I read with interest and applaud your President’s Message (“Rising to the Challenge,” July issue) encouraging reaching out to “allied naval forces and their support groups,” etc.
Perhaps our Bylaws’ “Objective and Purpose” should be amended to include encouragement and support for allied or friendly nations’ similar organizations and sea services. We may very well assist in the formation of ‘navy leagues’ (or other name) in those nations where there is interest.
I recall the amazement by Russian Navy and embassy personnel some years ago that we are volunteers and active-duty military are not members. There was interest and, I believe, we did send our Bylaws, council formation and other material to them.
Another question is whether we have the resources, financial and personnel, to promote the suggested initiative?
I do not agree with changing the status of non-U.S. citizens by affording full membership rights that would include governance of Navy League (e.g., council president, national director or other national officer). There is the potential for conflict of nationality interest.
Ivan R. Samuels
Past President, New England Region and former National Vice President Massachusetts Bay Council
Guard Against Consumer Rip-Offs
I was fascinated by your cover story in the June 2006 issue (“Double Whammy”). I would like to point out that while “payday loans” and the problems they cause are most certainly a concern for our active-duty sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and women, they are just one of a multitude of consumer rip-offs and scams that actively target our military members.
The National Consumer Law Center issued a report in May 2003 entitled “In Harm’s Way — At Home: Consumer Scams and the Direct Targeting of America’s Military and Veterans.” It is highly recommended reading for all Judge Advocates and civilian attorneys who routinely assist our service members with consumer issues. I would also recommend it to every active-duty service member, in order to prepare them for the gauntlet of payday lenders, pawn brokers, insurance sales representatives and used car dealerships that seem to surround all of our major military installations.
A copy of the report can be found at: http://www.consumerlaw.org/initiatives/military/content/report_military.pdf
Keep up the good work of informing and educating our sailors, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Mariners.
Lt. Cmdr. Sharif Abdrabbo
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve|
Cincinnati, Ohio
AIS Aids Maritime Domain Awareness
I was interested in Richard R. Burgess’ story about the “New Tracker” in your section on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the May issue of Seapower. The article described how U.S. Navy submarines are using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) required onboard civilian merchant ships to increase situational awareness, especially in regard to collision avoidance.
AIS also has another utility for Maritime Domain Awareness. In Alaska, the 17th Coast Guard District keeps track of vessels using the Automated Secure Vessel Tracking System (ASVTS). This system combines satellite tracking and AIS tracking of vessels. The ASVTS system [which is operated by the nonprofit Maritime Information Services of North America] allows an operator to monitor traffic over the entire area covered by the 17th Coast Guard District using a password-protected graphical user interface on a Windows-based PC.
When the cursor is placed on a target, its name and navigational parameters are displayed. The display can be zoomed in to focus on a particular area or out to give a macro display of the situation.
This type of AIS information and display is also available to port authorities, pilot associations, vessel owners and operators and other entities with a legitimate need for the information for other port areas where Marine Exchanges have installed AIS receiving stations, such as Puget Sound, the Columbia River, San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Houston/Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile, Miami, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York and Boston.
Ed Page
U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)
President
Maritime Information Service of North America
