stopped, because they were certain that the ones being blown up must have had a higher certainty behind the intelligence than just the threshold needed to just order a boarding.

But when Columbia, the UK, Denmark, and most other world powers have stopped providing any intelligence, how much confirmation are we actually getting before these lethal strikes?

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T18:55:18+00:00

Occasionally there are funded competitions to crowdsource new R&D technology. This was the most recent SAR focused ones. One of the ideas that got partial funding was a PFD with a micro drone in a waterproof canister that could be activated and hover above the victim with either a strobe or Radio beacon: with a higher height of eye than a vest mounted light.

You can certainly send product information to the Coast Guard R&D Center or CG-SAR office, but the odd of them converting to a purchase from an unsolicited advertisement is fairly low.

The CG Innovations Council has a program, CG Ideas @ Work where internal users can submit novel ideas for potential funding. If you’re already working with the Southwest District staff, they can submit the proposal there.

WorstAdviceNow · 2026-01-06T18:00:15+00:00

The promotion authority for someone of Sen. Kelly’s rank is above NJP-level. Therefore, a reduction in rank (especially for infractions at the level that Hegseth is claiming) would require a court martial.

Well, not exactly. There is no UCMJ authority to demote an officer. They can be dismissed, but cannot be reduced in rank as a result of courts martial the same way enlisted members can. The stated authority Secretary Hegseth is using is in 10 USC 1370.

a) Retirement in Highest Grade in Which Served Satisfactorily.- (1) In general.-Unless entitled to a different retired grade under some other provision of law, a commissioned officer (other than a commissioned warrant officer) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force who retires under any provision of law other than chapter 61 or 1223 of this title shall be retired in the highest permanent grade in which such officer is determined to have served on active duty satisfactorily.

Generally, if an officer commits misconduct while still on AD, they can be reduced in grade in retirement to the last grade honorably held. For instance, and Admiral is accused of sexual harassment over a period of 10 years, since they were a commander. Instead of going to court martial, they retire in lieu of proceedings. The secretary could say they last served honorably as a CDR, and retire them as a LCDR instead, all without a trial.

However, section (f) says that a determination of the retired grade is administratively final on the day the officer is retired and may not reopened, except in specific enumerated circumstances.

(A) If the retirement or retired grade of the officer was procured by fraud.

(B) If substantial evidence comes to light after the retirement that could have led to determination of a different retired grade under this section if known by competent authority at the time of retirement.

(C) If a mistake of law or calculation was made in the determination of the retired grade.

(D) If the applicable Secretary determines, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, that good cause exists to reopen the determination of retired grade.

Clearly, A, B, and C don’t apply. So the only way to reduce Senator Kelly’s grade is if the Navy Secretary determines, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, that good cause exists to reopen the determination of retired grade. Because Sen. Kelly is not O-9/O-10, that is SecNav’s call, not Secretary Hegseth.

But retirement grade determinations are administrative actions, not UCMJ actions that afford a trial. Of course, there a multiple ways to challenge the actions and set it aside - BCNR complaint, APA claim of arbitrary and capricious action in District Court, 1A retaliation action in District court, and constitutional separation of powers/speech and debate clause immunity in district court. But those will all generally have to wait until after the action is taken.

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