The Delta Gateway. Suisun Bay Division Volume XXXVIII Issue 4 Division 5, USCGAUX 11NR December 2007

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1 The Delta Gateway Suisun Bay Division Volume XXXVIII Issue 4 Division 5, USCGAUX 11NR December 2007 From the Quarterdeck: Phil Sanchez DCP5 Wow, did we have a great year or what! Just to reflect a little but we had a terrific start with an outstanding Change of Watch at Jonesy s restaurant with an evening of great steaks, good company, Captain David Swatland with a terrific speech, and many awards were given. Then the year got really rolling with a superb effort in all area s of service to the public. We had 905 hrs of operational Missions with as additional 1,512 hrs of Coast Guard Ops support, 1438 Vessel Exams were given which did not include 920 Marine Dealer visits or 19 Commercial Fishing Vessel Exams, 123 Public Education sessions were completed, and Public Affairs had 83 missions. What a terrific year and these figures are only through November. Member Training even added 5 new instructors, 7 Vessel Examiners, 3 Coxswains, and11 crew. With all the activity on the water we were able to host the District DSAR competition tryouts in which one of our Division members made the team. Next came a very successful Division OPTREX held at Coast Guard Station Vallejo. Boy, what a great turn out where many members had the opportunity to receive classroom instruction and on the water training. Even the regular Coasties participated in assisting in task demonstrations. The regulars were just everywhere with knot tying, patrol search pattern coordinating, P6 pump operation and even firefighting extinguisher discharge training where yours truly was smoked out when the wind changed course. The on-thewater training was exceptional and the next day there were several coxswain and crew candidates qualified by our outstanding District QEs. Of course, not to forget the delicious lunch and dinner provided by the Division. Jeepers, what terrific cooking at the BBQ. Let s see what else, oh yes, many of us managed to attend D- Train in Modesto where our Division was well represented at Fun Night. We just put up such an amazing Luau Hospitality Suite that it just made everyone s heads spin (maybe it was the Mai-Tais). Remember the Whale watching duties we got involved in which was led by our own fearless Whale Watchin Bill Kinsey. It was so wonderful to see so many of our Division members taking the time to participate in assisting the Coast Guard with that amazing surprise visit from Delta & Dawn. Of course, Delta & Dawn are always welcome for a visit, but hopefully not so far up stream next time. Well, after the busy summer of Safety Patrols, Vessel Exam Stations, Public Affairs Booths, Public Education classes, Commercial Vessel inspections, and Coast Guard assistance we all settled down a little bit to a outstanding Division OPEX Tie Out at Brannan Island. I was just overwhelmed that so many in our Division attended despite the weather turning on us with so much rain. But through it all our members managed to get some operational training with outside classroom review, task sign offs, and even time on the water. But I feel the terrific part was the outstanding fellowship with one another throughout the weekend where we had the opportunity to get to know one another a bit better. Let s not forget the The BBQ (who was that unmasked cook) in the evening of Tri Tip Roast and an amazing potluck spread. Of course, the year is coming to a close with a great election of Flotilla and Division leaders. Congratulations to you all. Just don t want to leave out the fabulous December Division Holiday dinner, which turned out to be one of the largest ever. Boy, Oh Boy, what a plentiful amount of food and everyone just had too much fun. Thank you all for such a successful year and I am looking forward to seeing you next year, I wish you and your family the best of holidays! Page 1

2 Delta Gateway December DIVISION 5 HOLIDAY DINNER VALLEJO YACHT CLUB DECEMBER 6, 2007

3 3 NEWS FROM THE MARITME DOMAIN Delta Gateway December 2007 USCG Tactical boat training Instructors from the USCG Special Missions Training Command (SMTC) at Camp LeJeune, NC conducted tactical boat training in November for boat crews from four Coast Guard stations on Connecticut s Thames River. "Its high speed and high risk maneuvering, that's what we're bringing to the table," said Lt. John Kidwell, the SMTC training officer. Henry B. Bigelow, designed in a partnership between NOAA and the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, is one of a few quiet research vessels. With its lower background noise levels, the ship has greatly enhanced ability to use acoustic devices to assess fish stocks. USN aerial boat launch Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen conducted training in December off the Virginia coast with the successful launch of an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) using the Maritime Craft Aerial Deployment System (MCADS). The RHIB and crew launch from a C-130 in flight. USCG photo Six expert coxswains from the United States only military tactical coxswain training school provided mentoring and training for 16 of the stations personnel in maneuvering a boat safely with a hostile vessel on the water, how to communicate effectively, and handling the machine gun. NOAA s quiet research vessel The newly constructed NOAA fishery survey vessel Henry B. Bigelow has exceeded international standards as an acoustically quiet vessel, according to a report released by the U.S. Navy. Acoustic testing was done by the Navy on the ship at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas. USN photo TILT-ROTOR AIRCRAFT DEPLOYS TO IRAQ USMC Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 embarked USS Wasp for a seven-month deployment to Iraq, marking the revolutionary tilt-rotor aircraft s first operational mission. USN photo Henry B. Bigelow NOAA photo The MV-22 Osprey takes off and lands vertically, but flies with fixed-wing speed and range, and replaces the Marines venerable CH-46 and CH-53 helicopters.

4 Delta Gateway December HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM CHIEF DIRAUX CAPT. BARRY SMITH USCG Dear U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, During the Holiday season our lives can get hectic as we become so busy finding and wrapping those perfect gifts, decorating our homes, writing and sending Holiday cards, singing in choirs, arranging last minute travel plans, preparing wonderful treats for our families, and, for some, shoveling snow. As Auxiliarists, you cheerfully undertake all of these Holiday related "taskers" to help keep your home fires burning. Of course, many of you also work or study full time - I don't know how you do it all. It continues to amaze me that you still find the time, the energy, the dedication, and the spirit of giving to your Coast Guard to help take care of the safety and the security of our Nation's waterways and those that use them. I applaud you! As the old year comes to an end and we start anew, please find some time to reflect upon your accomplishments as individual Auxiliarists. What you have done individually and collectively for our country has been truly remarkable and deserving of immeasurable praise and thanks from all Americans. But perhaps more importantly, I urge you to take the time to reflect upon the value of your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and shipmates - and be thankful to all of them for what they have done to help enrich your own life. On behalf of the entire staff of the Auxiliary Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, please allow me to sincerely thank you for all that you have done this year in support of Coast Guard missions. I very, very much wish you and your loved ones the happiest Holiday Season and the very best in the coming New Year! Sincerely, Captain Barry P. Smith U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety (CG-542)

5 5 Delta Gateway December 2007 DISTRICT 11NR CALENDAR For further information on upcoming District 11NR events and deadlines, please see JAN-JUN 2008 DATE EVENT DETAILS JAN 5 COW DIV 5 Jonesy's, Napa Airport FLYER POC: Phil Sanchez DCP JAN 10 NACO Membership Growth Due to DSO-PS to be forwarded to BC-PHA Award, Flotilla & Division Form NMGA-FD JAN 12 COW DIV 1 Location: TBA, POC: Steve Salmon DCP JAN 19 District Board/Staff Meeting CG Island JAN 20 WORKSHOP: Elected Officers CG Island JAN N-TRAIN St. Louis, MO JAN 26 COW DIV 8 Location: TBA, POC: Wayne Farnholtz DCP JAN 31 Auxiliary Unit Financial Report ANSC 7025 Delinquent on MAR 1 Due to Stephen Chan, ADSO-FN FEB 1 District Commodore's Trophy - FC Recommendation Needs to be to DCO by this date FEB 2 WORKSHOP: AN Staff Officers 0830 to 1500, CG Island POC: James Duncan, DSO-AN FEB * PAST CAPT TRAINING FAIR * CG Island FLYER NO REGISTRATIONS AFTER FEB 10 Contact: COMO Gail Ramsey FEB 20 District Board Phone Conference 1900 hours (EXCOM and DCPs) FEB 23 Meeting: Annual QE Mandatory Last Saturday in February Coast Guard Island MAR 1 DSAR: District ISAR Competition Station Vallejo MAR 1 MAR Auxiliary Unit Financial Report Delinquent after this date D-TRAIN District Training Conference & Awards Banquet (D-TRAIN) ANSC 7025 Due to Stephen Chan, ADSO-FN Doubletree Hotel, Modesto, CA APR OPTREX DIV 12 Contact DIV 12 SO-OP APR 15 AIM Applications Deadline for AIM Applications to DSO-CC APR 16 District Board Phone Conference 1900 hours (EXCOM and DCPs) APR OPTREX DIV 5 POC: Phil Sanchez, DCP 5 MAY 2-4 OPTREX Flotilla 39 Antlers, Lake Shasta POC: Charlie Duncan IPDCP MAY 10 District Board and Staff Meeting Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA MAY National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) National Event JUN 1 NACO Membership Growth (5) Award Form NNGA-I (2007) Due to DSO-PS to be forwarded to BC-PHA JUN 1 AUX Recruiting Service (7) Award Form AUX RSA (2007) Due to DSO-PS to be forwarded to DIRAUX JUN 1 NACO 3 Star Award for Excellence in Due to District Diversity Advisor to be forwarded Diversity (2007) to DVC-PD JUN 7 District SAR Competition Location: TBD JUN 18 District Board Phone Conference 1900 hours (EXCOM and DCPs)

6 Delta Gateway December THE DELTA GATEWAY December A quarterly publication of Division 5, USCGAUX 11NR The Delta Gateway is an official informational and educational forum for Division Five, and is published four times a year. Articles published in the Delta Gateway must be consistent with stated policies of the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Deadline to submit articles for publication for the next issue is not later than the Division meeting in: March 2008 at the Vallejo Y.C. Phil Sanchez, Division Captain Denis Eaton, Vice Captain Bill Kinsey, Immediate Past Division Captain Flotilla Commanders: FL 51 Vallejo Michael Dohm FL 52 Napa Charlotte Converse FL 53 North Solano Doug Burke FL 55 Sonoma County Ray Van Cleave FL 57 Diablo Ingemar Olsson Division Staff Officers SO-AN Jim Blackburn SO-MA Lewis Derfuss SO-PE Mike Ungersma SO-CM Kevin Malloy SO-MS Herb Hoeser SO-PS Marlene Phifer SO-CS Hal Libbey SO-MT Ray Van Cleave SO-PV Glenn Hunter SO-FN Mary Smith SO-OP Bob Gallup SO-SR Linda McCarty SO-IS Michael Dohm SO-PA Mike Taylor SO-VE Bob Smith SO-PB Bill Kinsey U.S. Department of Homeland Security United States Coast Guard Auxiliary SO-PB 5 FIRST CLASS MAIL OFFICIAL BUSINESS