Northern Lights. Official Publication of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary,

Transcription

1 Northern Lights Official Publication of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, 9 th Eastern Region Division One Robert Ewing Editor, 2nd edition, December, 2008 Division 1 leadership and Staff Officers Division Leadership Robert M. Laurer, Division Commander Richard R. Bauer, Division Vice-Commander Steve O Brien, Flotilla Commander, 1-1 John Nowicki, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-1 Margaret Morgia, Flotilla Commander, 1-2 G.Hale Smith, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-2 Robert Scofield, Flotilla Commander, 1-5 Jackie Scofield, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-5 Cheryl Bauer, Flotilla Commander, 1-6 John Gonzales, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-6 Division Staff Officers Robert Ewing, Publications Officer & Coastie Custodian Mike Estes, Public Education Officer Ralph Bathelt, Marine Safety Officer Gary Kocher, Recreational Boating Safety Officer Robert Scofield, Vessel Examinations Officer Carmella Laurer, Division 1 Secretary Ray Dobmeier, Information Services Officer Richard Bauer, Personnel Services Officer Ben Shiro, Public Affairs Officer Joe MacMartin, Communication Services Officer Edward Seiber, Finance Officer Nancy Rudiger, Immediate Past Division Captain Inside this issue: AWARDS by Lew Wargo Auxiliarists on TV Sackets Harbor RBHS Training Coastie at Fort Drum Captain s Log from Nancy O1-05 Picnic at Station A Bay Upcoming Issues: Coastie pictures Division One COW Meet the USCG Press Briefing at Gander Mtn. MERRY CHRISTMAS 1

2 AWARDS By Commodore Lew Wargo Chairman District 9ER Awards Committee First of all I would like to explain that the awards program exists to recognize and thank those members that have performed in a fashion worthy of recognition. This is true for Coast Guard and Auxiliary awards. It may be for doing something heroic or for just doing their job in a fine manner. Many times it is to recognize a member for just doing their job. This is usually over a prolonged period of time. Who may submit an award recommendation? It may be done by any member of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary; however, it is normally thought to be the responsibility of our leadership at all levels. The form to be used for submitting any award may be found on the District s WEB page. This form must be a part of any recommendation. If a member is not sure of the award that would be appropriate they should simply send it on to the District s Auxiliary Awards Committee and they will find what is most fitting. With the Award Recommendation Form there should be a simple explanation of what was done, when and why you feel it is worthy of recognition. The Awards committee will take it from there! If more information is needed you will be contacted and asked for additional information or clarification. This may be by phone or . Normally, we like to have all recommendations in hand at least 90 days before a conference where the award would be presented. The various Coast Guard Awards can be found in Chapter 11 of the Auxiliary Manual (COMDTINST M series). In addition to these the Commodore may present a Commodore s Plaque of Merit for actions they feel are worthy of recognition. Also, at the Spring Conference we recognize the top performing flotillas (5 top flotillas), the Flotilla Commander of the Year and the Auxiliarist of the Year. These awards are based on the written recommendations of the various division captains. Below listed in descending order of precedence is a simplified explanation of the various Coast Guard Auxiliary Awards, presented by the Coast Guard that you may recommend for a member: 1. Auxiliary Distinguished Service Medal (DSM): Awarded by the Commandant to recognize distinguished and exceptional meritorious service to the entire Coast Guard Auxiliary. 2. Auxiliary Legion of Merit (ALOM): Awarded by the Commandant or any CG Vice Admiral to recognize service comparable to the DSM above but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility. 2

3 Awards Continued 3. Auxiliary Plaque of Merit (APM): Awarded by any Flag officer to an Auxiliarist in recognition of extreme skill in performing an assist or rescue that involves risk to the Auxiliarists life. 4. Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medal (MSM): Awarded by any Flag officer to an Auxiliarist who has contributed exceptional meritorious service to the Coast Guard and/or Auxiliary. 5. Medal of Operational Merit (MOM): Awarded by an Coast Guard Commanding Officer (O6 and above) in recognition of outstanding skill in performing an assist, rescue or other meritorious service where there is no risk to the member s life. 6. Auxiliary Commendation Medal (ACM): Awarded by any Coast Guard Commanding Officer (O6 or above) in recognition of outstanding assistance that furthers any of the Auxiliary s authorized activities, except operations. 7. Auxiliary Achievement Medal (AAM): Awarded by any Coast Guard Commanding Officer (O4 and above) to recognize a member s sustained professional and/or leadership achievements in administration or operations. 8. Auxiliary Commandant Letter of Commendation (ACLOC): Awarded by any Coast Guard Commanding Officer or Directors (O4 or above) in recognition of Auxiliarists serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard or Auxiliary for an act of service resulting in unusual and/or outstanding achievement, whose performance is lesser than that required for the AAM. This may also be used to recognize an Auxiliarist s service/performance for a special event or project. Most of our members do not serve as a means of gaining recognition but for the satisfaction that they get. However, it is nice to receive an award as the Coast Guard s way of saying Thank you or for saying a Job well done! Much of what we do goes unrecognized. The reason for this is that no one realizes it is their responsibility to initiate this process. The leadership has to be told what is going on to initiate an award. It is you the member in the field that sees what is going on around them. If you don t tell anyone, no one will know. The leadership can t be everywhere. Many times members don t initiate an award because they were involved with the service that needs to be recognized. Sometimes we have to initiate an award that includes ourselves in order to recognize our fellow Auxiliarist. I would love to be inundated with award recommendations for our Fall Conference but it will take an effort by all; our District Commodores, the Division Captains, the Flotilla Commanders and even you the member! 3

4 Bob, Ben & Jeff Beth, Bob, Dianne and Jeff Chief Breheny TV Bob Beth Hall, Diane Rutherford and Jeff Cole (WWNY-7) hosted Bob Ewing and Ben Shiro on the early show. Bob and Ben reminded viewers the importance of wearing their life jackets. On the noon broadcast, Brian Breheny the Commanding Officer of the United States Coast Guard Station Alexandria Bay joined Bob. This was the kick-off to the 2008 boating season. 4

5 Sackets Harbor RBHS Training By FSO-PE Joe Wargo On June 5, 2008, Peggy Morgia and Joe Wargo of AUXOP Sackets Harbor departed Syracuse Airport for Grand Haven, Michigan for a 3 day training on the 25 RBHS (Response Boat Homeland Security) Safe Boat. We arrived safely and met up with CWO Kevin Clark, OTO Sector Buffalo. Additionally from 9ER, we met up with Auxiliarists Bill Linder and Peter Medema of AUXOP Sodus Point as well as Auxiliarists Bill Cummings and John Steinbarge from Oneida Lake. All three of these areas are slated to receive the RBHS boats this summer. I felt very lucky to be selected to be one of the six people from 9ER to attend the training. Auxiliarists attending the training came from as far East as Sackets Harbor, NY and as far West as North Dakota! The weekend proved to be action packed and intense. The training began with CMDR Karl Willis leading introductions and providing a background to the program. We quickly moved on to a lecture on trailering and were then given boat crew assignments. A short while later, we proceeded to the launch ramp where we learned just how important boat checks are (someone forgot the keys). Other topics covered the first day included the components of the boat, equipment on board, propulsion systems/engines and completing boat checks. The next morning began sharply at 0700 hours with breakfast on the mess deck followed by boat checks. Once that was completed, GAR scales were calculated and we were underway learning how to maneuver these boats in tight areas, narrow channels and mooring. It was a great morning of practical experience. After lunch in the mess deck, we were again underway all afternoon conducting heaving line drills, towing approaches and stern and alongside tows. Suddenly our training became real as Murphy s Law prevailed. Two of the four boats experienced casualties (one steering and one navigation system) and the other two boats had to tow them in. Unfortunately, the underway night time navigation drill was cancelled when a severe thunderstorm rolled through. However, it was not before we got back down to the boats and worked dockside on the navigation system (SINS package). Here we got to practice with the radar/chart plotter entering waypoints and routes and figuring out how to use these effectively. Sunday morning commenced at 0700 hours with a PFD/Survival Swim at the local YMCA. This was followed by breakfast and boat checks. At 0900 we were again calculating GAR scales as we departed up the river to Spring Lake. Along the way, we put our navigation skills learned the night before into practical use in order to navigate the river. Once there, we conducted numerous Man Over Board Drills, search patterns, and high speed maneuvering. These boats are equipped with twin 225HP, four stroke Honda engines and are capable for 46 knots. We learned that great care has to be exercised when operating at higher speeds to avoid crewman getting injured and/or ejected from the vessel! We returned to the docks at 11:45 and proceeded back to the classroom to debrief with CMDR Willis. All 20+ participants received certificates of completion. Many thanks go to CMDR Willis for having the faith and confidence in the CG Auxiliary to provide these platforms. Additional thanks to CWO Schmidt, OTO Sector Lake Michigan and CWO Clark, OTO Sector Buffalo for coordinating the curriculum. 5

6 Special thanks go to our very talented instructors BMCS Sulski, BMCS Hinga, BMC Draper, and BMC Evans for taking the time from your primary duty stations to spend in training. Finally, thanks to CG Station Grand Haven and the Sector Field Office for your hospitality as well as all those who worked behind the scenes to help keep things running! 6

7 Coastie with his friends: Chaplain Gilbert & Chaplain Tant AT FORT DRUM August 2008 Coastie says He has friends in HIGH places. 7

8 Captains Corner Thank you for your support this year. I would like to commend everyone for the hard work and dedication that produced a safe and productive 2008 boating season. The Auxiliary was out in full force with public education classes, vessel safety checks, and Coastie visits. Members volunteered hundreds of hours and took advantage of weekly training and DBOT training in June with Mr. Clark. Our boating patrols, and being visible on our waterways, were a constant reminder for the boating public to always boat safely. I would also like to thank all members and flotillas for the support of the Division and District this year. It has been a year of changes. The Auxiliary has had to make some majors changes including titles and responsibilities. Rear Commodores are now called a District Captains. In some areas, it has not been easy, but members have worked hard to make the necessary changes to better align with the Coast Guard. Another big change coming for us in the spring of 2009 is the The Symposium," our first ever 3 District Conference. Districts 9ER, 9C, and 9W will work together and share ideas in Pontiac, Michigan in April at a 5-day conference. We hope to see many of you there, as well as at the training conference in Batavia scheduled for the spring. Together we achieve more! Nancy Rudiger District Captain 8

9 Flotilla 15 Picnic Flotilla held a picnic at the Alex Bay station for the Coast Guard s support of our flotilla's operations during the 2008 season--jim McNally was the chef and hot dogs and hamburgers were the fare enjoyed by all. FLOTILLA AT COAST GUARD STATION ALEXANDRIA BAY 9

10 AROUND THE NORTH COUNTRY Coastie visited the Noah s Arc Day Care in Redwood, the Calcium School on Flag Day and the Alexandria Bay Central School. He can t wait to make the rounds next year! 10