NASBLA Boat Operations & Training Program briefing for the Department of Homeland Security Boat Commodity Council. November 2, 2010

1. DHS BoatDHS Boat
Commodities CouncilCommodities Council
BriefingBriefing
November 2, 2010November 2, 2010
Tampa, FLTampa, FL

2. An overview of the BOAT Program
What it is
How it was established
Why it was created
What was accomplished in year one
Projections for year two, and beyond.

3. •Celebrating its 50th
anniversary, The National Association
of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is a
national nonprofit organization that works to develop
public policy for recreational boating safety.
•NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities
of all 50 states and the U.S. territories.
•NASBLA offers a variety of resources, including training,
model legislation, education standards and publications.

4. Identifying, and closing a gap
NASBLA recognizes that the Coast Guard and DHS
cannot perform the maritime homeland security
mission alone.
It also sees a significant gap in training standards for
the port security mission.
And chooses to address the issue through the
formation of a “Council of Partners” in 2009.

5. The Mission: Create a Force-Multiplier
Through unity of effort, utilizing the
skills, knowledge and expertise within
our community, the Council of
Partners will develop a maritime
homeland security solution that will
leverage partnerships and resources to
build a sustainable standard of
training, credentialing, and typing
through the Boat Operations and
Training (BOAT) program that will
continuously enhance the safety and
security on the waterways of the
United States.

6. October 2009, BOAT Program is Established
• A national training
system intended to
develop and compliment
the capabilities of
maritime law
enforcement officers and
emergency responders at
all levels of government
– federal, state and local.
Establishes a
national standard
for the training,
qualification,
credentialing and
typing of maritime
law enforcement
and rescue
personnel.

7. The BOAT Program Elements
Consultation to agencies and departments developing
maritime training programs
Qualification standards for Crew Members, Boat
Operators and Tactical Operators
Training Courses for those qualifications
Credentialing of members who receive that training
A national database of credentialed members
Accreditation of those agencies that adopt and
implement the national standards

8. First Launch: Tactical Operator Course
In 7 months, have delivered 18
courses throughout the country
(Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Louisiana, Texas, California and
Hawaii)
Trained 350 personnel, will train
over 400 by year end.
Average incoming knowledge test:
33%
Average outgoing knowledge test:
91%
Anticipate 25 course deliveries in
2011

9. What the students say
 94% say the course related to their needs
 71% STRONGLY AGREE that the
instructor knew the subject thoroughly
(96% Agree or Strongly Agree)
 75% STRONGLY AGREE that the
instructors encouraged participation (97%
Agree or Strongly Agree)
 62% STRONGLY AGREE that the
instructors clarified what was expected of
the students (96% Agree or Strongly
Agree)
 68% STRONGLY AGREE that the
instructors answered their questions
thoroughly (95% Agree or Strongly Agree)
 63% STRONGLY AGREE that the
instructors used the course materials
effectively (94% Agree or Strongly Agree)

10. What the students say
 75% STRONGLY AGREE that the
instructors supplemented the course
materials with personal knowledge (97%
Agree or Strongly Agree)
 94% say the instructors presented engaging
lectures
 63% STRONGLY AGREE that the course
content was applicable to their job (94%
Agree or Strongly Agree)
 64% STRONGLY AGREE that the
audiovisuals supported the course content
(95% Agree or Strongly Agree)
 72% STRONGLY AGREE that the activities
and exercises supported the course content
(98% Agree or Strongly Agree)
 91% felt the course was well organized

11. What the students say
68% STRONGLY AGREE
that they can use what
they learned on the job
(94% Agree or Strongly
Agree)
76% STRONGLY AGREE
that the program is
worth recommending to
others (93% Agree or
Strongly Agree)
Note: Level III Assessments
currently underway

12. The Basic Crew Member Course
Developed over the summer of 2010
Pilot delivered in October at Newport, RI to multiple
fire departments, commercial salvers, and harbor
masters from throughout the state.
Instructor cadre of active duty Coast Guard,
reservists, Coast Guard Auxiliary, harbor masters and
commercial salvers.
Anticipate 10 BCM courses deliveries in 2011

13. BOAT Operator Search and Rescue
Course
In development now
Pilot will take place in March of
2011, with same students from
BCM course in Newport, RI
Anticipate 15 BOSAR course
deliveries in 2011

14. National Standard
Implementation
Typing: Member of working
group with FEMA
Credentialing: Chair FEMA
workgroup
Currency Data-Base: Ongoing at
NASBLA HQ

15. The BOAT Program at work
“A Ship in a harbor is safe, but that is
not what ships were built for.”
- Shedd
• Submarine escorts
in Mayport
• Backfill for Gulf Oil
Spill
• Hours of
partnership on the
water

16. The BOAT Program at work
Capt Michael McAllister, Sector Charleston
“We have used OGA's to
greatly enhance our
performance of Coast
Guard missions. In the
Charleston-area alone, they
contributed more than
1,000 underway hours to
security missions - this
equates to an annual rate of
about 2,400 hours - about 5
boats and roughly 30 FTE
if described in terms of CG
resource usage.”

17. The BOAT Program at work
Cambridge, Mass., – September 29,
2010 – Today the Ash Center for
Democratic Governance and Innovation
at the John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Harvard University,
announced the selection of NASBLA’s
Boat Operations and Training Program
for its newly-created Bright Ideas
program. In its inaugural year, Bright
Ideas is designed to recognize and share
creative government initiatives around
the country with interested public
sector, nonprofit, and academic
communities.

18. The Road Ahead
Strengthening partnerships
Continue to grow instructor cadre
Finalize Credentialing Standards in 2011
Add PRND as a BOAT Program Model
Add Intelligence as a BOAT Program Model
Deliver 50 classes in 2011
98 classes in 2012

19. Closing Comments

20. Onward
and
Forward
“The future is not
some place we are
going, but one we
are creating. The
paths to it are not
found, but made,
and the activity of
making them
changes both the
maker and the
destination”
- John Schaar,
American Sociologist