COMDTINST 16711.2A governs the Coast Guard Mass Rescue Operations Program, including MRO preparedness, planning, response, and exercises.
View COMDTINST 16711.2A on armypubs.army.mil
It defines MRO program objectives and describes coordinated planning, preparation, training, and response for large-scale incidents. It requires Coast Guard units to comply with its policies and addresses MRO plan development and exercises.
Applies to: All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, deputy/assistant commandants, chiefs of headquarter directorates shall comply with the policies contained.
The purpose of the Coast Guard’s MRO program is to establish processes and procedures to plan, prepare, and effectively respond to an MRO. (paragraph 1)
MROs are infrequent and are internationally defined as an event “that involves the need for immediate assistance to large numbers of persons in distress such that capabilities normally available to Search and Rescue (SAR) authorities are inadequate.” (paragraph 5)
MRO plans should include but are not limited to the following information. (paragraph 4)
MRO planning should be flexible, meeting the various response requirements when an incident occurs. (paragraph 2)
MRO plans should be whole-of-community plans that incorporate regional and/or local SAR authorities and industry stakeholders into plan development and training to promote cohesion amongst the various agencies and improving the overall response. (paragraph 3)