Out of the history books
12 Cover Story USCG Mascots Small Boat Standardization 20 Story by PA1 Mike O’Berry, CG Magazine
Features Bertholf 10 Story by Gordon I. Peterson, Deepwater Return Engagement 12 Story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, USCGR Dolphins Get a Boost 18 20 Story by Lt. John Lovejoy, ARSC p Sinbad, the Coast Guard’s p Turk, Coast Guard Station Small Boat Standardization 20 most famous mascot, CGC Elizabeth City, since 1996 Story by PA1 Mike O’Berry, CG Magazine Campbell, World War II u Buccaneer, on patrol Mission E-Possible 28 somewhere in Alaskan Story by Lt. Cmdr. Richard Sundland, G-RCC-2 waters, enjoys a mid-day meal of canned shrimp. Out to Sea 30 Story and Photos by PA2 Mike Lutz, PADET New York q Charlie, a junior-sized California harbor seal, Los q Oliver, born aboard CGC Two-Day Turnaround 34 Angeles Harbor Light, 1966 Northwind, served until 1954 Story and Photos by PA3 Lauren Downs, 1st Dist. Locked In 36 Story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, USCGR Don’t Dump 40 30 Story and Photos by PA2 Luke Pinneo, 1st Dist. Kodiak’s Special Delivery 44 Story and Photos by PA1 Kurt Fredrickson, PADET Kodiak No Games, Just Sports 46 Story and Photos by PA3 Dan Bender, PADET New York
ince people first took to the sea, they have sailed with members of the animal kingdom. Brought along for many reasons, including fighting rodent infestations and providing companionship, Coast Guard crews followed this ancient custom and adopted numerous varieties of animal mascots. Some of these animals actually were enlisted in the Departments service, complete with service and medical records, uniforms and their own bunks. They were Up Front 2 promoted for exemplary performance or were sent before a captain’s mast to receive “punishment”S for some transgression, and were “busted” back down to seaman. Many saw All Coast 6 combat, some were wounded, some died, and many were decorated. Quite a few lived to a ripe Log Book 52 old age and enjoyed a well-earned retirement ashore. Many shore units adopted mascots as On The Cover The Coast Guard’s new well, to help them around the station and even to venture out on patrols or rescues. All Coast 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law Enforcement Guard mascots have served with courage just as their human counterparts have, and were can reach speeds of more than 50 knots, making “Always Ready” to go to those in need of assistance. it the “go-to” vessel in catching illegal drug and migrant smugglers in the Caribbean and Gulf Coast Regions. Information and photos provided by the Coast Guard Historian, CG-0922 Page 20
Photo by PA2 Adam Eggers, PADET Houston Up Front Laser-Like Precision
BM3 Christopher Azzollini, Station Eatons Neck, N.Y., fires the M240 medium machine gun during a recertifying exercise off the south shore of Long Island, N.Y., Sept. 21. On the horizon, the CGC Vigorous conducts a safety patrol of the area.
Photo by Seaman Shannon Krisko, Station Eatons Neck
www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2006
3 Up Front
www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard •
First of the Line Issue 6
The crew of a Coast Guard C-130 from Air Station
Sacramento, Calif., departs San Francisco • 2006 International Airport Oct. 7. The aircrew supported Fleet Week 2006 activities by transporting Coast Guard security personnel and their equipment to the Bay area.
Photo by PA3 Kevin Neff, 11th Dist. 5 Coast Guard
Adm. Thad Allen
Commandant Vice Adm. Vivien Crea
Vice Commandant Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe
Assistant Comdt. for Governmental & Public Affairs Capt. Kathleen Donohoe
Chief, Public Affairs Patricia Miller
Deputy Chief, Public Affairs CWO4 Lionel Bryant
Chief, Imagery Branch PAC Kimberly Smith
Editor t Foul Fumes PA1 David Mosley Municipal solid waste burns PA1 Mike O’Berry aboard the container barge PA2 Mike Lutz Baranof Provider in Frederick Assistant Editors
Sound, Alaska, Nov. 6. The CGC Subscriptions: Call (202) 512- Liberty from Juneau, Alaska, was 1800 or write to Superintendent first on scene to fight the fire, of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To which was brought under control subscribe online, follow the link approximately 11 hours later. at our web site at www.uscg.mil/ Alaska Marine Lines worked with magazine.
the Coast Guard, the Alaska Submissions: We need Department of Environmental your stories, photographs, Conservation and the City and comments and suggestions. Contact the magazine staff Borough of Juneau to transfer the concerning ongoing and future remaining cargo to another ship products and submissions to Coast and dispose of the debris. Guard magazine. Submit your stories to: U.S. Coast Guard (G-IPA-1), 2100 2nd Street, S.W., Photo by AST3 Colin Clyne, Washington, DC 20593-0001, or e- Air Station Sitka, Alaska mail them to [email protected]. For
more guidelines, visit the magazine www.uscg.mil/magazine Web site and click on “submissions” or call the editor at t Tall Stacks Coast Guard Marine Safety and (202) 372-4612. Security Team Galveston assists local Coast Guard units as well as, local, state and federal law enforcement during Tall Letters to the editor: Please limit remarks to 150 words or less. No Stacks, a steamboat festival held Oct. 4-8 on the Ohio River. names will be withheld. Provide Coast Guard crews assisted with the flow of commerce and rank, first and last name, phone the safety and security of over 80,000 people who attended number and unit. Letters may be condensed because of space. Not the festival. all letters will be published. Coast Guard
Photo by PA2 Kelly Turner, USCGR. Coast Guard, COMDT PUB P5720.2, is produced for p Honoring Rockmore and King Capt. Brent members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Editorial content is unofficial and • Pennington, a doctor assigned to Integrated Support Command not authority for action. Views Issue 6 Kodiak’s Rockmore-King Clinic, fastens a wreath to a stand on the and opinions expressed do not top of Ugak Island south of Kodiak, Alaska, Nov. 2 to honor the six necessarily reflect those of the Department of Homeland •
Coast Guardsmen who perished in a helicopter crash 20 years Security or the Coast Guard. 2006 before. On Nov. 2, 1986, a Coast Guard HH-3F Pelican helicopter Stories may be reprinted except was launched to conduct a medevac from the village of Akhiok on Associated Press wire stories and articles reprinted from other the southwestern end of Kodiak Island. Thirty minutes after publications. departing, the helicopter crashed into a mountain on Ugak Island. ISC Kodiak’s Rockmore-King Clinic is named after Rockmore and King, who were the flight surgeon and corpsman killed in the crash. 7
Photo by PA2 Christopher McLaughlin, PADET Kodiak All Coast
u City Pride Coast Guard personnel from Sector New York march past the reviewing stand and New York City’s famous Public Library on 5th Avenue during the annual Veteran’s Day Parade. “Our young men and women continue to make sacrifices,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg to a large crowd of veterans gathered at Madison Square Park for the opening ceremony. The mayor thanked the 8,000 New Yorkers currently serving in the Armed Forces and said 55 New Yorkers have been killed in action while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. “It is incumbent on this city to make sure that we take care of our veterans,” said Bloomberg, adding that more than 400,000 veterans are living in New York City.
Photo by PAC Bob Laura, USCGR u Coastie on Show Katelyn Parker, 3 years old, giggles at Coastie the Patrol Boat during the International Search and Rescue
Competition between the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Canadian www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard Auxiliary Oct. 28 in Portsmouth, Va. The Coast Guard Auxiliary uses Coastie the Patrol Boat to teach children the importance of wearing life jackets when they go out on the water.
Photo by PA3 Kip Wadlow, 5th Dist. Coast Guard
p Helping Hands A Coast Guard crew from Station Mayport, Fla., transfers John Hodgkiss to paramedics from the • Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Hodgkiss was one of five Issue 6 boaters rescued off the Florida coast Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The crew from Station Mayport rescued three of the five missing boaters. A Good • Samaritan picked up one of the missing boaters Sept. 30, and a Patrick 2006 Air Force Base helicopter crew rescued another. Surface and air assets from the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search. Photo by PA1 Donnie Brzuska, PADET Jacksonville 9 t A Smashing Start Meryl Chertoff, sponsor of the cutter United Stated Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750), christens the first in class National Security Cutter at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard on Veterans Day.
border forces to make sure that we can continue to keep this country strong.” “I can’t predict what the next Story by Gordon I. Peterson, Deepwater attack will be, and I cannot Bertholf predict when the next hurricane will come, but I will tell you whenever a natural disaster or act of terror approaches, this ship he Deepwater Program’s Guard Band’s spirited rendition of flagship of the Coast Guard’s fleet. and its crew — and the entire progressive “Semper Paratus.” The cutter will be capable of Coast Guard and Department of modernization and “Our people cannot be effective executing the most challenging Homeland Security — will be there recapitalization of the without the proper tools,” said Adm. maritime security missions and at the ready, at the ramparts to TCoast Guard’s aging legacy fleet Thad W. Allen, the commandant of being supportive of a shared Coast defend and protect the citizens of marked a significant milestone on the Coast Guard. “Bertholf and her Guard-Navy commitment to the this region and this country,” said Veterans Day when the first of eight successors will be the most capable mission requirements of the joint Chertoff. national security cutters was and interoperable cutters the service U.S. combatant commanders. The More than 70 crewmembers have christened the Bertholf (WMSL 750) has ever had.” NSC is the largest and most reported to the Bertholf so far, with at the Northrop Grumman Ship Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., a Coast technically advanced class of the the balance of the crew scheduled Systems shipyard in Pascagoula, Guard veteran, noted the time would Integrated Deepwater System to arrive in the spring. All are now Miss. come when the Coast Guard would program’s three major classes of undergoing extensive training at “In the name of the United States again be called to respond to a cutters. various locations. In late spring, of America, may God bless this ship major attack on the U.S. homeland. Bertholf is named in honor of Bertholf’s crew will move to and all who sail in her,” said Meryl “So it is fitting that our nation is Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf, Pascagoula for additional shore Chertoff, the Bertholf’s sponsor providing you with a great ship and the Coast Guard’s first training, at both industry facilities and wife of Secretary of Homeland great training, but at the end of commandant. and aboard the ship. This will lead Security Michael Chertoff, as she the day it’s going to take the great Appointed to lead the Revenue to builders’ and acceptance trials smashed a bottle of champagne people that you are to make those Cutter Service in 1911, Bertholf was and, finally, formal delivery of Northrop Grumman Photo across a strike plate mounted to the things work,” he said. re-appointed to the same office in Bertholf to the Coast Guard. cutter’s bow. The audience of more At 418 feet, the lead ship in the 1915 when President Wilson created Fleet Policy — and later paved the called upon to assist Coast Guard “It’s a great honor to be in than 1,000 guests erupted in new Legend-class of national the U.S. Coast Guard by merging way for the creation of Coast Guard operational forces in executing command of the crew that will www.uscg.mil/magazine applause, accompanied by the Coast security cutters is designed to be the the Revenue Cutter Service with the aviation. their challenging missions.” bring this ship to life and into Life-Saving Service. Commodore “I am confident that our mission Secretary Chertoff emphasized commission,” Capt. Patrick Stadt, Bertholf, honored in his day for and vision for the Deepwater the important role the Bertholf and the cutter’s prospective the heroic rescue of more than 200 Program would resonate strongly future national security cutters commanding officer, said recently. whalers stranded in the Arctic in “The crew is extremely excited 1897, also led the Coast Guard with about taking delivery next year, distinction during World War I. and they are fully entrenched in Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, program “Bertholf and her successors will be training for the new systems and Coast Guard executive officer of the Integrated the most capable and interoperable operation of Bertholf. In less than Deepwater System, noted parallels cutters the service has ever had.” a year from now, we will have the between Bertholf’s leadership of the most capable Deepwater asset ever built added to our inventory and Coast Guard nearly 100 years ago • with the Deepwater Program today. — Adm. Thad W. Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard ready to answer all bells.” Issue 6 “Beyond matters of personnel, administration and training,” he Gordon I. Peterson is the senior • said, “Commodore Bertholf guided with Commodore Bertholf were he would play in the Coast Guard’s technical director for General 2006 Dynamics Information Technology the transition of the Coast Guard’s with us here today,” Blore said. “We multiple maritime missions. “This supporting the Deepwater Program inventory of cutters and boats to a again face a time of great danger ship is very much a tangible wartime footing.” Blore said Bertholf to our nation’s security; we again symbol of our unwavering advocated close cooperation between are acquiring and delivering more commitment as a Department to the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy capable and interoperable cutters, make the necessary investments
Northrop Grumman Photo — foreshadowing today’s National aircraft, and systems; we again are in the Coast Guard and our other 11 n a rare pre-dawn two expansive solar panels, attached landing, the Space like wings and folded neatly within Shuttle Atlantis arrived the confines of the space shuttle. at Cape Canaveral, Those articulating wings, when Fla. Sept. 21. With the unfolded, extend out to 240 feet. International Space Upon completion of the space station Station discernible in the in 2010, the panels Burbank helped dark sky, the flawless install will provide one-quarter of the landing marked the station’s power. Juggling challenges of successful return to ISS weightlessness, bulky spacesuits and construction following gloves, Burbank’s spacewalk was one a three-and-a-half year of three during the ambitious 12-day hiatus. journey. He and Steve MacLean, his The flight space-walking partner, drove more I was especially than 250 bolts, removing 22 launch- meaningful lock and launch-restraint mechanisms for the Coast used to immobilize critical payload Guard as its structures for launch. Crucial yet second astronaut somewhat-routine, the work turned — Capt. Dan challenging when a bolt seized up. He Burbank — and his partner heaved a tremendous served as mission amount of torque on the stubborn bolt, specialist, flight and have the black fingernails to prove engineer and lead it. But a passion for space exploration robotics operator provided motivation, Burbank said. on NASA’s “There’s a tendency to let your historic return guard down when you do repetitive to sky-high work in robotics, and mental fatigue construction. A poses risks, ” said Burbank, of the helicopter pilot three-day-long painstaking robotic by training, scans of the Atlantis exterior.
Burbank’s second Given the delicate mechanisms www.uscg.mil/magazine shuttle flight in involved, months of meticulously nearly a decade practiced maneuvers came in handy. was also his The crew also culled best practices first spacewalk. about how hardware performs under The mission extreme conditions in space and involved some worked hard to ensure orchestrated p The intricate robotics maneuvers to remove and well-calculated movements when Blast Off structures from the rocket. deploying the truss. Space Shuttle Atlantis “It was a really sporty maneuver,” During the payload unberth, “the Coast Guard lifts off from the Kennedy return Burbank said, referring to the three- issue was precision,” said Burbank. Space Center with Coast inch clearance between the payload “We were looking at millimeter-fine Capt. Dan Burbank shoots to the stars, again, this time atop the Guard Capt. Dan and surrounding shuttle mechanisms. inputs with no variance.” Burbank strapped in, “In general, the work we are doing is “In space, there’s more of a global
heaviest payload ever shuttled through space • Sept. 9. This is right at the limit of material science view and we’re all cooperative and Issue 6 Burbank’s second shuttle and engineering.” working together,” he said. “The mission, and featured his Evidently, the Coast Guard’s own microcosm view is that the truss •
rocket man relishes the excitement of and arrays effectively doubled power 2006 first spacewalk. pushing the envelope. generation for the space station, Burbank and his crewmates flew which we get virtually for free from the aboard a 4.5 million pound rocket sun. That allows us to add follow-on engagement hurtling into space at a dizzying five- European and Japanese build-outs,” miles-per-second with the heaviest Burbank said. payload ever shuttled through space. It’s also something that had never story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, USCGR Weighing 17.5 tons, the truss included been done on earth. What the Photos courtesy of NASA 13 STS-115 crew did was take hardware we’re pushing the limits and we have into space, build it and attach it. to understand there will be errors,” he That made for exceptionally long and cautions. tiring work days leaving little time to Yet he underscores the need for float and enjoy the otherworldly view. continued work in space. Yet for a brief few moments during “We are destined to extend our reach his spacewalk, Burbank took the from lower orbit,” Burbank postulates. time to gaze over the heavens. In his With precise use of words, he describes description, he tosses around words unprecedented global cooperation on such as, “tremendous”, “exhilarating” the space program, and then segues and “exuberant.” back to talk of other galaxies. “You’re like a kid up there — it’s “The moon is two and a half days fun,” he said. away, and Mars is nine months away,” Yet there’s no denying the pressure said Burbank. “Current construction is on the crew of STS-115 — and crucial to creating a scientific outpost subsequent others — all hoping to on the moon and on Mars.” adhere to strict deadlines. Burbank’s The return to Earth was a critical mission proved to be a nail-biter milestone and one met with noticeable from beginning to end, resulting in physical effects such as muscle fatigue two weeks of delayed launches and and exhaustion, said Burbank. By all a one-day extension in space. While accounts, the affable Burbank is in top Burbank’s nuclear and extended Coast physical condition. An accomplished Guard family waited nervously on terra aeronautics engineer and pilot, firma, shuttle crewmembers waited Burbank often finds himself thinking Happy to have her dad back on Earth, anatomy, physiology, chemistry and p patiently. Crediting the depth of his about the Coast Guard. Burbank’s daughter has recently a host of other subjects relevant to Station Space NASA training for mission success, “Operating space equipment is expressed interest in becoming a spaceflight. His next assignment The crew of the Space he also sees parallels with his Coast a lot of fun, but I still love flying Coast Guard aviator. offers the chance to pass along some Shuttle Atlantis restarted Guard training. helicopters,” he said. There are certain activities of his NASA experience, and perhaps construction on the “The way we operate the space After an intensive few training years, astronauts eschew in favor of keeping more importantly, return to his Coast International Space shuttle is a heck of a lot like the way he’s also looking forward to living more injury-free during training, but there’s Guard roots. Station by attaching two we operate Coast Guard aircraft or full-time on Cape Cod with his wife one ground-based adventure Burbank Fellow astronauts and his wife expansive solar vessels,” Burbank said. “We use a crew Roslyn, a recently-retired Coast Guard is looking forward to resuming with describe him as a Renaissance man panels during their concept and division of labor … Coast Reserve captain, and his two children his family. with a great sense of humor. His 12-day mission in space, Guard training, in general, stood me in – both of whom surprised him while “I’ve really missed skiing and my hobbies include sailing, kayaking and Sept. 9-21. Capt. Dan good stead.” in orbit. The pair played the cello on a kids have gotten really good at it,” he playing in a Houston-based astronaut Burbank said he thinks about space broadcast one morning. Burbank said said. “I’m going to log a good, solid and band called “Max q”, a term for the Burbank served as exploration a great deal, wondering it was a welcome sound millions of long overdue week on the slopes.” maximum dynamic pressure (or mission specialist and what it would be like to deploy to the miles from home, but admits his son A 10-year veteran of NASA work, acoustic noise) from the atmosphere flight engineer for space station for six months. and daughter were mortified to learn Burbank initially joined the Coast felt by an ascending spacecraft. mission STS-115. “Space is a great adventure but the concert was actually broadcast. Guard hoping to be a coxswain on “We don’t practice, we just show a small boat after being inspired up and are lucky to have some pretty
by a Walt Disney movie called “The forgiving audiences,” quips Burbank, www.uscg.mil/magazine u A Walk on Boatniks.” Soon after arriving at the a vocalist who also plays rhythm the Zero- Coast Guard Academy, however, he guitar. Though he describes himself in learned officers were ineligible for humble terms, the band has garnered Gravity Side that role and flying helicopters was a few rave reviews. Capt. Dan Burbank the next logical choice to be directly So just what is Burbank’s recipe waves to the Space involved in search and rescue. for success? “Have passion for your Shuttle cameras After serving as a deck watch officer work. Focus on your goal and be during his spacewalk aboard the CGC Gallatin, he quickly persistent,” he said. That’s sage advice Sept. 13, to remove found his way to flight school and from someone who readily shares that Coast Guard launch locks and learned to pilot the HH-3F Pelican and he was not accepted to the Academy launch restraints to the HH-60 Jayhawk. or the space program on his first free a solar Looking ahead, Burbank is attempts, but eventually gained entry planning to teach at the Coast Guard to both. • rotary joint ring Academy beginning in the spring While NASA prepares for the next Issue 6 mechanism used to of 2007. Although there’s some flight in the construction sequence, rotate solar panels potential of returning to NASA at Burbank and fellow crewmembers •
on the International some point in the future, Burbank is have been sharing insights, best 2006 Space Station. excited about his new assignment at practices and helping NASA capture the Academy. As part of his NASA ways to improve vehicle and crew training, he spent months in the efficiency. It seems somehow certain classroom and the laboratory learning the future is likely to include an geology, astronomy, aerodynamics, adventure or two for this rocket man meteorology, orbital mechanics, — whether ground-based or sky high. 15 or 25 years, the Coast Guard has supported the Kennedy Guard has provided Space Center securing hundreds of waterborne security miles of water and riverine areas,” said for NASA space shuttle Mark Borsi, Special Agent in Charge of operations. Security Operations, NASA’s Kennedy “Shuttle security Space Center. “Our perspective is the is a contingency Coast Guard never complains, never operation,” said whines and always gets the job done,” Coast Guard Reserve MKC Bromley said Borsi. FBall, the space transportation systems Since 2004, a fixed-wing aviation coordinator, who is assigned to Station element has also been added to the Canaveral, Fla. layers of defense. While reservists are often the Coast Guard crews assist the Air backbone of the operation, its Force in clearing an area known as the complexity requires a skillful blend of Launch Hazard Zone, prior to launch. active duty and auxiliary members. Coast Guard and auxiliary vessels “Each launch kind of has its intercept and communicate with own unique character … it’s like a recreational and commercial boaters microcosm of every Coast Guard to ensure understanding of the evolution,” said FS1 James Smith, restrictions. who has worked every shuttle launch Though enhanced protection of the since its inception. In the early days, Kennedy Space Center and its roughly when reservists camped out on floors, 145,000 acres has increased, the 222- Smith prepared meals, earning him square miles owned by NASA also the moniker, “high fryin’ cook.” Now encompass a national wildlife refuge he provides logistics acumen and a with thick foliage and protected species. depth of knowledge about people and That means several Coast Guard platforms. missions come into play during shuttle Recent shuttle mission STS-115, operations such as search and rescue, which saw delays ranging from a rare marine environmental protection and launch pad lightning strike to Tropical maritime homeland defense. Storm Ernesto, was a reflection of The shuttle is cleared for lift-off past launches whose unpredictable following a launch pad lightning strike, challenges stretched into weeks of but now, Tropical Storm Ernesto scheduling tailspins. Over the years, threatens Florida’s east coast and waterside shuttle security has morphed there’s talk of returning the shuttle to into a modern-day juggling routine the Orbiter Assembly Building – a six- requiring a well-choreographed system hour move. The uncertainty threatens
of details that appears seamless. to throw the meticulous planning out www.uscg.mil/magazine That appearance is due in part to a of whack. “It’s organized chaos,” quips quarter century of process refinement Smith. 25 years on the watch and adaptability, the hallmark of Coast It would seem that acceptance of Guard response, said retired Rear constant change is the hallmark of Adm. G. Robert Merrilees, who once successful shuttle security operations. served as the senior reserve officer for What’s at play is a team of reservists Group Mayport, and was a key figure with a long history of standing the in standing up the security partnership shuttle security watch. Most of it with NASA. With 38 years of tenure at together. Coast Guard NASA, and 16 launches as a reservist “That kind of history makes it easy guarding under his belt, Merrilees has a unique to work this out,” says Ball, slated to perspective and remains an advisor. retire next year. Both Carstens and Ball Prior to the launch of STS-115, he are quick to credit support from CWO2 • arranged and escorted a group of Michael J. Locke, commanding officer of Issue 6 officers from MLC LANT and the 7th Station Port Canaveral. the launch District, including Rear Adm. David W. “Reservists support the active duty
Kunkel, on a behind-the-scenes tour of component and enable the ability to •
Story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, USCGR 2006 NASA. sustain waterside security prior to, “It’s impressive that for a quarter during and also through delayed or century, shuttle security has been postponed shuttle operations,” Locke provided by Coast Guard crews working said. “The continuity they have provided closely in partnership with NASA,” for the past 25 years has provided a Kunkel said. stable foundation for this ever-changing
“Since the beginning, the Coast operation.” STS-115 Photo courtesy of NASA 17 Dolphins Get a Boost Barbers Point Cuts the Cost u 65’s Hitch a Ride Story by Lt. John Lovejoy, Aircraft Repair and Supply Center A mission ready HH-65C is loaded into a C-17 for trans- rom the rooftops of New project, a ready helicopter was Through all these overhauls, the port to Air Station Barbers Orleans to ski-fitted leaving the ARSC hangar every six Coast Guard still had to maintain Point, Hawaii. landings at the bottom weeks. a ready inventory of aircraft at air q of the world, the HH-65 In 2006, ARSC began a fleet- stations. A Maze of Wires Dolphin helicopter has served the wide engine replacement from the Moving the helos to ARSC was a David Parks (top) and Kevin Coast Guard well. But nearly three original Honeywell LTS 101 to the challenge. For units in the lower Strickland of Lear Siegler decadesF of hard duty required a Turbomeca Arriel 2C2, enhancing 48 states it’s not a problem to stop Services Inc. work on engine few upgrades. single-engine operation and for fuel every few hundred miles. and electrical connections to The initial A-model became the providing more power and better But there is a lot of blue water complete the re-engineering HH-65B with a major avionics payload. While the HH-65 was between Elizabeth City, N.C., of the HH-65C at the Aircraft and Air Station Barbers Point, upgrade in the mid ‘90s, including never intended for single-engine Repair and Supply Center. Photo by George ‘Chip’ Thomas, Aircraft Repair and Supply Center a global positioning system flight, the new plant buys crews Hawaii. A Coast Guard C-130 can and a single-screen display time to consider all their options do the job, but it’s not easy. The depicting both Federal Aviation in an engine failure, rather than helicopter’s rotor head must be Administration airport symbols a semi-controlled descent to the removed and the aircraft pushed and navigation aids. In 1999, nearest flat surface. in on a sling with the landing gear Coast Guard Aircraft Repair and In the helicopter business, more up. Supply Center, Elizabeth City, power means more cargo weight. Lt. Steve Charnon of Air Station N.C., began a complete rewire of The engine upgrade boosts aircraft Barbers Point was bemoaning every aircraft. Workers stripped gross from 9,200 pounds to a this problem with a friend who the plane to its frame, removing conservative 9,480. That may not happened to be a C-17 pilot with every single wire harness and seem like much, but with flood the Hawaii Air National Guard. meticulously replacing each one of waters rising, 280 pounds is a The Boeing C-17 Globemaster the 7,000 individually numbered mother and child and maybe the cargo bay rivals a ballroom. wires. At the height of the rewire family dog. A Globemaster can carry, mathematically at least, the weight of 18 HH-65 helicopters. Three or four
roll in easily without any www.uscg.mil/magazine disassembly heroics. Problem solved. Ultimately, the 315th Airlift Wing out of Charleston, S.C., got the job. The big plane landed in Elizabeth City at 9 a.m. July 28 and left just after lunch with three intact Coast Guard helicopters in its belly. The helos were in Hawaii by the end of the day, mission-ready a day or two Photo by Dave Silva, Aircraft Repair and Supply Center • later. Between the three Issue 6 AMT2 round-trips that weren’t u Post Flight Inspection made in a Coast Guard Kenneth McFarland makes a post flight en-
gine inspection following the installation of a •
C-130, and the 1,100 man 2006
Photo by Dave Silva, Aircraft Repair and Supply Center Photo by Dave Silva, Aircraft hours of maintenance not Turbomecca engine. necessary to move the helicopters, the operation p Engine Covers All Around Daniel White, with Lear Siegler Services saved the Coast Guard an Inc., attaches an engine cover onto an HH-65C as part of the re-engineering project. estimated $1 million. Photo by Dave Silva, Aircraft Repair and Supply Center 19 The Coast Guard is replacing its aging fleet of non-standard boats with multi-mission vessels that share common systems and effectively meet the increasing demand for highly capable, technologically advanced platforms — and delivering them faster than ever.
mixed bag.” Five As such, an immediate benefit with years ago, that was standardization is the reduced training time probably a good way for boat crews. to describe the Coast In the past, mission readiness and Guard’s small boat execution was one of the casualties of having fleet. That’s because a multitude of different small boat types. historically, areas Coxswains and boat crews would inevitably “Aand districts purchased their own boats, need to spend the early months of their new resulting in a collection of vessels that shared assignments getting trained and familiar with little more than Coast Guard identification. station- or cutter-specific boat types. But Then, around 1999, the Coast Guard now, those crewmembers won’t need to go began to “standardize” small boats. through extensive familiarization. When completed, the Coast Guard will “Even though it may be a different go from hundreds of different small boat hull-type, for the operator, that’s transparent. types to fewer than 10 – a move that Looking strictly at the operator going from promises improved mission readiness and unit-to-unit, if he knows how to operate that effectiveness. chart plotter on the over-the-horizon cutter The goal of the Office of Boat Forces at boat, (when) he gets on the station defender Coast Guard Headquarters is to replace class boat, it’s the same thing,” said Cmdr. aging non-standard boats with crafts that Austin Gould, chief, Office of Boat Forces effectively meet the Coast Guard’s expanding Platform Division. operational needs and feature across- Robert says, both shore-based and
the-board standards in navigational and cutter-based small boats will have the same www.uscg.mil/magazine communications equipment. standardized equipment, making operations “Standardization allows for highly flexible even more effective. operations,” Capt. Scott Robert, chief, Office of Boat Forces, said. “So when a BM3 goes from the station to support a contingency operation, he already knows how to operate that small boat.” Coast Guard • Issue 5 • 2006
23 www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2006 23
) Mercury Verado 275 hp Mercury Verado 33 feet 4 inches 50+ knots 250 nautical miles 8 feet 4 3 outboard engines Forward and aft M240 gun mounts LE - SPC Now, before Coast Guard the Additionally, the SPC-LE not only standard with “We’re ( contract, or we can buy boats off another agencies contract.” buys a boat, it shares the requirements council. with the According to Gould, members provide input and the Coast Guard can make a minor adjustment to a requirement meet a that would mission need of a partner agency. procurement provided the opportunity to deploy tactics that the Coast Guard hadn’t deployed in the past, said Gould. Borrowing who have very heavily from CBP, established tactics and procedures, a standard shore-based non-compliant vessel pursuit tactic was developed and used with great success in the Florida Keys. the boats, we’re standardizing the training and mission execution,” Robert said. “When we’re on scene jointly and outfitted to meet all the jointly and outfitted to meet all the agencies’ requirements. It’s how we’re boats today. Other buying agencies have the ability to tap in and buy boats off of a Coast Guard With an increase in illegal drug and in illegal With an increase of “go-fast” by way migrant smuggling maneuverable, style boats, a more to stop the faster boat was needed eight months of smugglers. Within the 33-foot SPC- identifying the need, with much success LE was operating and along the in the straits of Florida The Southwest border. Gulf Coast’s boat procured SPC-LE was the first of Homeland through the Department Council and Security Boat Commodity navigation and features standardized communications equipment.
Length: Speed: Range: Seas: Crew: Propulsion: Capabilities: nt Houston PADET Eggers, Adam PA2 by Photo n rd a forceme io at En w he bo t rdiz La a d — “They (Office of Boat Forces) now not only talking “We’re “Today, is a the SPC-LE “It (SPC-LE) was the first t tan f an operational tour that the Coast an operational tour that the Coast Guard delivered while I was there,” said Capt. Phillip Hyle, the Sector when the commander Key West first SPC-LEs were introduced in last February. Key West were extremely getting it agile in into the hands of our operators,” Hyle said. Speaking of the success and interest in the SPC-LE, Hyle said, “when you get a resource everyone else wants, you know you have the right formula.” Across s standardized within the Coast Guard, we’re talking standardized within DHS,” Gould said. standard boat across DHS,” Robert added. “It was procured a year,” Robert said. “That’s a win Robert said. a year,” for improved mission execution!” he added. resource that I’ve needed during a r C
th urpose P l a peci S The first joint procurement “From initial field commander
them, support them and train on them. Gould said the purpose was to “identify efficiencies and perhaps save across the whole department.” within the DHS Boat Commodity Council was the 33-foot SPC-LE, built by Safe Boat International. According to Gould, as CBP developed a plan to buy high- speed, shore-based intercept vessels, the Coast Guard’s 7 District also showed a need for a boat with similar characteristics. Once a collaborative requirements document was agreed upon, the council granted the Coast Guard the ability to purchase boats straight from the vendor on the CBP contract. identifying a capability requirement to actually getting those capabilities out to the field in meeting the threat, took less than at how DHS agencies that operate at how DHS agencies that operate boats (Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) buy them, manage Photo courtesy the Office of Boat Forces, Coast Guard Headquarters Guard Coast Forces, Boat of Office the courtesy Photo Shortly after the Department of Shortly after the The Boat Commodity Council, Department of Homeland Security’s Security’s of Homeland Department and a Council Boat Commodity emphasis on quickly continuing providing tools to do the the right of Boat Forcesjob, the Office was on the the speedy craft able to get less than one year. water in was stood up, Homeland Security saw the need senior management to coordinate certain activities across looking agencies, specifically to save money through strategic sourcing and joint procurements with groups called commodity accordingcouncils. The goal, to pooling resourcesGould, is that by like copiers and for common items smartly boats, DHS can operate and save money. was formed to look in particular, ) B n 38 knots 170 nautical miles / 10 nm offshore 3 to 5 feet 2 to 3 2 Honda 150 hp outboard engines Davit with a working load limit of 500 lbs. 100+ square feet of working deck space, dive door 26 feet io t (TAN at Speed: Range: Seas: Crew: Propulsion: Capabilities: Length: o equisi B R
n ble io
a at rk a vig Going from zero to 50-plus knots have In the past, it may em a Special Purpose Craft — Law Special Purpose Craft Enforcement small boat into operation. (See related article on page 26.) But thanks to the took to acquirenewest vessel in the the standardized fleet. seem prettyin eight months may slow if you’re pushing a throttle, but when you’rethe describing Guard’stime it took the Coast Office of Boat Forces to deliver migrant and the newest tool in drug smuggling interdiction, it’s practically supersonic. taken three-to-five put years to new 33-foot an asset like the R More impressive than the mission readiness be the time it aspect may o N t ble Aids a iler a “Standardization improves Tr requirements. working deck space includes the capability to work from Tripod the cabin top. Plus, it has an MK-16 Mod-09 Gun Mount to meet port, waterways and coastal security workhorses of the Aids to Navigation community. The Aids to Navigation community. workhorses of the boasts a multi-mission TANB new standard 26-foot capability designed to bring versatility and speed to the The more than 100 square feet of mission. ATON Production to replace the aging 21-foot TANB began TANB Production to replace the aging 21-foot last February with an order to build up to 100 of the new and corrective maintenance vice casualty response. standardization lessens the effectivelyamount of sparing, reducing ownership costs, and fostering a culture of preventative mission execution and asset mission execution Robert. availability,” said Furthermore, Robert says, on the cutter boat crewson the cutter boat to be trained in those boarding team he said. delivery tactics,” same boat type as the cutter, they they type as the cutter, same boat and use the can be shuttled out having to relycutter boat without called to interceptcalled to board and a vessel offshore, out but it’s too far shore-basedto take their boats. the MSRTBecause operates the “For example, an MSRT example, “For (Maritime Response Team)Security gets prosecuting a case, from a DHS much greater distances. “Any time operate in,” Robert said. What the q The move to small boat standardization began in 1999 with the replacement perspective, we’re across the board you can keep the boat in the water, field will see outside the standard Boat Plan 2015 of various motor lifeboats with the 47-foot MLB and the replacement of 360 non-standard boats with standard.” that’s the way you want to go. You boat inventory, says Robert, is a defender class 25-foot response boats. Additionally, the new 45-foot medium response boat will begin want to keep it off the trailer and special purpose craft category that replacing the 41-foot utility boat next year. By the year 2015, the Coast Guard will go from about 1,500 off the highway,” Robert said. addresses law enforcement, ice, New Inventory boats of varying types in 1999 to about 2,100 standardized vessels. Here’s a look at how some of Replacement of the current surf and shallow water needs. those boats will find their way into the Coast Guard inventory. The standardization effort mix of aging TANBs was long According to Robert, the began with the replacement of overdue, said Robert. In February, Office of Boat Forces is looking various motor lifeboats with the American Marine Holdings, to standardize special purpose 1999 2006 2015 47-foot MLB and the replacement in partnership with Gravois craft airboats, flood punts, near- of 360 non-standard boats with Aluminum Boats, was awarded shore lifeboats and shallow-water the 25-foot Defender Class boat. the contract to build up to 100 response. Additionally, plans are Additionally, the new 45-foot TANBs. Over the next five years, on the drawing table to develop Response Boat - Medium will begin all existing TANBs will be replaced a shore-based, offshore boarding replacing the 41-foot utility boat with the new, standard version. delivery platform that will be able Motor Life Boat: 103 Motor Life Boat: 117 Motor Life Boat: 117 next year. The road to replace a wide range to take boarding teams from shore And joining those ranks are two of cutter boats began as early as out a reasonable distance to do other boat types that demonstrate 1998 when the need for effective boardings. the Coast Guard’s commitment to over-the-horizon boat operations And these boats will include putting the right capability in the became essential to interdiction standardized features that are UTB: 189 UTB: 134 RBM: 180 right place for the right mission operations. consistent with other small boats set: The new Trailerable Aids to The new CB-OTHs provide the throughout the Coast Guard fleet. Navigation Boat and the Over the essential end-game capability to While the standardization Horizon Cutter Boats. the cutter community. In 2004, position has been years in the According to Gould, the TANB is the Coast Guard awarded Zodiak making, it could be said that the Non-standard: 360 Non-standard: 23 RB-HS/S: 500 truly a high-performance workboat an $18 million contract to build up lessons learned from Hurricane RB-HS/S: 438 that during operational testing to 78 CB-OTHs. Katrina have justly vindicated the experienced a 50 percent increase standardization logic. in operational efficiency. “Instead Satisfying a niche Much of the success during of having to put up a ladder and Katrina was the ability of multiple Non-standard TANB: 80 Non-standard TANB: 78 Standard TANB: 80 scramble up it, you stand right Even with the move to aircrews to arrive on scene and on the cabin top, reach over and standardization, the need for conduct rescue operations in Standard TANB: 2 do your work,” Gould said. “It’s “niche” boats continues. whatever air asset was available. a tremendous multi-mission “As we move toward a Through the standardization of workboat.” standardized fleet, not all the the small boat fleet, regardless of CB-OTH MK I: 2 CB-OTH MK II, III: 78 And because of the new speed standard boats fit all the mission which platform was “taken out of CB-OTH MK I, II, III: 48 and range of the TANB, crews are activity that units are required to the bag,” the next coxswain in line Cutter boats: 287 Cutter boats: 239 Standard CB S/M/L: 139 able to respond on the water at execute or the environments we is ready to go. CB SRP: 8 CB SRP/LRI: 77
SPC LE/NLB/SW/Surf/ SPC LE/NLB/SW/Air: 75
HWX/Air: 50 www.uscg.mil/magazine
* All totals are approximates Illustration by PA1 David Mosley, CG Magazine Coast Guard Cutter boat — Over the horizon (CB-OTH) MK II&III
Length: 23 feet The fast, long-range, highly-maneuverable
Speed: 45 knots • boat is a key piece to successful Issue 6 interdiction efforts offshore. Both the Range: 200 nautical miles fiberglass hull (MKII) and the aluminum hull Seas: 6 to 10 feet (survivable in 12 feet) •
(MKIII) boats feature the Furuno SINS 2006 package, Graytonics integrated crew Crew: 5 communications systems and shockwave Propulsion: 1 Yanmar 315 hp diesel coupled to a Mercury Brave 1x outdrive marine suspension seats. CB-OTHs will Capabilities: M240/M60 capable, transportable by C-130 aircraft, trailerable replace many of the existing cutter boats. 25 Photo PA2 Mike Lutz, PADET New York Mike Lutz, PADET Photo PA2 for a smoother ride and create less crew fatigue,” Doug Clement, vice president of Safe Boats Going Faster International, said. “The boat has incredible sea keeping ability and with the new shock mitigating seats, t, it doesn’t Coast Guard combats beat up on the crew as much,” Schmidt said. For weapons, the SPC-LE smuggling operations comes equipped with an option of mounting an M-60 or M-240B with speedy new boat machine gun on the bow. Maintenance for the SPC-LE has been contracted to Customs and Story by PA2 Jennifer Johnson, 7th Dist. Border Patrol’s National Marine Center. “The National Marine Center was contracted to provide bow to stern maintenance and alleviate the extra burden placed on the operating units,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael DaPonte, Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces in Washington, D.C. According to Schmidt, in the past, our engineers would attend specialty schools to learn all the particulars about a new engine. By the time they were done, it was practically time to transfer. Contracting now frees up their time to get qualified or take care of things around the station. Photo by PA2 Adam Eggers, PADET Houston Adam Eggers, PADET Photo by PA2 “Sector Key West received the The Coast Guard’s SPC-LE in February 2006 and No Where to Run I’ve heard nothing but positive new 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law comments about both the Enforcement can reach speeds of more than 50 boat capabilities as well as the knots, making it the “go-to” vessel in catching innovative maintenance support
illegal drug and migrant smugglers in the plan,” White said. www.uscg.mil/magazine Caribbean and Gulf Coast regions. Since receiving the SPC-LE, boat crews in Sector Key West have completed several successful law enforcement operations. For magine you’re out enjoying Enforcement. chief, Office of Boat Forces at Coast with three, 275-horsepower, at Station South Padre Island, instance, the crew effectively a leisurely day of boating, “It’s a good example of the Coast Guard Headquarters, said. Before, four-stroke outboards capable Texas, said. “They can’t outrun us pursued and stopped a go-fast and you see a small orange Guard reacting to the maritime it may have taken two years to of reaching speeds in excess of anymore.” vessel four miles south of Boca
Coast Guard boat scream threats we face,” said Lt. Cmdr. catch up to smugglers’ tactics, 50 knots. In addition to faster It comes equipped with a state- Chica, Fla., July 8. Since the Coast Guard by. You hear the siren Matthew White, chief of response but no more, according to Robert. response times, the new boat can of-the-art navigation system and interdiction, the three suspected wailing and see the blue at Sector Key West, Fla. “Several “We’re beyond the capabilities of operate farther offshore and in its updated communications smugglers apprehended have Ilights pass, but it doesn’t seem like years ago, migrant interdictions the smugglers, now,” he added. heavier seas. system increases the crewmembers been indicted on 68 counts anything out of the ordinary. You focused on relatively slow moving Units within Sector Key West, “It is an outstanding new ability to consult privately with of criminal activity including •
assume it is just the crew from the rafts but in recent years we’ve seen Sector Miami, Sector Corpus platform, the best tool we have,” command centers and other law operating a vessel in a grossly Issue 6 local Coast Guard station chasing a drastic increase in the amount Christi, and Sector New Orleans CWO Robert Schmidt, commanding enforcement agencies. negligent manner, manslaughter the bad guys or heading off to help of organized migrant smuggling are already using 11 of the more officer at Station Islamorada, Fla., Safe Boats International, and conspiracy to encourage and someone in trouble. What you aboard go-fasts. As a result, it was than 39 boats ordered by the Coast said. “It is nice to chase things and builder of the Coast Guard’s induce alien smuggling. • may not have realized, however, vital for effective mission execution Guard. The remaining boats on actually catch them.” 25-foot Defender Class and White believes the introduction 2006 is the orange boat that just blew that we deploy shore-based assets order are expected to be in use at “These boats are changing the 27-foot UTMs, made some of the SPC-LE is the single biggest past you is the newest asset in capable of go-fast interdiction.” small boat stations throughout way we do interdictions. We have significant changes in the SPC-LE tactical advantage the Coast Guard the Coast Guard’s arsenal to fight “We’re at a point to where 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th and 13th the confidence now that we can design. has deployed since airborne use of criminal activity on the water: the we’re able to match capability for Districts by Spring 2007. catch anything,” BMC Andrea “The longer water line and helm force capabilities were deployed in 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law capability,” Capt. Scott Robert, The boat packs serious power Martynowski, operations chief position being further aft make 1998. 27 echnology is on the move like never before. Today, MP3 Players, cell phones and personal digital assistants have found their way into the pockets and purses of many Americans. Understanding the benefits of technology and seizing the opportunity to use it can keep businesses, as well as individuals, competitive in a T globally connected world. Members at the Office of Command and Control connected — units. ”MISLE-Lite and AOPS-TMT-Lite are Capabilities at Coast Guard Headquarters understand all currently available to the Coast Guard fleet. this well and are doing their part to usher the service The next application, Web Common Operation Picture, into a new era of digital advances. The latest digital is scheduled to be available March 2007. Currently, the capabilities available to the fleet are known as MISLE- Coast Guard COP allows authorized individuals to see Lite, AOPs/TMT-Lite, Web COP and Cellular BFT. what is happening with commercial, military and Currently, the Coast Guard uses a program called private ships and vessels at sea. COP provides MISLE: Maritime Information for Safety and Law geographic representation showing where friendly, Enforcement to store critical information. In the past, enemy and suspect ships are moving, and it provides uploading information to the MISLE system required critical information about each vessel. having access to the Coast Guard Data Network plus In the past, COP required an array of hardware (CGDN+) system or entering data twice – once in local and software to operate. The updated version, Web records and again upon returning to port. COP, is simplified because users will now only need a The latest program, MISLE-Lite, is an extension of Web browser to view the program. Another benefit is MISLE and allows users to perform functions without that it streamlines access to information that was being connected to CGDN+. Underway users can now previously only available via separate applications create, edit and view detailed vessel information. Once or interfaces. Now, individuals have a one-stop-shop connectivity is restored portside, the information can be for all information pertinent to situational uploaded and saved to the MISLE database. One of the awareness. greatest benefits of the MISLE-Lite application is that Finally, Cellular Blue Force Tracking is scheduled to it makes data-entry a one-time event, saving countless be available in December 2006. This new application hours of redundant work. gives the Coast Guard the ability to track assets every Lt. Cmdr. Joe Healy, CG-37RCC-2 chief of few minutes using cellular phones. The new phones Information Systems Branch, said, “I have been have an embedded GPS transceiver that will transmit receiving numerous comments from the field on how the position of an asset to the COP. The asset’s name/ great it is to have this capability and the amount of time number, type, position, time and course and speed over it is saving our members.” ground are transmitted in an encrypted e-mail to the www.uscg.mil/magazine The Abstract of Operations is an application that appropriate command center. Once received, this records resource hours. The Training Management Tool information helps the Coast Guard achieve greater records training hours. In the past, and like the MISLE situational awareness at a much greater speed. program, both these applications required an Internet Cmdr. Chris Bartz, CG-37RCC administrative officer, connection to operate. But now, the latest versions of said “Blue Force Tracking will enable operational these applications – AOPS-TMT-Lite — allow cutters commanders to receive real-time information on the to enter and view information while underway, making location of their assets, and cell phone BFT is our
data entry a one-time event. Cutters have periodic quickest and least expensive way to achieve that Coast Guard access to CGDN+ (via satellites or shore side), which capability.” keeps the databases up-to-date and substitutes for full- CG-3 is continuing to seek and field new capabilities time connection. as the latest in digital technology emerges. Each step Cmdr. Marc Sanders, CG-37RCC-2 chief of forward in the digital world helps Coast Guard • Information and Tactical Systems Branch, said, “AOPS- members stay competitive and efficient while carrying Issue 6 TMT Lite represents an order of magnitude improvement out their diverse missions in a globally connected and in E-Coast Guard for our most operational — and poorly ever-changing maritime environment. • 2006
Please direct any questions or comments to the office of CG-37RCC, Cmdr. Chris Bartz, Lt. Cmdr. Joe Healy and Lt. Cmdr. Richard Sundland.
29 The Hand Off Crewmembers on the CGC Mohawk hand bales of cocaine down to the small boat crew from the CGC Seneca in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 7. The shirt colors Out To designate different duties during the transfer Sea Story and Photos by PA2 Mike Lutz, PADET New York
Twice The Towing CGC Mohawk tows two vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 9.
he crew of the cutter and its crew. during their extended patrol. CGC Mohawk The 270-foot medium endurance The Mohawk and her crew departed Key West, cutter participated in two annual steamed their way through the Fla., on July 1, international naval warfare Panama Canal and across the to undertake a exercises: Unitas, which lasted Equator to Unitas 2006, which was journey that would from July 24 to Aug. 4, and held along the coast of Chile. leadT them through the Panama Panamax, from Aug. 21 to Sept. Unitas, which means unity Canal, into two oceans and across 1. The crew of the mighty Mohawk in Latin, consisted of navies from three time zones on an 80-day also was tasked with conducting seven countries, including Chile, deployment that would test the homeland security boardings Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico,
endurance and boundaries of the and counter-narcotics operations Peru, Spain and the United www.uscg.mil/magazine States. The scenario teamed together vessels from the different countries and was played out in a war game atmosphere that also included various drills, formation steaming and multi-national training
exercises. Coast Guard “We got the chance to work with navies from other countries and see how they do things, show them how we do things and combine • our strengths and weaknesses to Issue 6 perform our jobs better,” said BM2 Robert Smith, a coxswain on the •
Mohawk. 2006 After completing the war game exercises and making many new friends along the way, the crew of the Mohawk began their trip p Canal Connection YN3 Lindsay Jones holds up a sign and north and back into the Atlantic points to a web camera in the Panama Canal, Aug. 20. Ocean. Panamax was to be the next 31 mission on the crew’s agenda. t OS2 Stacey Tate hides behind a door waiting to Panamax is a multinational Hide and Seek scenario that puts the safety of the ambush a member of the Chilean navy during law enforcement training on Panama Canal in jeopardy. The the Chilean naval vessel Ortiz, July 26. crew’s mission during Panamax q Chew on This Seaman Melissa Galford (left) and Seaman Lauren was to board vessels and check Cubitt wait to lower the small boat, July 1 off the coast of Fla. them for weapons or anything that could be harmful to the canal. “Panamax was a lot of training, getting refresher courses in LE techniques and then applying them during boardings,” said Smith. Panamax consisted of navies from nine countries. Sailors from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama and Peru all participated. After finishing the naval exercises, the Mohawk and its crew began searching the Caribbean for dubious vessels. On Sept. 4, boarding teams p War Paint Fireman Lance Seibert (left) gives Fireman Marcus from the Mohawk located 1,000 Whitley (right) a fresh coat of war paint after they do battle with the number kilograms of cocaine on a two turbo in the Pacific Ocean near Balboa, Panama, Aug. 19. Honduran fishing vessel. The eight crewmembers on reaching America’s shores is an casualties that plagued them. They the Mohawk had to make time for medicine man, an authentic meal and a swim call. the fishing vessel were taken incredible morale boost to the crew performed underway repairs to morale. and concluded with a traditional After eighty days of being into custody and transferred to and gives everyone onboard a real both small boats, they installed a One of the highlights for many dance. underway, the crew of the Mighty federal authorities in the United sense of purpose,” said Cmdr. John new governor on the main diesel was a trip into the rainforest to While the cutter was underway, Mohawk finally returned to solid States. Their vessel, the Virgie M, T. Davis, the commanding officer of engine and they repaired the spend a day with the Embera the crew also enjoyed a weekly ground and back to their friends was transferred to the Honduran the Mohawk. number two turbo. Tribe that included a hike with the bingo night, fishing on the fantail and loved ones in Key West, Fla. government. Throughout their entire patrol, All work and no play, however, “The crew of the Mohawk has every member in every department can make anyone a little stir been working hard for the last 65 had to pull his or her weight. The crazy. With the long hours that days and stopping several million engineering department was hit come along with the high tempo dollars worth of cocaine from especially hard because of many exercises and repairs, the sailors of
www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6
p We Be Jammin’ MK2 Justin McLaury dances and plays a • p Sea Legs The Mohawk’s towing team watches as the Chilean flute with a member of the Embera tribe during a morale event in the 2006 Naval vessel Ortiz is pulled along behind them in the South Pacific off rainforest in Panama, Aug. 31. the coast of Chile. u Cutter Fireworks Ensign Cristina Delgado fires off a u Intense Observance DC1 Kyle Youngflesh stands by MK-124 flare on the fourth of July, near Rosiland Bank in the Atlantic the fire team as a helicopter lands on the Mohawk’s flight deck in the Ocean. South Pacific off the coast of Chile. 33 Two-Day Turnaround Story and photos by PA3 Lauren Downs, First District
Friendly Relations The CGC Juniper and the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir William Alexander participate in a joint-service law enforcement exercise.
nto the foggy morning sunlight sailed the CGC top of the cylinder liner was wearing away causing the “Whenever need be, we work,” said Husler, putting Juniper from its homeport in Newport, R.I., engine to overheat, said MKC Micha Wisniewski, an into words the work ethic of all the engineers involved. Sept. 24. What was supposed to be a 40-hour engineer aboard the Juniper. “If we need to work until two in the morning, we voyage to Halifax, Nova Scotia, became an Luckily the Juniper’s engineers were prepared. They work.”
eight-hour round trip to Vineyard Sound. had another O-ring in their warehouse and began to www.uscg.mil/magazine IThree and a half hours and 35 miles into the transit replace the worn-out one that day. to Halifax, the high crank case pressure alarm went “If we wouldn’t have had leftover parts from the last off, followed by the jacket water high temperature time, we would still be on the pier,” said Wisniewski. alarm and the jacket water high temperature vital The MAT personnel were also a huge help to the alarm. The engine secured itself, and the engineers Juniper, said Wisniewski. quickly investigated the cause of the alarms. “We’re the only Maintenance Augmentation Team on With only 96 hours to arrive in Halifax for an the East Coast for 225s,” said MK2 Matthew Husler, awards presentation ceremony and a joint-service law one of the MAT’s engineers. Coast Guard enforcement exercise, engineers aboard the Juniper, The MAT crew has completed the same type job with the help of Maintenance Augmentation Team numerous times on other 225-footers and has become Newport personnel, contributed roughly 230 man proficient in pulling cylinder heads and liners, Husler hours in two days to repair the engine casualty. added.
In order to determine what the problem was, the p Mr. Fix-it MK2 Matthew Husler guides a cylinder The engineers worked a 12-hour day Sept. 25 to • engineers needed to remove the cylinder head, but liner down the ladder to the Juniper’s engine room. reassemble the engine. As a result, the Juniper was Issue 6 they didn’t have the tools to do it. There are less than ready to leave again the following day. The “black hull” 10 tools in the Coast Guard capable of doing this. pulled into Halifax about 4 a.m. Sept. 28, just in the
The engineers and MAT personnel struggled to • MAT Newport has one of them on hand at all times, nick of time. 2006 disassemble the cylinder head until 11 p.m. Sept. so, the Juniper turned A mere three and a half hours later, the 27. After a 16-hour day, they around and headed back Commandant of the Coast Guard stood on the deck returned at 7 a.m. the home. “If we wouldn’t have had leftover parts above the Juniper’s engine room. following day to continue the Minutes after the Almost everyone involved in repairing the engine p MKC Micha Wisniewski from the last time, we would still be on work. Finally at mid-morning, Inspector Gadget Juniper was safely cited good teamwork and flexibility as the biggest inspects a cylinder liner before sliding it into the Juniper’s they found the source of the moored, the work began. contributing factors to such a quick turnaround. the pier,” said MKC Micha Wisniewski. problem. The O-ring on the engine. 35 L OC K E D Story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, I N USCGR
ecent convictions “We get tons of uncorrelated Mayday calls,” OSCS in hoax call cases Horst Sodemann, Sector Miami Command Center demonstrate a zero supervisor, said. “In this case, we exhausted an tolerance stance from incredible amount of manpower and resources.” both the Coast Guard and Although SAR controllers wondered about the local authorities. veracity of the Miami call, they took the mission Concurrently, Coast seriously. Guard watchstanders are “It’s our job to go search for and rescue people, learning about advanced but a line of bearing could at least decrease the technology that provides an essential tool for search area,” Sodemann said. Ridentifying callers, much like “caller I.D.” A line of bearing could have meant an alert that Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard’s new command, the call emanated from an inland area. control and communications system (C3) designed “As we get the equipment and become familiar to replace the aging National Maritime Response with its capabilities, the technology will increase and Distress System. Unprecedented growth in everyone’s safety,” said Sodemann, whose command recreational and commercial use of coastal and center is slated to have Rescue 21 equipment inland waterways dictated the need for technological installed in 2007. upgrades. With more than 78 million boaters and 13 million vessels navigating American waterways Time and resources annually, these enhancements will soon improve capabilities to detect the location of Mayday calls The Miami hoax case follows on the heels from boaters, enhance the clarity of calls with of a conviction and a hefty fine for a two- upgraded playback features, and decrease 88 time hoax caller in Boston and recent known coverage gaps along coastal areas. That’s identification of hoax calls on the West something many watchstanders believe could have Coast of Florida by recently installed Rescue 21 far-reaching implications.
equipment. Because time spent on hoax calls can “Putting a bearing on a distress call could really www.uscg.mil/magazine impact the safety of Coast Guard crews as well help us,” OS1 Scott Leazott, a search and rescue as time spent on legitimate calls, these cases are controller at Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., said. “It’s notable. As the Coast Guard partners with local not just about hoax calls, we want to rescue people, authorities to fine and imprison those callers, and if they can’t give us a location, the direction- advanced technology in the form of Rescue 21 also Rescue 21 enhances finding capability can help us find them.” will provide watchstanders with more sophisticated tools to ensure boater safety. lifesaving capabilities and puts A test of manpower “In late June, in one eight-hour period, in one
Sector, we accurately identified six calls emanating Coast Guard With Tropical Storm Alberto bearing from inland areas,” Capt. Dan Abel, project hoax callers on notice down on the Florida coastline June 12, manager for Rescue 21, said. “That’s impressive, watchstanders in Miami received a chilling and that translates into a useful tool for those Mayday call from a 33-foot boat sinking off the standing the watch and greater safety for our crews •
coast of Boynton Beach, Fla. Follow-up calls made and the boating public.” Issue 6 from a handheld radio stated nine people, including If the Coast Guard receives two seconds of four children and an injured adult female, were in transmissions, even from older radios, boaters and
danger of drowning. first responders have an improved chance of being • The Coast Guard scrambled an array of assets – more accurately located. Those who have upgraded 2006 including small boats, Falcon jets, HH-60 Jayhawk to VHF radios with the Digital Select Calling feature helicopters and HH-65 Dolphin helicopters. In what will have a greater advantage, according to Abel. turned out to be a dramatic hoax involving a 1,000- DSC-equipped radios have a Mayday button that nautical mile search area, the Coast Guard spent can automatically send a transmission on the equivalent of more than $350,000 for two days Channel 70, which includes vital information about of searching in turbulent weather. the vessel and its registered owner. If the radio 37 is connected to a GPS receiver, it will also The vital information provided by Rescue 21 helps automatically transmit the vessel’s coordinates. watchstanders make critical decisions about resource Rescue 21 Full Implementation Schedule Until the call is answered, the Mayday will allocation. continue to broadcast, even if its skipper Case in point, on July 23, a watchstander at Western U.S. Great Lakes Northeast becomes incapacitated. However, this technology is Sector Mobile, Ala., received a transmission over VHF • Juneau/Kodiak/Valdez, Alaska 2011 • Buffalo, N.Y. 2011 • Portland/SW Harbor, Maine 2010 not an “added requirement” for boaters. Since 1999, Channel 16 from a caller reporting he saw two red • Seattle 2006 • Detroit 2011 • Boston/Woods Hole, Mass. 2010 the FCC has required all new models of marine radios flares. The caller explained he could see the vessel • Port Angeles, Wash. 2006 • Grand Haven, Mich. 2011 • New York/Long Island Sound 2007 produced for sale in the United States to have DSC that fired them 18 nautical miles out in the Gulf of • Astoria, Ore. 2008 • Milwaukee 2011 capability. Mexico. Sounding intoxicated, the caller would not • North Bend, Ore. 2008 • Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 2011 provide a LORAN or GPS position. • Portland, Ore. 2008 Mid Atlantic • Humboldt Bay, Calif. 2010 Critical enhancements By way of eight lines of bearing received on the • San Francisco 2010 Midwest • Atlantic City, N.J. 2006 Rescue 21 system, the watchstander was able to • L.A./Long Beach, Calif. 2010 • Ohio River Valley 2011 • Eastern Shore, Md. 2006 determine that the call either originated from an • San Diego 2010 • Philadelphia 2008 “Rescue 21 offers an array of enhancements • Upper Mississippi 2011 inland area or was close to a nearby marina instead • Guam 2011 • Lower Mississippi 2011 • Baltimore 2008 including direction-finding technology and of well out in the Gulf waters, as claimed. A 25- • Hawaii 2011 • Hampton Roads, Va. 2008 enhanced playback capabilities, which are the foot response boat was launched to investigate. • Cape Hatteras/Fort Macon, N.C. 2009 cornerstone of our success in search and rescue, Using good judgment, gut instinct and the Rescue Gulf Coast marine environmental protection and maritime Rescue 21 deployment began 21 system, the watchstander was able to identify • New Orleans 2009 Southeast homeland security,” Abel said. “These are critical the case as a hoax call, preventing further waste of in June 2004 and is scheduled • Galveston, Texas 2007 tools for both the boating public and for those • Charleston, S.C. 2009 resources. to be fully operational across • Corpus Christi, Texas 2007 • Mayport, Fla. 2007 standing the watch.” • Mobile, Ala. 2006 the Coast Guard by 2011. • Miami 2007 Abel, an HH-65 and HU-25 pilot, understands Visit the Rescue 21 Web site at www.uscg.mil/rescue21 for • St. Petersburg, Fla. 2006 • Key West, Fla. 2007 firsthand that valuable crew time can be wasted on project history, capabilities, benefits, and implementation hoax calls. process and schedule. Source: Rescue 21 *Dates represent timeframe the Rescue 21 system is expected to be complete. Typically, the installation process takes between two and three years.
t Rescue 21 At A Glance This graphic Rescue 21 Capabilities depiction illustrates all components of the Rescue 21 system including direction-finding capabilities from • Incorporates direction-finding transmissions within the coastal zone. Lines of bearing help watchstanders reduce search areas and identify calls equipment to improve locating emanating from inland areas. mariners in distress
• Improves interoperability among federal, state and local agencies
• Enhances clarity of distress calls
• Allows simultaneous channel www.uscg.mil/magazine monitoring
• Upgrades playback and recording feature of distress calls Photo courtesy of Rescue 21 • Reduces coverage gaps for coastal p Disaster Recovery The Rescue 21 Coast Guard communications and along Portable Antenna Tower can be mobilized quickly to navigable rivers and waterways restore vital communications in areas where current antennas have been knocked off-line by storms or other
natural disasters. • • Supports Digital Selective Calling, Issue 6 providing Global Positioning System
capabilities • 2006 • Provides portable towers to restore communications during emergencies or natural disasters
Illustration courtesy of General Dynamics C4 Systems 39 Why would anyone want to eat plastic? It happens typically not to humans, but instead to marine animals - and it happens often.
onsider the nurtured a cleanup program with assumed responsibility as a graceful two clear-cut goals in mind. coordinator for the Coast Guard’s movement of “First off, it allows the beaches to Sea Partners Campaign, a program a plastic bag get cleaned up,” said Ron Doescher, devoted to protecting the marine lightly drifting a member of the Coast Guard environment through partnerships, in the ocean Auxiliary and one of nearly 50 education and outreach. It was one current with volunteers who swept Crane Beach such partner, the Ocean
just a sliver of in Ipswich, Mass., Sept. 16. Conservancy, which sponsored the www.uscg.mil/magazine light Secondly, and just as emergent, it cleanup at Crane Beach. illuminating it allows for the itemization of debris On a more personal note, from above. It’s easy to understand found along the coast. In addition to Doescher has felt his share of pain how a sea turtle, who prefers to gulp combing the beach with trash bags associated with seeing filth in the down jelly fish, might mistake the in hand, the volunteers categorized ocean. bag for food. each piece of garbage that was “As a boater myself, I was always Numerous fish species, marine collected. The data helps determine annoyed to see trash floating in the mammals and birds also confuse two main factors: the type of water,” Doescher said – an
C Coast Guard floating garbage with food. Once pollution and where it’s coming annoyance that ultimately sparked accidentally consumed, trash can from. desire into action. wreak havoc inside the animals Once compiled, the facts help the He wasn’t alone. resulting in suffocation, gastric scientific community and policy The cleanup is part of a world- •
blockage and a slow and eventual makers further understand and wide annual event formally called Issue 6 death. better address ocean pollution. the International Coastal Cleanup. It’s not only the bite-size pieces Doescher’s commitment to the This is an opportunity for people
that are an issue. Current research cleanup is half professional and half to do something about beach and • indicates the global concentration personal. ocean pollution. 2006 of plastics and other garbage found As a Coast Guard auxiliarist with Doescher and 49 members of in the vast oceans and on beaches an interest in the marine the community, including families, worsens each year. environment, he gravitated toward college and high school students, Because of this growing concern, the service’s environmental church groups and others, spent a environmental advocates have protection mission. He eventually beautiful Saturday morning 41 scouring about four and a half or not, given that much of it could miles of beach picking, digging and end up there in the long run after recording each piece of trash. heavy rainfall and run-off. In the end, they tallied 50 The Ocean Conservancy reports bags of trash totaling more than that nearly one-quarter of the 1,200 pounds of garbage ranging nation’s polluted estuaries and from cigarette butts, bottles and lakes are so because of urban diapers. They even found a small storm water, and nearly every swimming pool! coastal state has beaches fouled by waste-filled run-off. “It’s never nice to come to a So where does it beach like Crane after a storm and all come from? look at all the garbage,” Ingelfinger “By and large, folks are fairly said. clean on the beach themselves,” Despite this, Ingelfinger said he said Northeast Regional Ecologist is grateful. “I’m thankful that I get Franz Ingelfinger of the 50 folks, including families with Massachusetts Trustees of kids that have busy schedules, Reservation, overseers of Crane to come out and help us pick up Beach. the beach,” he said. “I’m thankful “Most of the trash that was for an international event that is picked up by folks during Coast focused around this issue. Coast Sweep was associated with stuff Sweep has a wonderful program derived from marine sources,” with a number of wonderful he added. Rather than being left volunteers who care enough to by littering visitors, the junk was come out and dedicate the time to purged up onto the beach from the make it an issue.” sea. Still, wide-spread beach Much of it, according to degradation continues. Ingelfinger, travels a great distance Some may question if enough from inland streets, into storm people care, but not Ingelfinger. drains, into rivers, and eventually “I don’t think it’s that folks don’t out to sea and up on the beach. care,” he said. “I think it’s more “I see bottles, I see tin foil, I see that they aren’t aware.” cans, and I see a swimming pool,” He figures most people don’t stop said Ingelfinger. “These things to consider how easily trash enters didn’t get into our water because the delicate marine environment, a someone was out on a boat with a gateway to an intricate food swimming pool,” he added with a pyramid with us at the top. www.uscg.mil/magazine chuckle. Ingelfinger asserts that a starting Further, Ingelfinger said there point for lasting ecological are items of particular concern restoration comes down to people that he always picks up, being mindful of their garbage and specifically balloons and making sure it gets in the right entrapment hazards like nets. He places. is also vigilant for other threats “We can certainly be smarter
to both animals and people, such about where we put our trash, and Coast Guard as broken glass or large chemical take the time to pick up plastic on drums that wash up. the side of the road,” he said. He hopes people are careful with After all, it’s not going to just their trash, whether at the beach disappear. • Issue 6 t Clean Accounting Coast Guard Auxiliarist Ron Doescher, left, carefully categorizes and records each piece of trash collected on the • shores of Ipswich, Mass., by volunteers during the International Coastal 2006 Cleanup, Sept. 16.
43 lower over some of the smaller in the past, but those problems stocked, according to Tracy. Lakes lakes that are surrounded on all have greatly diminished since stocked by the Coast Guard this sides by tall trees.” we have had the benefit of air year included Heitman, Jupiter, Story and Photos by Many of the lakes stocked on transport for those fish.” Saturn, Long, Tanignak and Dolgoi PA1 Kurt Fredrickson, Kodiak are easily accessible by car, The Coast Guard in Kodiak Lakes. To ensure proper delivery, PADET Kodiak, Alaska and the fish are carried only a few has been helping the Department a Fish and Game representative Kodiak’s feet from the road in five-gallon of Fish and Game stock remote went along to ensure the fish were buckets. Other lakes not directly lakes on Kodiak Island since the dropped in the proper lakes. on the road system are stocked early 1990s. The proximity and Although initial survival of the by volunteers, who bag the fish operational nature of the Coast fry is one way to measure success, and carry them from the hatchery Guard provides a convenient the true measure is only evident truck in ice-cooled backpacks. A solution to accessing the remote from an angler’s perspective. Rainbow Trout successful release is dependent areas. “Each lake is a little different,” Lakes and Rivers Dr. on volunteers hiking as fast as This year’s restocking mission said Dan Busch, a 36-year Special Delivery possible to release the fish, Tracy consisted of two flights, each with resident of Kodiak and fly Kodiak, Ak, 99619 noted. three coolers to stock six lakes by fisherman. “Some are in really “There is a finite survival helicopter. Each cooler was filled heavily wooded areas. Some are window for those fish once they with approximately 1,500 fish, an more alpine situations, but the Air Station Releases Rainbow Trout are bagged and placed in an amount that can vary depending main thing is that when you do oxygen restricted environment,” on the size of the lake being fish these lakes, there is no one he wisp of a fly line, In many of these locations, “Rainbow trout in particular are Tracy explained. “The fish else around. I think that the ripple and pop of a walking is the only means of quite sensitive to environmental have about 20 minutes it’s the nice part of it. lure bouncing off the access, and the quiet scenery is changes, such as water before the ambient oxygen “Stocking local lakes with the You can really get some surface of a remote shared only by those engaged in temperature,” explained Donn is depleted, and they start solitude fishing.” mountain lake, and the the ancient battle of man versus Tracy, fisheries biologist with the getting really stressed. helicopter is a good, light- Although the size of coolT misty breeze found on a late fish. Alaska Department of Fish And After about a half hour the fish is ultimately summer morning define serenity But once a year, the Game’s Sportfish Division. “It’s they start dying, and at hearted contrast to search and controlled by food for many anglers who frequent the peacefulness of the remote very stressful to move the fish from 40 minutes, they are all and habitat, it is not mountain lakes of Kodiak Island in mountain lakes on Kodiak is the hatchery, onto a truck, then dead.” unheard of to catch fish Alaska. broken by the sound of a Coast across Shelikoff Strait to Kodiak Even under the best rescue,” said as large as 28-inches Guard helicopter on a unique Island and then onto the helicopter conditions, stocking long, Tracy explained. mission: to stock those lakes with for air transport.” healthy and viable fish Lt. Daniel Long. He said, however, the rainbow trout. Once in Kodiak, some of the is a challenge, according typical rainbow trout For the trout fry, the transition fish are portioned into coolers for to Tracy. There are a is in the 15 to-20-inch from the warm waters of the the air transport stocking. The number of things that range. Bush noted that hatchery where they were spawned rest are placed in a hatchery tank, can go wrong each year. the population density to Kodiak’s pristine lakes is from which individuals stock lakes Since the program began varies greatly depending inconsequential. However, the accessible by road. in 1953, there have been on how often the lake process of transporting fish fry The fry in coolers are driven to instances of huge mortality is stocked and the from their birthplace in Anchorage Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, rates when environmental environment. This is to a mountaintop lake more than where they are loaded onto an conditions changed, especially true because
500 miles away is far from a simple HH-65 Dolphin helicopter. For the delivery was slow, or the the remote lakes are www.uscg.mil/magazine task. Coast Guard aircrews, the stocking clock simply ran out. stocked with sterile Dozens of individuals from flights are a unique departure from “The greatest challenge rainbow trout, which can several agencies work together in their usual day-to-day operations. is to use that limited not reproduce, creating a carefully orchestrated system “It’s always nice to have some window of opportunity a limited population for to race against a clock that variety in our missions, and once that transportation sport fishing. will determine life or death for stocking local lakes with the process begins,” Tracy “In order to maintain thousands of fish. helicopter is a good, light-hearted explained. “The fry need to the good quality fishing On Aug. 16, 2006, the Coast contrast to search and rescue,” get to lakes while they are that we have, we have to Coast Guard Guard and Alaska Department said Lt. Daniel Long, Coast Guard still viable.” put a little effort into it of Fish and Game joined forces Air Station Kodiak HH-65 pilot. In the past, stocking ourselves by practicing to complete the final leg of a “By facilitating the efforts of Fish attempts have ended catch and release,” complicated journey for thousands and Game and other local agencies, in disaster with a 100 Busch said.
of trout fry. When the fry leave we are helping to maintain percent mortality rate, As an angler, • the state-run Fort Richardson the quality of life for Kodiak’s Tracy explained. Delivery Bush noted that the Issue 6 hatchery in Anchorage, they are 90 residents. This is important must be performed in the Coast Guard makes to-120-days old. The challenging because we are here to serve the window of opportunity, the difference in the • mission is to transport the small public, and we strive to do so and it’s simply too far to quality of fishing in 2006 and delicate fish from the hatchery 24/7.” backpack the fish into the remote lakes that to the 20 stocked lakes on Kodiak The Dolphin has capabilities remote lakes. Tracy noted would otherwise be very p Island. It is a journey that takes that make it a well-suited platform that since the Coast Guard difficult to stock. Busch Rainbows Released the fish, by truck, boat, bucket for stocking lakes. has been involved, success explained the sum of AMT1 Steve Dyke from Air Station Ko- and air, to their final destination. “We can fly much slower than a rates have improved. everyone’s efforts simply. diak prepares to drop rainbow trout from Their journey begins simply as fixed wing aircraft which are often “This year was a major p Fry to Freedom “It certainly offers 45 the Fort Richardson Fish Hatchery into they are loaded onto a truck at the used for this type of job,” Long success,” Tracy said. “We Fish culturist Greg Carpenter, with the Fort Richardson fish some good fishing.” Dolgoi Lake. hatchery. explained. “We can also get down have had some problems hatchery, dumps a net full of rainbow trout into a bucket. No Games, Just Sports
Practiced Perfection Cmdr. Claudia Camp, chief of Current Operations at the Seventh Coast Guard District Law Enforcement Branch, dres_sage [druh-sahzh; rides her horse, Raphoni Solyst, during competition at the Memorial Weekend Dressage Show at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Stone Haven, N.J., May 27. Camp competes in an Olympic sport called dressage, in which Fr. dre-sazh] –noun she and Raphoni were ranked fifth in the nation in 2005 among all six-year- 1. The training of a horse to carry out a series of precise old horses. controlled movements in response to minimal signals from its rider 2. Dressage event: a competitive event in which horse and rider are judged on the elegance, precision and discipline of the horse’s movements
Story and photos by PA3 Dan Bender, PADET New York
he dust hangs in the air “I had a friend whose husband her Coast Guard career, and as another training was in the Coast Guard. They graduated from Officer Candidate session between the white invited me to come and check out School in May 1990. fences on a quiet horse the station and go out on patrol with “Driving small boats is a one-of- farm in rural New Jersey them on one of the old 44-footers,” a-kind experience. Nothing really comes to an end. A woman pauses she said. “Through the fog, the crew compares to it. I just felt that I had Tto thank her friend, stroking his spotted a man, who had lost his more to offer as an officer,” said muscular neck as they watch the kayak, floundering in the middle of Camp. sun dip below the tree line - it’s been the bay. He was hypothermic when Now that Camp had settled on a a long day. they pulled him from the water, and career path, she was ready to fulfill Cmdr. Claudia Camp, chief of I had my EMT certification so I her childhood dream of owning a Current Operations at the Seventh treated him for hypothermia. The horse. Growing up, her father often Coast Guard District Law water was barely 50 degrees, and I took her to horse riding Enforcement Branch, spends knew we were the difference between competitions where she found the every free moment she has working life and death for him.” event’s pageantry appealing. toward her dream. Driven to join the Coast Guard “I remember being amazed by the “It started with books,” said Camp. after that experience, Camp decided spectacle of these beautiful horses
“I became fascinated with horses www.uscg.mil/magazine after I read “Misty of Chincoteague.” When I was 15, I made a promise “Dressage is a very refined sport. It’s sometimes called to myself that I would own a horse horse ballet because so much of the sport is about some day no matter what.” making complicated and difficult maneuvers look ef- After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in English- fortless.” American studies, Camp became an account executive for an advertising — Cmdr. Claudia Camp, chief of Current Operations at the Coast Guard Seventh Coast Guard District Law Enforcement Branch agency in San Francisco. The pace of corporate life was frustrating and kept her from her dream. to enlist even though she already and their riders dressed in black The tension came to a head during had a degree and could have applied coats and top hats. The environment • a meeting with one of her clients, a to Officer Candidate School. at a grand prix is very elegant,” said Issue 6 bleach company. “I always knew that I wanted to be Camp. “We argued for three straight an officer, but I wanted to drive the Inspired, Camp began entering • hours over whether their new slogan 44-footers too,” she said. competitions in 1998, two years 2006 should be ‘whiter and brighter’ or She would go on to become a after she purchased her first horse. ‘brighter and whiter.’ I thought to coxswain driving 44-footers out Her first years of competition were myself, ‘I can be doing so much of Station Fort Point beneath the spent in the show hunter class, more with my life,’” she said. Golden Gate Bridge in San where the horse and rider are Within a week, she quit her job Francisco. Four years into her judged on their ability to navigate a and set sail for the Coast Guard. enlistment, she took the next step in course and jump obstacles such as 47 fences or shrubs in a smooth and With a new partner in the stable, N steady manner. all Camp needed was a tour ashore Dressage History “Competing with the hunters to begin climbing the ranks again. o
Coast Guard G really opened up a whole new world She got her chance when she was The history of dressage dates back to a period for me. I enjoyed the challenge of assigned as the command center of more than 2,000 years. The object of getting to know my horse and supervisor at Sector New York, a dressage is the harmonious development of learning how to maximize his challenging position but one that physical ability of the horse, resulting in a calm, ames ability,” said Camp. offered her the chance to step up supple, flexible animal, both longitudinally and Triathlon laterally. The horse should be confident and in Camp began to steadily climb the her training. perfect understanding of his rider. national rankings, racking up more Camp and Raphoni were ranked All work in dressage should be free, light, than 20 trophies and ribbons during fifth in the nation among all six- aesthetically beautiful to the observer, and the competition. It was an accident at a year-olds after the 2005 Young horse should remain on the bit. The ancient Greeks were the first to practice dressage national competition that would lead Horse National Championships in On August 11, Station St. , J to her greatest accomplishments. Louisville, Ky., within two years. in preparation for war. It was this culture that believed nothing could be obtained correctly or Inigoes, Md., held their Camp was thrown from her horse Having already taken first place at harmoniously without the strict adherence to the second annual triathlon during a jump six years ago at the two United States Dressage laws of the universe. This is what truly defines consisting of running 2 ust Lexington National Horse Show in Federation regional events, she classical dressage — the horse should submit miles, kayaking 4 miles, himself happily and proudly to the will of the Virginia. Landing on her head, her shows no sign of slowing down. If and bicycling 6.5 miles. helmet shattered and left her with a Camp hopes to make the Olympic rider, without any disturbance in his natural way of going. OThis year’s event was concussion. team, she’ll have to be among the America’s earliest roots in dressage began organized by BM1 S “At that moment, I realized it was top eight in the country overall. with the Spanish Conquistadors and their gineta Edgar Cooper. Seven teams and one too much of a risk. My job is just too She’ll have to remain in the top mode of riding. This style directly influenced the individual doing all three events competed in western seat and stock saddle. Native ports important to me to jeopardize,” said rankings of the horses in Raphoni’s this years event. Coming in first place with a combined Camp. age group as they approach their Americans quickly adapted their own style of riding by sitting upright in the walk and trot and time of 1:40.15 was the team of Cooper, BM2 Dennis Phillips, and Camp made the switch to peak ages for the sport, generally 10 using the forward seat in the gallop. MK1 Michael Hunter; 2nd place with a combined time of 1:43.00 was the team of BM2 Jamie Sanchez and MK2 dressage, a discipline dating back to 16 years old. The first Olympic Dressage games were held Aaron Dooly; 3rd place with a combined time of 1:43.13 was the team of BMC Christopher Harward, MKC to 400 B.C. in Ancient Greece that For Camp, life is about the Coast in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. These James Johnson and BM1 John Robbins. Coming in fourth overall doing all three events with a time of 1:45.21 does not incorporate jumping and is Guard and her horse. As she and equestrian games were only open to cavalry officers, and the dressage test consisted of was BMC Juan Rivera. Station personnel that did not compete provided logistical support in setting up the much safer for the rider. Raphoni end another long day, it’s staging areas, marshalling and shuttling the participants to and from the venues. Cooper stated that without “Dressage is a very refined sport. not her sore muscles or even her collected and extended gaits, rein-back, turn on the hocks, four flying changes on a straight line the support of the crew, this event would not have been as smooth or successful at all. Judging by the enthusi- It’s sometimes called horse ballet pillow on her mind. As the day turns and jumping five small obstacles, one of which asm of the entire crew, the second annual triathlon was a complete success, and the positive feedback points to because so much of the sport is to dusk and she wipe’s the sweat was a barrel rolled towards the horse. more of the same in the near future. about making complicated and from her brow, she smiles. It’s been The United States Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kan., difficult maneuvers look effortless,” a long day, but it’s one closer to the exchanged ideas and instructors with the said Camp. dream. schools in Europe and won an Olympic team bronze in dressage in 1932. Dressage is also an Olympic sport. U.S. Army Captain Hiram She showed promise in the sport, Tuttle also took an individual rek Across America but her competitions were bronze medal. This was also preempted by her fifth tour the year that the 20-by-60 AST1 Randall Rice, Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., recently returned underway. meter arena with letter from a bicycle ride of nearly 3,000 miles from San Diego to Savannah, Ga. After www.uscg.mil/magazine markers was introduced. accomplishing a series of personal and professional goals, Rice set his sights on the “To improve your skills as a rider, The notable U.S. Army you have to be with your horse every three-and-a-half-week bicycle ride, organized by a company called Pacific-Atlantic- General George Patton is Cycling Tour. day. After two months on patrol, I credited for protecting the “I’m very goal-oriented,” said Rice, noting his recent milestones and would come back to a horse that Spanish Riding School and accomplishments of turning 40 years old, preparing for advancement to chief petty acted like he didn’t know me. We rescuing Lippizzaner mares Tofficer and graduating from a local college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. started at square one every time,” from becoming absorbed into “The tour was always something I wanted to do,” said Rice, who was born in the communist bloc in WWII. Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. “I’ve always done endurance events,” he added. He she said. After the U.S. Cavalry
has ran in numerous marathons and he twice completed the Ironman triathlon Coast Guard The bond between a horse and disbanded in 1948, the competition. rider is so critical that Camp focus of dressage for military The 2,913-mile bicycle tour saw Rice and the group of about 60 riders traveling traveled to Denmark to find her purpose shifted to civilian an average of 112 miles per day. Rice noted that, in the first day alone, the group current partner, Raphoni Solyst, a competition and sport and rode 127 miles and climbed about 7,500 feet in elevation while transiting from San began to gain momentum. Diego to El Centro, Calif. While riding through desert towns, the highest
Danish Warmblood. Horses are •
With the help of many Issue 6 taken so seriously there that the temperature that he recalls was 114 degrees Fahrenheit. dedicated immigrants, the Besides accomplishing this personal goal, Rice took the opportunity to do some king inspects each one, branding United States began its good for the Coast Guard as well. Prior to his departure, Rice solicited for only the finest horses - like Raphoni. attempt to “catch up” with the donations for the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance program. Coast Guard Mutual • “She has a very, very nice horse,” Europeans, and the United Assistance is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to Coast 2006 States Dressage Federation said Lena Wedenmark, Camp’s Guard members. Rice wanted to re-pay the program for providing him grants that was founded in 1973 to off-set the costs for his school books. Thanks to donations from local businesses, current riding instructor. “She has promote, educate and p Cmdr. Claudia Camp shares a Rice raised hundreds of dollars for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. This money a capable horse, focus and desire. All Smiles recognize achievements. will be used to help other Coast Guardsmen in need of financial assistance. If she keeps riding, she can go very moment with her horse, Raphoni Solyst, at Eagle Crest Always up for a challenge, Rice said he finds himself asking, “’What am I gonna Farms in Farmingdale, N.J., April 15. Excerpts from: http://www.worlddres- far.” sage.com/history.htm do now?” Photograph courtesy AST1 Randall Ric 49 N o
Survival of the Shawangunks G provided a marvelous view of the surrounding scenery. Story by PA2 Matthew Schofield, 9th Dist. “It was gorgeous,” she said. ames After the 4.5-mile run she swam 1.1 miles and finished work out in a serious regimented way and devote third overall for that mid the beautiful scenery of New Paltz, themselves fully to achieve the goal. portion of the race. N.Y., a formidable opponent laid in wait for Trocchio, who is studying to be a dietitian online After the swim, it was back some competitive athletes eagerly seeking through Kansas State University, knows the importance on dry land, running a cool , J to put foot to ground and body to water on of what to eat and what not to eat. ASept. 10. That opponent was the Survival of the “Everything in moderation,” she said, “I don’t consider 5.5 miles to the next lake Shawangunks triathlon near the Catskill Mountain myself to be a tremendously obsessive person when it swim. This swim was half a SOS mile long, leading to the next ust Range. comes to what I eat, but I do make it a point to eat right A total of 150 men and women competitors from all almost all the time.” portion, a run of eight miles over the nation converged to compete against each other Once her steady diet was established, the next part of before another and final half- in a difficult and challenging course. The course tested preparing for the race was the intense physical mile lake swim. Once the even the most seasoned athlete, and it took months preparation. Trocchio said that she typically trained 15 final swim was complete, the S of preparation and effort to arrive at the starting line, to 20 hours a week, but she had to modify it a little bit last portion was a grueling much less cross the finish line. to be ready for this race. run/climb up approximately Armed Forces ports In an effort to better prepare athletes for competition, She also took yoga classes because they provided the 300 feet over 0.7 miles to the some companies sponsored or offered at least some flexibility and core strength she needed to compete well. finish. monetary assistance to those in the race. The Coast “When doing the same activity for long durations of In total, she biked 30 miles, Guard awarded one lucky competitor $400 dollars to time, the muscles will get acclimated and stiffen, mak- ran 19 miles and swam 2.1 offset the financial burden of traveling during the ing it tougher to utilize them to their fullest potential,” miles placing 56th overall and Sports off-duty hours to the race. she said. 15th out of the 60 women. Once she arrived in New York, she was a little Lt. Lauren Trocchio, Ninth District Command Center “It took me a week of Cleveland, was the recipient of the grant. She used the nervous, but felt she was ready. he following information is being provided to encourage Coast recovery time to get back to money to offset the costs of travel, food and lodging. Guard men and women to bring their sports talents forward and normal,” she said. “I could have paid for it myself, but the money made he race started out at 100 feet above sea level, T apply for participation on Navy sports teams as part of the Armed After sitting down with her it easier for me to focus on the challenge,” said Trocchio. with 30 miles of biking. During the bike Forces Sports Program. for just a few minutes, one This triathlon was eight stages, which is partly what portion, the contestants climbed 1,000 feet. They To date in 2006, 44 applications from Coast Guard athletes to compete in T can see her passion for made this one special; normally there are only three dropped off their bikes where a race assistant — Armed Forces Sports have been received, with 25 athletes selected to attend Navy triathlons shine through. training camps or selected directly from applications for Navy or Armed Forces stages. Because it was not a typical triathlon, she began Trocchio’s mother, Cynthia, — was on hand to assist preparing for the race in April to be in the best physical Even the most mild-mannered teams, and eight athletes were selected as part of All-Armed Forces Teams. her daughter. and mental shape she could be by race time. Just to be person, like Trocchio, can Below is a list of sporting opportunities for 2007, check www.uscg.mil/mwr for “Once the bike was handed off, whatever you picked in the race, the contestants had to qualify by completing prove to be like a lion in more updates: a half Ironman, which is a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike up you had to carry for the rest of the race,” said waiting and an inspiration to www.uscg.mil/magazine ride and 13.2-mile run in less than seven hours. Trocchio. She wore a special belt that contained two many because of the Bowling (M/W) Training Camp Marathon (M/W) It is no easy task to plan for, prepare for and compete water bottles and some energy supplements. preparation for and resolve to Soccer (M/W) (Wrestling) Shooting (M/W) in a race of this type. Racers have to eat right, have to Next was a 4.5-mile run, which was very hilly, but finish the race. Cross Country (M/W) Basketball (M/W) Parachuting (M/W) Boxing (M) Volleyball (M/W) Judo (M) Training Camp Triathlon (M/W) Sailing (M/W) (Boxing) Softball (W) Cycling Road (M/W) Wrestling (M) Rugby (M) Taekwondo (M/W) Coast Guard The Navy trials/Armed Forces Competitions are open to all officers and enlisted Coast Guard men and women on active duty. Selection is based on submission of application/resume to Coast Guard sports director in COMDT (CG-103). Appli- cations may be obtained from the MWR web site at www.uscg.mil/mwr or from •
Chief Warrant Officer Carlos Toomer (757) 420-2480 ext. 3032. Issue 6 Applications must be mailed to: Commandant (CG-103), 870 Greenbrier Circle, Tower II - Suite 502, Chesapeake, VA 23320-2681, Attn: Chief Warrant Officer
Carlos Toomer, or faxed to (757) 420-0569. CG-103 will endorse and forward all • applications to the head of the Navy Sports. Applications that are mailed directly 2006 to the Navy will not be considered. Athletes selected to the Navy trials will com- pete for selection to represent the Navy in the Armed Forces Championships and may be considered to represent the United States Military in national or interna- tional competition. Anyone selected to participate in Armed Forces Sports is expected to Photo by Scott Schaffrick Photo by Scott Schaffrick compete in all higher levels of competition. 51 would not be able to fix her Logbook Coast Guard family hosts Ukrainian children completely-blind left eye. The optical nerve never fully developed, NASCAR Angels juice up junker and there was nothing the doctors visiting U.S. for medical treatment could do about it, said Tarini. She came to America with high hopes that doctors here could fix Story by PA3 Lauren Downs, 1st Dist. Natallyia Kolomievets, traveled to transportation, and the American America from Ukrainian villages “experience.” her sight, and she left with the that are still haunted by the The difference between the realization that there is nothing ussian labels with aftermath of a catastrophic nuclear American lifestyle and the lifestyles anyone can do or could have done pictures marked all the plant explosion. of these underprivileged children to prevent the blindness, said appliances throughout his More than two decades have was apparent everyday, said Zamansky. home. They helped break R passed since the Chernobyl nuclear Zamansky. They couldn’t believe Andriy suffers from leg length down the language barrier between power plant spewed radioactive the cereal aisle at the grocery store. discrepancy and was here to be his children and the two Ukrainian material across Ukraine, Belarus fitted with a new orthotic (shoe children who were living with and Russia, but families living in lift). Both children also received a him and his family in Haverhill, these areas are reminded daily of complete physical. Mass. MKC Ted Tarini’s young “Helping gave the tragedy when they look into Tarini said he thinks that visitors, Andriy their children’s eyes. Andriy and me a sense of in order for his family to truly Stepanenko Natallyia are examples of how understand how lucky they are, it’s and satisfaction.” radiation contamination still affects important for them to be reminded children growing up in those of the hardships other families areas. They are two of 92 children — MKC Ted Tarini endure. selected to come to the United “There are people who actually States for medical treatment and live through those conditions, dental care in the Boston area last It’s like nothing they had ever seen and they can’t leave because June. before. And they love McDonald’s. that’s where they live,” he said. Tarini, the engineering petty Most of them had never been to a “They literally grow their food in officer at Station Gloucester, Mass. McDonald’s, so they wanted to eat radiation, and they have to eat it.” p MK3 Richard Manaseri, Station Channel For a man whose job is primarily Happy trucker said he watched his neighbors there every chance they got, she Island in Oxnard, Calif., is all smiles about the restoration his 1966 to help people in need, Tarini said Lesley Zamansky and added. Chevy underwent at the hands of the NASCAR Angels television show. her husband, Gerry, Tarini made arrangements it’s difficult for him to know that Boston act as a host for Station Gloucester personnel Natallyia went back to Ukraine family for to give the children a tour of without a cure for her blind left half-hour, nationally syndicated program, NASCAR the station and a ride through eye, but he’s glad that he and his Angels, hit the road with a simple mission: to help Gloucester Harbor on their 41- family were able to give her four people and to fix their broken cars. foot utility boat or 47-foot motor fun-filled weeks in the United Hosted by former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series lifeboat. States. Champion and current ABC/ESPN broadcaster Rusty “Helping gave me a sense of AWallace and NASCAR.com reporter Shannon Wiseman, NASCAR 5,000+ milesThe children’s faces lit up as they took the helm satisfaction,” he said. Angels recently linked up with the Coast Guard in the form of MK3 and maneuvered Tarini has peeled all of the Richard Manaseri, and took on the task of repairing his 1966
the boat Russian labels off of the appliances Chevy truck. Manaseri, stationed at Channel Island Station in www.uscg.mil/magazine Chernobyl- through in his home, but he said he thinks Oxnard, Calif., has been in the Coast Guard for almost eight years, affected children the he will open his home and his and admittedly “lives and breathes NASCAR.” for the past heart to two more Chernobyl- Manaseri was nominated for the honor of getting his two years, water. affected children next summer. vehicle restored by his commanding officer, Lt. Marcus and decided This was Gherardi. Gherardi felt Manaseri, with his strong work ethic he wanted to a once-in-a- Ukraine (and old truck), was most deserving to have his 1966 Chevy truck participate this lifetime experience revamped. The ‘66 Chevy has a rich heritage – it was the first vehicle Manaseri has ever owned, and he and his father purchased
year. for them. None of them Coast Guard A non-profit had ever seen the ocean the truck together. It was not in the best of shape, but, according organization, before coming to America, said to him, “every dent has a story,” which the NASCAR Angels Photo courtesy the Tarini family Photo courtesy the Tarini Chernobyl Tarini. production crew admitted makes for good TV. Children’s The trips to McDonald’s, During the extensive three-day-period while his truck was getting revamped, Manaseri was a guest of the California Speedway p Home Away From Home MKC Project, pays amusement parks, baseball • Issue 6 Ted Tarini, Station Gloucester, Mass., and his the estimated games and Station Gloucester, in Fontana, where he got the chance to go behind-the-scenes to wife Eileen, welcome their Ukranian visitors, $2,400 per child among several other places, were meet his NASCAR heroes – including Team Coast Guard Racing driver Kevin Harvick – and get an up-close-and-personal glimpse Andriy Stepanenko, far right, and Natallyia cost to bring important for the youngsters • the children to because it took their minds off of into the NASCAR experience. 2006 Kolomievets, center. Also pictured are In the end, after the extensive makeover, Manaseri’s truck was Cameron and Jennifer Tarini. the U.S. Host all the doctor appointments and families like the potential for bad news, Zemansky as good – actually much better — than new, thanks to NASCAR Tarinis provide said. Angels. housing, meals, Natallyia learned that doctors Story and photo courtesy of NASCAR 53 Boarding Officer Logbook eLearning CG crews offers new path braced for to qualification o you want to become a Boarding Officer but find crustacean D it difficult to break away to attend the six-week Basic Boarding Officer Course? Perhaps invasion a two-week course, in conjunction with eLearning lessons, would be more convenient. Providing personnel with a more convenient Story and photos by PA3 James Judge, 7th Dist. Coast Guard Combat route toward BO qualification is the genesis for the new Boarding
Veterans Reunion Photo by MK1 Wilbert Mitchell, Sector New Orleans eautiful turquoise waters, Officer Qualification Support plenty of sunshine, red and Scheduled for April Program. Bwhite dive flags and lots of The idea to convert many of Mural dedicated to CG Katrina responders “bugs.” Every year thousands of The Coast Guard Combat the Basic Boarding Officer Course boaters swarm to Florida to hunt topics into eLearning lessons On Aug. 28, almost exactly honors, for her role in rescuing these bugs. But it’s not your Veterans Association will hold originated as a solution to reduce one year after the landfall of more than 2,000 people, “and typical bug. These bugs can grow its 13th reunion and convention gaps in Reserve Boarding Officer Hurricane Katrina, Secretary hopefully it will remind them to be two-feet long with thick, spiny April 16 - 20, 2007, at the readiness. The course is now open of Homeland Security Michael of the sacrifices made during antennae, and for many, they taste to both active duty and reserve Chertoff, joined by scores of Katrina.” pretty good, too. Sheraton Gateway Hotel in servicemembers. Coast Guard first responders, The artist, Coast Guard Lt. BM3 Victor On the last Wednesday and p Measuring Up Burlingame, Calif. For more “It’s just too difficult for cut the ribbon on a 9-by-20 Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau, spent Thursday of July, the waters of the Rosario, Station Marathon, Fla., information or to register, Reservists to get six weeks off mural, painted in honor of the storm and following weeks Sunshine State are opened for the helps a Florida Fish and Wildlife from their employers,” said Lt. the thousands of Coast Guard holed up in the New Orleans City Spiny Lobster Sport Season. Conservation officer measure the contact E.P. Ed Burke at (301) Cmdr. Paul Baker, a performance personnel who served in the Gulf Hall, acting as the Coast Guard’s More commonly known as carapace of a spiny lobster, near 924-3727. For hotel consultant with the performance Region in the days and months representative to the City. In Florida’s Lobster Mini Season, Marathon, July 26. For two days, information, call (650) technology team in the Reserve and following Hurricanes Katrina and addition to helping coordinate it is a 48-hour opportunity for Training Directorate. Rita. Coast Guard resources, in recreational boaters to catch thousands of amateur “bug” hunters 340-8500. converge on Florida’s warm waters to The eLearning course consists Wrapping along three walls the hours after the storm she spiny lobsters before commercial of the Sector New Orleans’ fielded 911 calls from desperate get their share of spiny lobster before of 99 self-paced lessons, which fishermen drop their traps in take about 50 hours to complete. lakefront base, the mural depicts residents trapped in their homes August. the commercial season starts. The These interactive modules cover images of Coast Guard men and visited the Superdome For the Coast Guard, it means a
increase in recreational boats means A Good Fit traditional topics such as and women navigating small – giving her a perspective shared www.uscg.mil/magazine high-tempo two days. a busy two days for Coast Guard the Use of Force continuum flood punts through debris- by few. “It’s a time when we expect to search and rescue and law and recreational boating strewn waters, rappelling “No one would ever wish respond to a lot of search and enforcement crews. Coast Guard safety requirements, as from helicopters into polluted for something like Katrina to rescue cases and conduct a lot Reservist magazine well as new authorizations flood waters and surveying a happen,” Ben-Iesau said. “But of boardings to ensure everyone has published a such as law enforcement confusion of partially sunk to be part of the Coast Guard’s is following state and federal said. Sector Miami alone received ashore and Port State Control fishing vessels. response, to be able to make a regulations, Lt. j.g. Joe Klinker, 11 reports of missing divers. special issue on boardings. “This wall is the first thing difference, was a great honor assistant chief of enforcement for But search and rescue wasn’t uniforms. Students, who pass the people see when they walk in and an experience that I will
Coast Guard Sector Miami, said. the only mission. Coast Guard Coast Guard Featuring comprehensive examination, the building,” said BM2 Jessica cherish for the rest of my life.” The first call for assistance came members saw an increase in are then eligible to attend the Guidroz, who received the just after 7 a.m. July 6 when the activity throughout South Florida full-length photos two-week Boarding Officer Meritorious Service Medal, one By Ensign Geralyn Mobley, Coast Guard received a report of conducting more than 400 of service Practical Course at the Maritime of the Coast Guard’s highest Sector New Orleans an injured diver. Upon arriving, the boardings, with more than 39 Law Enforcement Academy in
members in • boat crew from Station Marathon, citations. Charleston, S.C. The BOPC Issue 6 Fla., found a man who had possibly Certainly, alcohol did play a uniform, the reinforces the eLearning material while minimizing their time away lessons are available to everyone severed an artery in his left leg role. “We have a major increase in magazine covers everything, and provides students with from home and the unit,” said on the Coast Guard Learning after a boat operator inadvertently boating under the influence during • from the proper wear of the hands-on practical training. Lt. Cmdr. Charles Fosse, CGC Management System at http:// 2006 backed over him. Crewmembers lobster mini season,” Klinker said. Furthermore, units are Tampa executive officer, who has learning.uscg.mil. provided basic medical treatment “Anytime we get a lot of boats Winter Dress Blue to the order authorized to issue the OPSHL two crewmembers enrolled in the Complete BOQSP information, and sped him to a nearby marina out there, the amount of alcohol of precedence of Coast Guard (Boarding Officer) competency code program. can be found at MLEA’s homepage: for transfer to awaiting emergency related incidents increase. It’s like medals. For more details, visit to graduates. Personnel can also complete the www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/mlea/index. medical services. a party weekend. A lot of people “This program provides me eLearning course, or just individual shtm. That was just one of many treat it just like a holiday,” Klinker their Web site at www.uscg. the flexibility of obtaining law lessons, without having to enroll in By Lt. Cmdr. Tom Walsh, search and rescue cases, Klinker said. mil/reserve/magazine. enforcement training for my crew the two-week resident course. The Reserve and Training Directorate 55 Logbook
Legare Crew Lends a Hand Volunteers from Ship with 30,000 tons of cargo the CGC Legare and Colombian National Police joined forces to completely repaint a school in the Puerto Rey neighborhood outside Cartagena, Colombia, Oct. 3. In slams into sensitive Florida coast a project sponsored by US AID, more than 40 volunteers within 30 minutes of the grounding,” stripped away old paint and applied a new coat to the entire Story and photo by PA1 Dana Warr, 7th Dist. Capt. Karl Schultz, Sector Miami’s school — inside and out. The Jardin Infantil de Puerto Rey commanding officer and Captain of the sits at the end of a dusty dirt road just minutes outside the ort Everglades has been able to Port, said. bustling Colombian city and tends to 52 children between keep pace with South Florida’s Less than 24 hours after the the ages of two and six years old. One Coast Guard P construction demands and grounding, the owner submitted a crewman remarked, “I love events like these because I get population growth by establishing salvage plan. Three days and several to do important work and see a part of the world that few itself as one of the premier bulk cargo modifications later, operations began other Americans get to see.” seaports in Florida, importing and to remove 2,000 metric tons of bauxite exporting more than three million tons – enough to re-float the vessel. Six days — Provided by Cmdr. Joe Hester, Coast Guard Attache, Defense Attache Office, Bogota, Colombia of raw materials each year. after the Clipper Lasco grounded, it Hoping to contribute to that success, was floating freely. a 645-foot cargo ship carrying more “The response to the grounding of D13 brings ICS expertise back to its beginnings p Run Aground than 30,000 tons of bauxite left Sete, the Clipper Lasco may not have seemed The Clipper Lasco, a France, and was scheduled to arrive in expedient, but we followed a deliberate The Coast Guard’s and U. S. Coast Guard, 645-foot Bahamian- the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. port, Sept. 14. planning process to ensure that all The ship arrived on time, but just short aspects of the salvage operation, ongoing success with met with all facets of the flagged bulk cargo the Incident Command firefighting community of its destination. including any contingencies, were carrier, ran aground Instead of arriving at one of the adequately addressed for the highest System has caught the including smoke jumpers, less than a mile off Fort attention of the U.S. helitak and hot-shot berths to offload the aluminum ore possible level of safety for response Forest Service – the crews as well as incident Lauderdale Beach, used in making cement, the Clipper personnel, the environment and the original creators of ICS. commanders, in order to Fla., Sept. 14. Coast Lasco, a Bahamian-flagged vessel, ran vessel,” Schultz said. For years, Coast “feel the pulse” of multiple Guard personnel aground less than one mile off Fort After the Clipper Lasco was re- Guard responders operations involving over responded immediately Lauderdale Beach. floated, tugs towed it to an anchorage sought training and field 69,000 acres of fire and to assess the risk for Coast Guard marine inspectors area where divers inspected the hull for possible damage. Nothing but a few experience from our wild identify any potential environmental dangers, and pollution investigators responded immediately to determine the potential scratches were found and the COTP land fire partners. As trends resulting from the including the our responsibilities have ongoing stress of complex for pollution, whether or not there was approved it to finally enter port. placement of 1,800 “This organization ensured that a grown and our missions Photo by Matt Bernard, 13th Dist. IMAT incident management. any threatening damage to the ship, feet of oil-containment have expanded, the Despite operating at and to what extent the sensitive coral well coordinated and timely decision use of ICS has become p Final Check Smoke jumpers make last minute an elevation of over 6,000 boom around the reefs in the area were harmed. making process was employed to second nature to the vast checks at Aerial Fire Base, Gila National Forest, New feet and temperatures vessel. Salvage crews Within 90 minutes, a detailed ensure safety for the public and all analysis of the situation was underway, responding personnel, security for majority of Coast Guard Mexico, minutes before being dropped into a reserve fire exceeding 100 degrees removed more than a 500-yard safety zone was established the salvage operation and the most all-hazard response to establish fire lines. Members of the 13th District / each day, the team 2,000 tons of bauxite to
and approximately 1,800 feet of oil- expedient re-floating of the vessel given operations. accomplished its primary help re-float the vessel. www.uscg.mil/magazine PacArea Incident Management Assist Team were the first containment boom was placed. some of the unique challenges posed by It is this “all-hazards” mission of interviewing It was checked for response capability Coast Guard members ever to be asked by the U.S. crews and documenting “The inherent synergy gained in the at-sea cargo lightering,” Schultz said. Forest Service to join their Safety Assistance Team. damage and allowed sector command construct between The Clipper Lasco now is marked that has garnered the trends while providing to enter port some attention of seasoned additional safety refresher response and prevention, enabled first as the 12th commercial vessel to run firefighters who now seek training and guidance from training to over 100 newly arriving crewmembers. six days after it ran responders to be on scene and make aground on the coral laden bottom off the Coast Guard. According to Forest Service officials, “Once the initial ‘shock & awe’ of seeing the Coast aground. initial environmental assessments Fort Lauderdale Beach in 12 years. of all the response organizations that have embraced Guard operating in the desert had waned, senior ICS, the Coast Guard has been the most successful. officials, as well as crews, were extremely receptive to Recently, members of the District 13/PacArea providing input to the Coast Guard – perhaps more so Underway For a Day Army Command Sgt. Coast Guard Incident Management Assist Team were the first than to their fire counterparts,” Verfaillie said. Maj. William Gainey, center, the senior enlisted Coast Guard members ever to be asked by the Forest As a result of the SAT’s visit, numerous advisor to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks Service to join their Safety Assistance Team and help recommendations were documented and forwarded to with Coast Guardsmen at Station Portsmouth, Va., coordinate safety and response issues on numerous the Forest Service’s Southwest Coordinating Group, • fires burning throughout Arizona and New Mexico. two of which were provided by the Coast Guard, Sept. 27. Gainey toured CGCs Northland and Beluga; Issue 6 A SAT is a multi-agency team tasked with assisting which carried recommended changes to the current the bouy tender Frank Drew; stations Portsmouth and the regional fire management staff and local fire ICS qualification process as well as recommended Little Creek; and the Hampton Roads Joint Harbor •
managers with dialogue to determine safety concerns additions to the existing Fire Service leadership- Operations Center. He also presided over a Coast 2006 and provide observations. training curriculum. Guard re-enlistment ceremony, a practice rarely From June 25 through July 1, Cmdr. Darryl Continued cross-training among Federal and State performed by enlisted members from different Verfaillie, the District 13/PacArea IMAT incident agencies will only strengthen our readiness and services, and talked to more than 100 Coast commander, and Matt Bernard, the IMAT safety ensure we are ready for the “next big thing” looming Guardsmen about the roles and missions the Coast officer, lent their expertise to crews battling five over the horizon. separate fires. The team, comprised of personnel Guard performs to help protect America. from the Forest Service, South Dakota Fish & Wildlife, — Provided by the 13th Dist. Response Branch Photo by PA3 Kip Wadlow, 5th Dist. 57 Metalworking stalwart Readiness, People and Stewardship Greetings From passes on trade to new Personnel Command honors responsibilities generation of blacksmiths as the Coast Guard’s personnel center n existence since the Iron Age, blacksmithing was a cornerstone that helped build our modern ade up of the Officer the Coast Guard and is dedicated the Coast Guard’s professional I world. It was needed for everything from wagons, Personnel Management to outstanding customer and leadership capabilities to farming tools, to weapons, to the first compass MDivision, Enlisted service. From advancements through the military assignment, containing north and south poles. Personnel Management Division, to retirements and everything advancement and career Martin Taylor, weld maintenance leader in the Reserve Personnel Management in between, the staff of CGPC management process.” Engineering Department on Coast Guard Island in Division and Administration operates under three basic Arlington is a small, diverse Alameda, Calif., has brought this ancient art to ISC Division, the Coast Guard principles: Readiness, People city located directly across the Alameda’s Industrial Metal Fabrication Shop. He has Personnel Command resides in and Stewardship. Its vision Potomac River from Washington, coupled the art with the shop’s most modern piece of an office complex directly above is to ensure the readiness D.C. It is convenient to many equipment, the Plasma CAM. the Ballston Common Mall in of the world’s best Coast other major cities, such as The Plasma CAM is used to cut metal into detailed Arlington, Va. In August 2003, Guard through responsive Alexandria, Va., Annapolis, shapes. A sketch is entered into the computer, and CGPC moved from Coast Guard personnel service that honors a Md., and Baltimore. Bursting the computer relays the information to the Plasma Headquarters to Arlington due to commitment to its people, and with culture, Arlington offers CAM. The machine then cuts the specified shapes the expansion of headquarters reflects good stewardship of both the quiet comfort of a into a metal plate using a plasma arch cutting unit, staff and missions. the public trust. suburban lifestyle and the active which is hot enough to cut through one inch of steel. CGPC is the According to the atmosphere of an urban lifestyle. The crew of the Metal Fabrication Shop increased administrative CGPC mission Take a stroll down the city both their blacksmithing techniques and machine personnel center for statement, streets of Arlington and you will skills by taking on small, ornamental jobs, including service members encounter people from all walks a pair of intricate steel signs and an outdoor stove for working at of life. On one corner you will the Pacific Area Strike Team. CGPC “build find a sushi bar and around the Housing: Some “These projects and the knowledge give younger block is a Mexican restaurant. people, who are new to the trade, the capabilities members choose to live in nearby Arlington, and City living is geared to of knowing what they can do with these skills, and some live as far away convenience, so there are ample it instills confidence in the work they accomplish,” as southern Maryland. public transportation modes. Taylor said. Rent in the immediate Various military bases are The shop also fabricated a 40-by-60 dry-dock Arlington area starts at located in the surrounding cradle for 11th District’s 87-foot patrol boats. The approximately $900 per metropolitan area, so Plasma CAM was used to precisely cut usable parts month for a studio apartment. commissaries and other Many rental communities offer from raw sheets of steel up to 5/8 inches thick, military-based organizations are including reinforced openings and hundreds of military members the “Military Set- Aside Program,” which waives the first conveniently nearby. large gussets to provide structural stability for the month’s security deposit and discounts Being active in the community, cradle. The forge was used to heat and form the large
the price of rent and other rental fees. exploring the area or continuing www.uscg.mil/magazine complex pieces used for the reinforced openings, Many rental communities are pet- an education are all highly which is similar to how blacksmiths of old formed the friendly. Home ownership is also an encouraged at CGPC. There are outer portion of wagon wheels. option, but prices range well above the a variety of recreational, social The shop has completed many other important national median level. and cultural activities for both jobs for operational units, including salt water singles and families. Members Education: There are several col- foundations and 50-ton air conditioner salt water can visit the Smithsonian strainers for 378-foot cutters, sections of foundations leges in the area, including Marymount University, George Mason University, museums in Washington, D.C., for the Global Positioning System (GPS) towers George Washington University, Ameri- see a local sports game, ice skate
recently erected in Hawaii and San Diego, shipboard can University, and various accredited at an outdoor rink during the Coast Guard ventilation systems, and parts for 378-foot cutters’ community colleges. winter, dine at one of hundreds main gas turbine exhaust ducting. of ethnically diverse restaurants “I am able to incorporate the artistic side of Facilities: CGPC has a sickbay or check out the local nightlife. blacksmithing into my everyday work which helps me in the building. A larger medical and Whatever a person’s interests, dental facility is located only a short p turn out a product that is much more aesthetically Location, Location, • they can be experienced while Issue 6 pleasing and professional,” Reagan said. “Learning Metro ride away. A food court is lo- The Coast Guard p Auxiliary Lifesavers The cated on the lower floor in the mall. A Location stationed at CGPC. Wenger family patriarch sent this letter of about this history and then holding a hammer health and fitness club is also located Personnel Command is located in an For more information and a in my hand, while pounding red hot metal, links thanks to the Wilmington, Del. Auxiliary in the mall, and membership is free to office complex above Ballston wealth of personnel resources, • Detachment for saving him, his son and his me with a thousand years of craftsmen and their all Coast Guard employees. Common Mall in Arlington, Va., visit the CGPC Web site at 2006 accomplishments. I feel pride in being part of such three grandchildren when their canoe across the Potomac River from www.uscg.mil/hq/cgpc/home/ an important trade.” Weather: The average temperature newcgpchome.htm. capsized in big waves, Aug. 26. in January is 34 degrees, while the Washington, D.C., and provides the average temperature in July is 78 de- personnel administration needs of Story and photo by YN2 Shannon Curtin, Story by PA3 Sabrina Rivera-Arrayan and grees. The length and severity of the the entire Coast Guard. Coast Guard Personnel Command MKC John Brummett, 13th Dist. seasons varies from year to year. 59 Retired chief awarded long overdue medal
Story by Scott Christiansen © 2006 Kodiak Daily Mirror trip, returning to Kodiak from fisheries enforcement patrols. The crew had already worked more than eight hours when they got word of a Navy aircraft’s mayday. t a small ceremony in a conference room at News articles from the time note that the Navy the Kodiak Coast Guard Base on Nov. 2, an men were on a Cold War reconnaissance mission air medal for meritorious service was awarded over the North Pacific. Their airplane, a P-3C Orion, to a Valdez man who helped save 10 lives was equipped to patrol for submarines, and was Aduring a harrowing and exhausting rescue mission 28 reportedly patrolling Soviet airspace when the engine years ago. trouble began. The Orion ditched some 290 miles Daryl L. Horning, 57, a Valdez resident who works west of Shemya Island, the westernmost island on the for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, was the flight Aleutian Chain. engineer for a C-130 airplane crew instrumental in an The P-3C had a crew of 15. Two men reportedly died overnight rescue on Oct. 26 and 27, 1978. Horning on impact and three more succumbed to hypothermia served in the Coast Guard from 1968 to 1988, retiring while crews from the Navy, Air Force and the Coast at the rank of chief petty officer. Guard C-130 searched for survivors. Overcoming a language barrier, bad weather and A Coast Guard timeline of the events shows darkness, Horning and his crewmates led a Russian that a rapid refueling at Adak allowed the C-130 to fishing vessel 25 miles to 10 U.S. Navy airmen stuck participate in the search. Horning’s air medal citation adrift on two life rafts. notes that his fuel calculations allowed the plane to The Navy crew had ditched their airplane in stormy, land at Adak hours later with about 2,000 pounds of near-freezing waters of the North Pacific after an fuel left — almost 24 hours after the crew began its engine fire. initial trip to Kodiak. “It’s pretty amazing. There are 10 people living “It was a memorable night, and a long one, that’s on the earth today because of what you did,” Capt. for sure,” Horning said. Andrew Berghorn, Air Station Kodiak’s current One U.S. Air Force plane had turned away from commander, said at the ceremony. Adak and advised the C-130 crew to do the same. The airmen started their workday on a homecoming “The turbulence was pretty bad, but we didn’t have much choice so we went for it. There were an awful lot of ‘low fuel’ lights on that instrument panel,” Horning said. He also recalled refueling the C-130 after the Coast Guard SUDOKU mission in winds powerful enough that the airplane threatened to lift off the Adak runway. The survivors were picked up by the Russians and delivered to a Soviet port. News accounts say it took almost two weeks of diplomatic efforts on the part of the U.S. to get them home. After awarding Horning’s medal, Berghorn took
Horning and his girlfriend Penny Puhak to one of www.uscg.mil/magazine Kodiak’s C-130s for a brief tour of the airplane, showing off some of the new navigation and communication gear the Coast Guard is using. Berghorn’s cell phone rang in the cockpit. It was for Horning, a congratulatory call from Lt. Bill Porter, who piloted the C-130 during the rescue. The rest of the C-130 crew had been awarded medals at a ceremony in Elizabeth City, N.C., last week. Coast Guard While in the cockpit of the C-130, Horning asked questions about the new aviation electronics, noted that the C-130’s fuel gauges still look the same, and
recounted some of that 23-hour workday in 1978. • Horning was doing two jobs at once, he said, and each Issue 6 time he left the cockpit he would coach the crew’s Fill in the blank spaces in the grid so that every vertical column, every horizontal row and every 3 x 3 box contains navigator on monitoring fuel and altitude with the • the letters C-O-A-S-T-G-U-R-D, without repeating any. The pilots, while he left to try and drop survival gear to the 2006 solved puzzle can be found in the online version of Coast life rafts and floating Navy crew. Guard Magazine at www.uscg.mil/magazine. “There were times when we didn’t know if were going to be in the water with them. In these situations, Please note: If you would like to see the Coast Guard you just don’t know,” he said. SUDOKU puzzle continued in future issue, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected]. Reprinted with permission by the Kodiak Daily Mirror 23 Prep, Prime, Paint!
A pair of deck crewmen apply a fresh coat of paint to the CGC Escanaba’s hull at Integrated Support Command Boston, Aug. 8.
Photo by PA2 Luke Pinneo, 1st Dist.