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SPRING 2005
VOL. 32, NO. 1
Excellence
Honored
CALIFORNIA FLOTILLA RECEIVES COVETED
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD /
SEE PAGE 20
Telephone numbers and
addresses of members
are protected by the
Privacy Act of 1974. As a
matter of policy, rosters
of names, addresses and
telephone numbers shall
not be made available to
the general public or any
outside organization.
Privacy of all rosters shall
be safeguarded and the
page clearly labeled.
The publication of these
rosters, addresses and
telephone numbers on
any computer on-line
service including the
Internet is prohibited by
the Privacy Act of 1974.
2005
Keeping Super Bowl
XXXIX Safer
3
95-Year-Old
Auxiliarist honored
5
COMOSeibert
6
LCDR Staier, USCG
8
N-TRAIN 2005
10
Flotilla Members Free Up
Over 300 Hours
14
Auxiliarists Play Role in
Search and Rescue effort
17
Photographic Corps
Growing, Changing
18
COVER STORY:
In Search of
Operational Excellence
20
Auxiliarists Help
Inauguration Go Smoothly
26
Aviation Observers Needed
29
Rollin on
the River
31
Reach Out and
Touch the Media
34
Want to Attend
a C School?
35
BoatU.S. Presents Best
Flotilla in the Nation
38
2 Navigator Spring 2005
Contents
SEND SUBMISSIONS TO
Mike Harris, BC-APN
4918 N. Harbor Drive
Suite 201
San Diego, CA 92106
[email protected]
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ON THE COVER
Its a USCG Defender, but the crew is all Auxiliary. Flotilla 8-11s efforts have earned it
the coveted Operational Excellence Award. See Page 20 Photo by Al Pearson, crew trainee
SPRING 2005 VOL. 32, NO. 1
EDITION
DEADLINES
SUMMER
MAY 15
FALL
AUGUST 7
WINTER
NOVEMBER 1
14
18
38
CORRECTION
In the winter issue
of the Navigator the
photo credits for the
stor y "Welcoming
Razorback Home"
should have been
attributed to Bob
Donaldson, 8WR
D15 SO-PA.
Spring 2005 Navigator 3
BY ROB WESTCOTT
BC-APA (Atlantic East)
National Press Corps
Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 6 was
one for the books the New England
Patriots outlasted the Philadelphia
Eagles 24-21 and proved there was a
new football dynasty in town.
While thousands of fans watched the
battle raging in Alltel Stadium in
Jacksonville, Fla., and millions more
viewed the spectacle on television,
records were set and histor y was
made.
But one thing wasnt seen by fans
and players alike: the enormous effor t
made by security personnel includ-
ing Auxiliarists to make sure Super
Bowl XXXIX was played free of any ter-
rorist threat.
Auxiliarists ar rived in Jacksonville
on Jan. 31 for Operation Strong Arm
and were only discharged on Feb. 8
after cr uise ships providing accommo-
dations for thousands of NFL fans left
the por t.
PART 1 THE PLANNING
Planning for Auxiliar y par ticipation
began in October 2004. As he had for
the G8 summit in June 2004, Ed
Callahan RCO-N (D7), headed up
An Auxiliary patrol team joins with a Coast Guard Defender-class boat to escort a power cruiser just before Super
Bowl Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. The Auxiliary provided 12 facilities to help with SAR response and to contact the
boating public about security zones. Photo by Rob Wescott
SEE SUPER BOWLPG. 4
Keeping Super Bowl XXXIX Safe
Auxiliarists and Their Facilities Help
With Security Zones and SAR Response for Super Bowl Safety
4 Navigator Spring 2005
Auxiliar y effor ts. This meant ever y-
thing from determining funding and
manpower allocations from the active
duty, to selecting assets and personnel
for the operation and making sure
their needs were met.
What star ted as an initial request for
42 facilities was reduced to a plan
involving 12 operational facilities.
Because of the more than 40-mile
water area of operations (with three of
four sectors utilizing Auxiliar y assets),
Auxiliarists and their facilities had to
be placed in three staging areas the
Jacksonville Naval Air Station, a Trout
Creek base station, and the Maypor t
Coast Guard Station. Arrangements for
housing, dockage and fuel had to be
made for each location.
A convoy of the majority of assets
and personnel gathered on Jan. 30 in
Holly Hill, Fla. for the trip up to Naval
Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, which
housed the primar y operations com-
mand site. As Auxiliarist Callahan
explained, By going in a convoy,
Auxiliarists had signicant safety and
suppor t advantages.
A TEAM WITHIN A TEAM
After processing at the NAS the
Auxiliar y, Operation Strong Arm team
met with Rear Commodore Callahan
and received their area of responsibili-
ty (AOR). They received their shift as
assignments and then launched their
facilities.
An orientation r un followed. With
facilities placed in their AOR, the team
was now ready to integrate with other
units.
On Feb. 2, all hands involved in the
operation met for an operations brief-
ing. They also received handheld
transceivers for the operation. Mission
and safety zone details were presented
and claried.
The Auxiliar y contingent was now a
team within a much larger team and
operations were about to begin.
Throughout the mission Auxiliarists
would work hand-in-hand with Coast
Guard and other agency assets and
personnel.
Charged with protecting the public
(and in the case of the Auxiliar y, being
eyes and ears and safety ambassadors)
it should have been no surprise that
Auxiliar y vehicles were checked by
security staff on entrance to NAS
Jacksonville.
The rooms of Operation Strong Arm
par ticipants received a thorough sniff-
down by Militar y Watch Dog (MWD)
Caesar before the mission hit prime
time. No bombs or explosives were
found, although Caesar took some
extra time snifng the chocolate chip
and Oreo cookies in one Auxiliarists
room.
FAIR WEATHER SAILORS
NEED NOT APPLY
For the three of the rst four days of
Operation Strong Arm, rain, cold, wind
and fog were the regular companions
of the mission. Visibility at times was
minimal in the fog.
Cabins and canvas were as precious
as gold; Mustang suits, oat coats and
thermals were the order of the day.
Safety was paramount throughout
the mission. Although two other agen-
cies each experienced a serious
mishap, no Auxiliar y facilities were
damaged or personnel injured.
RISING TO THE TASK
Auxiliar y assets and personnel per-
formed a variety of tasks.
In the sectors manned by Auxiliar y
facilities, civilian boaters and commer-
cial craft were informed of security
zones and r ules and were advised how
to make proper contact for permission
to traverse restricted areas.
Mostly what we did was to educate
the public on security zones, Auxiliar y
Coxswain Gar y Ford said.
Auxiliarists ser ved as eyes and ears
for other agencies, contacting Marine
Operations when there was question-
able or suspicious activity.
In one sector, Auxiliar y facilities fer-
ried Coast Guard boarding teams from
ships they had boarded back to their
staging area, and then back to Group
Maypor t.
A RICH EXPERIENCE
AND GRACIOUS HOSTS
Auxiliar y Coxswain Br uce Card
summed up the feelings of the
Auxiliar y contingent when he
remarked that, Its a good challenge.
It gives you a chance to put what
youve learned to use.
Outside their well-known normal
areas of operation, Auxiliarists relied
on the navigation skills they had
learned in coxswain and specialty
course training.
Coast Guard active duty personnel
went out of their way to thank
Auxiliarists for their par ticipation and
to provide assistance as needed.
John McKinley, Auxiliar y Coxswain
of facility Nepenthe, was quick to give
kudos to Coast Guard MK3 Moorer
and MK2 Caban. Moorer and Caban
eagerly came to the aid of McKinley
when the steering cable of his 25-foot
Arcadia inboard broke. As soon as the
SUMMARY OF AUXILIARY ACTIVITY
AT SUPER BOWL XXXIX
Personnel: 24 Auxiliar y vessel operators and crew.
Facilities: 12 Auxiliar y vessels.
Number of patrols: 69, which totaled 552 patrol hours over six days.
Stand-by: Auxiliarists stood 752 hours of one-hour recall over the six-day
period.
Total hours away from home for Auxiliarists: 5,544 hours over 10 days
(includes travel).
Land Support: One Auxiliar y driver that drove for a total of 1626 miles.
SUPER BOWL
continued from page 3
SEE SUPER BOWLPG. 5
Spring 2005 Navigator 5
is the official magazine of the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
www.cgaux.org
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
National Commodore
COMO Gene M. Seibert,
NACO
National Vice Commodore
COMO Steven M. Budar,
NAVCO
National Area Commodore -
Atlantic East
COMO Nicholas Kerrigan,
ARCO-A(E)
National Area Commodore -
Atlantic West
COMO Kenneth J. Koeppen,
ARCO-A(W)
National Area Commodore - Pacific
COMO Dan F. Neiderhiser,
ARCO-P
Immediate Past National Commodore
COMO E.W. (Bill) Edgerton,
IPNACO
Chief Director of the Auxiliary
CAPT Barry P. Smith USCG
DIRECTORATE COMMODORES
National Directorate Commodore
for Operations and Marine Safety
COMO Helmut Hurtle,
NADCO-OMS
National Directorate Commodore
for Member Services
COMO Fred Gates,
NADCO-MS
National Directorate Commodore
for Recreational Boating Safety
COMO Warren E. McAdams,
NADCO-RBS
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Department Chief
Nick Tarlson,
DC-A
Editor, Navigator
Mike Harris,
BC-APN
Copyright 2005
Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
All rights are reserved. No portion of this
publication can be copied or otherwise be
used without written permission of the editor.
NAVIGATOR is an official informational
and educational tool for the U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary and is intended as a
training vehicle and publication to keep
the membership and the U.S. Coast Guard
apprised of the activities of the Auxiliary.
Accordingly, all articles published in
NAVIGATOR must be consistent with the
stated policies of the U.S. Coast Guard and
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. All articles
and pictures submitted to NAVIGATOR
become the property of the Coast Guard
Auxiliary Association, Inc.
Navigator
More Than 5,900 Vessel Inspections
95-YEAR-OLD AUXILIARIST HONORED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
Auxiliarist Leonard Lesnik, of Nor th Palm Beach, Fla., member of U.S. Coast
Guard Flotilla 52 of Jupiter, Fla. for the past 29 years, was honored Feb. 17 for
his dedicated ser vice to the boating public. Between 1989 to1999, Lesnik had in
excess of 5,900 vessel inspections under his belt and has kept at it ever since.
par ts were secured, they made the need-
ed repairs, and their vessel was back on
the water.
Jacksonville reghters from Station
38 (Trout River) were praised by
Auxiliarists McKinley, and Gar y Ford
(Coxswain, Auxiliar y facility Sand-
Castle) for their gracious hospitality
towards the Auxiliarists operating out
of their station.
I was ver y impressed with the hospi-
tality of the Navy Lodge and Mulber r y
Cove Marina staffs. They were more
than accommodating and willing to
help in any way, said Sue Smith Flotilla
45 Commander.
This operation was so huge, and I
was honored to have been a par t of it,
said Smith.
In addition, Coast Guard Station
Maypor t requested Division 14 (D7) of
Jacksonville, Fla. to cover all SAR activi-
ty in their AOR from the period of Jan.
29 to Feb. 8.
Division 14 provided eight opera-
tional facilities on bravo-zero status
with some at the Maypor t Station. All
members that par ticipated were cer ti-
ed Marine Security (MARSEC) level
3. All had undergone ve months of
special training at Station Maypor t.
Through the program, all of the MAR-
SEC 3 cer tied members achieved
FIRST RESPONDER medical training
status.
SUPER BOWL
continued from page 4
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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6 Navigator Spring 2005
It has been about three and-a-half
years since 9/ 11 and the global war on
terrorism ofcially began shor tly
thereafter. Soon we will, as a nation, be
ghting a conict that has lasted
longer than World War I and World
War II. An impor tant question has
been asked: Are we succeeding in this
global war on terrorism?
If success is measured in terms of
have there been an additional terrorist
attacks on our shores? the answer is -
yes - we have been successful. We are
standing the watch and continue to rise
to the occasion each and ever y day.
From the container ships to the com-
munications center, Auxiliarists all over
the countr y are meeting and often
exceeding the needs of the Coast
Guard. We have become an integral par t
of the fabric of the shield of freedom.
I am proud of what we do and what
weve done, not just in our new home-
land security related tasks, but in our
traditional RBS missions as well. Weve
stretched ourselves and have success-
fully risen to the occasion again and
again. While we should take a measure
of satisfaction in our success, we must
remain diligent and be careful to not
fall victim to complacency, or become
too comfor table with our success.
Exactly what is complacency? In his
book, The Leadership Secrets of Colin
Powell, Oren Harari calls complacency
... an organizational vir us. Left
unchecked, it gradually immobilizes
people. Harari argues that eventually,
when left unchecked, complacency can
morph into more deadly organizational
diseases like delusion, arrogance, or a
feeling of invincibility.
What are some of the ramications
of complacency? In shor t, complacency
results in sub-optimum decisions.
Some of the more obvious conse-
quences include:
G waiting on PSI clearance on
prospective members before
engaging them in member training
and other otilla activities,
G only teaching BS&S when the
boating public wants shor ter cours-
es, or a choice between multi-les-
son or one-day courses.
G when an experienced Vessel
Examiner neglects to check the
boats ventilation system while per-
forming a Vessel Safety Check,
G when a coxswain or a pilot neglects
to r un through a pre-under way
checklist, or no longer perceives
the urgency and impor tance of the
mission.
The Next
Challenge:
COMBATING COMPLACENCY
COMPLACENCY: Quiet satisfaction; contentment,
often self-satisfaction, or smugness.
The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger. - SHAKESPEARE
COMMODORE
GENE M.
SEIBERT
NATIONAL
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Spring 2005 Navigator 7
G taking the attitude of wait and see, or
this has been tried before without suc-
cess, did not work then, and will not
work now, instead of taking a pro-
active posture and helping to make
things happen.
While our member training programs
and required annual workshops are
designed to avoid these obvious examples
of complacency, the dangers of complacen-
cy go far beyond those examples.
Much like a water-laden log lying just
below the sur face, complacency is a vulner-
ability lurking just out of sight, always an
ever-present danger. Just as a complacent
lookout can result in a steering or prop
casualty, a similar disaster can befall an
organization that becomes complacent - we
can be sent out of control, without power
or direction, or even worse - someone may
perish.
The tr ue danger of complacency is that
when we become complacent, the fabric of
the shield of freedom begins to tear away.
When were complacent, we fail to notice
that boat anchored near a power plant, or
neglect to notice that a crew member who
doesnt have their PFD zipped up while
handling lines on the bow. In shor t, com-
placency undermines our commitment to
excellence and renders us ineffective by
simply going through the motions, without
a sense of mission or purpose.
How do we combat complacency?
Complacency is defeated by effective lead-
ership at ever y level (and all of us are
leaders to one degree or another). We
need leaders who can see around cor-
ners, are constantly challenging the sta-
tus quo, looking for better ways to do
things, and lear ning to be agents of
change. They challenge smugness and
ar rogance, and have a healthy dose of
skepticism blended with an ample amount
of optimism.
Moreover, we need leaders who ask the
tough questions that keep ever yone on
their toes. These leaders are not afraid of
what Colin Powell calls the untidy tr uth.
According to Powell, untidy tr uth is better
than smooth lies that unravel in the end
anyway.
Avoiding complacency requires sus-
tained focus over the long haul. However,
we must also be good stewards of our
assets and personnel, as burnout can often
become an unnecessar y casualty of sus-
tained vigilance. Moreover, we must
remain exible and yet maintain a delicate
balance between our traditional missions
and our new homeland security related
duties.
It has often been said, Change is
inevitable. Growth is optional. We can
think of complacency as change without
growth, either as a person or as an organi-
zation. When change occurs without cor-
responding growth, we can become weak
and ineffective, and possibly even perish.
It is our duty - each of us, not just the
leadership - to motivate others and keep
them vigilant and focused and avoid com-
placency. By maintaining a focused, sus-
tained, and vigilant force, we remain an
effective deter rent to ter rorism and are
thus a signicant component in the shield
of freedom.
While it is tempting to revel in our suc-
cesses thus far, we must avoid the tempta-
tion for it is the sustained lifesaving vigi-
lance, in recreational boating safety or
security missions, which will hold safe the
citizens of this nation for generations to
come.
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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8 Navigator Spring 2005
(Editors note: As his tour of duty in
the Chief Directors office winds down,
LCDR Mike Staier reflects on whats
been accomplished in air and surface
operations during his tour).
In the summer 2002 issue of the
Navigator, I wrote an ar ticle after
being the Auxiliar y Air Branch Chief
for three months. I outlined some
goals and a timeline for reaching
those goals.
While it quickly became apparent
that the timeline was a bit aggressive,
we were able to accomplish many
projects that I think have set the
Auxiliar y OPs program up for contin-
ued success. Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) and outdated policy
guidance required much attention fol-
lowed closely by Standard Auxiliar y
Maintenance Allowance (SAMA) and
operational standardization.
My goal in this ar ticle is two-fold:
rst, Id like to recap some of our
major successes over the past three
years and set the framework for the
future of the OPs programs, and Id
like to express my sincere gratitude for
the personal and professional growth
youve afforded me during this tour.
I walked in the door of G-OCX
knowing only a ver y small piece of
Auxiliar y operations in the form of
D1s Auxiliar y air program. As my
responsibilities ramped up and our
staf f size decreased, I lear ned more
and more what the Auxiliar y opera-
tions program was all about, primari-
ly under the tutelage of
Commodores George Jeandheur and
Bob Colby; the OPs Deputy at the
time, Linda Nelson and the Aviation
Branch Chief, Jim Jacobsen.
While some of these folks have
moved on, theyve been replaced by
ver y talented folks such as
Commodore Helmut Her tle, Dave
Elliot, Bob Shafer, Mark Simoni, and
Ned Kreoker, and of course Linda
has moved up into the OPs
Depar tment Chief position. The tire-
less work of Chuck Stakus and Bob
Platt has tr uly been invaluable.
AIR PROGRAM
Early ef for t focused primarily on
the Auxiliar y Air program because I
had not yet assumed the duties of the
entire OPs program. We were on the
backside of a fatal Auxiliar y air
mishap and I and others were ver y
motivated not to let the sacrifice of
these Auxiliar y aviators and their
families be in vain. Through the
Commandants Aviation Safety Board
(CASB) process, we took the oppor-
tunity to thoroughly review not only
the details sur rounding this accident,
but the entire Auxiliar y air program.
What we found, in shor t, was a
need to focus on standardization and
the need to understand that theres a
real dif ference between ying the typ-
ical FAA-type prole and ying Coast
Guard-assigned missions and set the
gover ning policies accordingly.
This realization has led to several
things including: the two-pilot r ule
and the later modification of this
r ule, the creation of the Auxiliar y Air
Standardization Team which led to,
among other things, standardized syl-
labi, improved language in the
Auxiliar y OPs Policy Manual and a
much improved Auxiliar y Air
Training Manual, now under contract
and due out in July 2005.
LCDR
MIKE STAIER
CHIEF DIRECTORS
OPERATIONS
DIVISION CHIEF
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A Look Back,
a Guide Ahead
A PARTING SHOT FROM THE CHIEF
DIRECTORS OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEF
SURFACE PROGRAM
There are many similarities
between the sur face and air sides of
the house. One main dif ference, how-
ever, is that safety and standardiza-
tion policy shor tcomings are often
more costly and dramatic on the air
side than the sur face side.
Nonetheless, safe and standardized
sur face operations are critical to
many missions and of course to the
operators themselves.
With this in mind, the Sur face
Standardization Team has recently
been created. Like the air side stan-
dardization team, this team is respon-
sible for reviewing cur rent policy and
recommending future policy to enable
us to have a safer, more standardized
sur face OPs program. I have had the
great for tune of working with three
superb Master Chiefs during my tour.
These include MCPO Dale Potvin,
MCPO Glenn Wilson and MCPO
Gar y Jensen. Chief John Dingley, a
highly motivated individual, will be
joining our OCX team this summer.
I think our greatest achievements
from the G-OCX perspective have
been the attainment of PPE funding
through effor ts led by our Deputy,
CDR Chris Olin; input to the Auxiliar y
Manual and toward the Personnel
Security Program and the progress
weve made in climbing the hill
toward a fully funded SAMA program.
Also, the creation of the Auxiliar y
Cuttermans program, Operational
Excellence program, the Personal
Water Craft program, updating the
Auxiliar y Boatcrew Training manual
and OPs policy manual, the brief but
successful use of Utility Boat, Light -
Temporar y (UTL-Ts) and the kick-off
of a Paddlecraft pilot program have
headlined sur face OPs successes.
THE FUTURE
Where do we go from here? We
have laid solid groundwork for con-
ducting safe operations in the
Auxiliar y. The way ahead includes
getting the most out of our standardi-
zation teams, branching out into new
areas of operations and leveraging
existing and creating new technolo-
gies to better enable us to suppor t
cur rent and future missions.
The question of how to manage
growth so we can meet the needs of
the public and the Coast Guard is a
work in progress. We have to balance
the requirements of each program
(CG need, cur rency maintenance,
etc.) with available and future fund-
ing. This is no small challenge. What
do we do when we have a motivated
potential new member, but lack
resources to train or keep them cur-
rent? What is the right size of our
operational fleet?
THANKS TO YOU
Let me close by sincerely thanking
you, the members, and the previous
and cur rent National Staff. I have
lear ned so much about what it takes to
be a volunteer; the drive, the motiva-
tion, the resources and the love of
Countr y and ser vice. I am in complete
awe of you and the effor t you put into
the Auxiliar y organization and the sup-
por t of Coast Guard missions. I cor re-
spond with you during all hours of the
day, night and weekends and feel the
satisfaction of doing my job well. But
wait, Im getting paid for this!
You are initiating and replying to
cor respondence, teaching classes,
visiting dealers, suppor ting units,
patrolling the skies, water ways and
radio waves on your own time and in
most cases on your own nickel
Incredible! Farewell; bask in the
glor y of your successes, lear n and
grow from the rough patches, and
know that the Coast Guard absolute-
ly could not do it without you!
Spring 2005 Navigator 9
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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10 Navigator Spring 2005
N-TRAIN 2005:
Charting the Course for
the Auxiliarys Future
BY ED SWEENEY
DC-Ad
It is common knowledge that a savvy
navigator plans in advance and lays out
a course for the upcoming cr uise.
In a similar fashion, the National
Executive Committee, district com-
modores, and select members of the
national staff, along with selected dis-
trict staff ofcers (DSOs), gathered
recently in St. Louis, Mo. for the
National Training Conference (N-
TRAIN).
At the conference, plans were made
regarding the direction of the
Auxiliar y for the year ahead. DSOs
armed themselves with knowledge and
information to train their colleagues
back in their respective districts.
The theme of this years N-TRAIN
was Maritime Domain Awareness
(MDA), said National Commodore
Gene Seiber t. He noted that this would
be a continued area of emphasis for
the foreseeable future.
Seiber t continued, I want to discuss
something I feel is ver y impor tant,
something that binds us together in a
common cause and makes us who and
what we are.
For 65 years, the Auxiliar y has
done the tasks assigned to it by the
Coast Guard. Weve done them well.
We know that and so does the Coast
Guard, he said. Seiber t then summa-
rized all of the various types missions
Auxiliarists per form throughout the
year.
Weve been there, done that and
done it again and again and well
keep doing it, training, patrols, class-
room or administrative tasks, hum-
dr um or crashing reality, because
thats what we do. Its what the Coast
Guard expects us to do and more
impor tantly, its what we expect us to
do, he said.
Even more will be expected of
Auxiliarists, Seiber t said.
One of those tasks, Marine Domain
Awareness, is a lot like the mythical
bird, the Phoenix, which never dies
but rises up again and again from its
ashes, renewed, he continued. The
Phoenix ies far ahead to the front,
always scanning the landscape and dis-
tant space.
It represents our capacity for vision,
for collecting sensor y information
about our environment and the events
unfolding within it, he said.
Seiber t stated, We are the rst line.
We are out there, doing what we
always do but with an added responsi-
bility to help safeguard lives, proper ty
and our nation from fur ther terrorist
threat.
However, in winding up his remarks,
Seiber t urged the membership to
remain vigilant, and cautioned them to
avoid the natural tendency to be com-
National Commodore Gene M. Seibert urged N-TRAIN attendees to remain
vigilant in their duties. Photo by Mel Borofsky, DVC-AP
Spring 2005 Navigator 11
placent and comfor table, and to make
our missions routine.
We have come a long way. We have
set our direction, we have char ted our
course. Now the race is on, Seiber t
said, and with your and our member-
ships commitment and continued sup-
por t, we will, as we have for the past 65
years, contribute to the safety and
security of our nation.
Capt. Barr y Smith, CHDIRAUX,
promised that he or members of the
Chief Directors staff will be attending
the district conferences to help work
on such issues as the Standard
Auxiliar y Maintenance Allowance
(SAMA), UTL-T issues, District budget
models, fuel issues, PSI, and uniform
issues. We on the Gold Side are dedi-
cated to suppor ting the Auxiliar y, he
said.
Rear Adm. David Kunkel, Director of
Operations Capabilities (G-OC),
addressed the assembly saying On
behalf of Adm. Collins, Id like to thank
the Auxiliar y for a job well done last
year. He fur ther complimented the
Auxiliar y for their continued emphasis
on training, which of course is the
focal point of N-TRAIN.
Kunkel said his previous association
with the Auxiliar y had been positive.
He cited his experience with the
Auxiliar y while ser ving at Group
Astoria. He recalled a special event
where the active duty had assembled
all their forces around buoy 10 for an
annual shing tournament, and noted
that their forces were not sufcient.
We needed help, and the Auxiliar y
was there, he said.
Kunkel said that from Adm. Collins
on down, we realize and appreciate
what the Auxiliar y does for the Gold
Side in suppor t of Maritime Security.
In the aviation community we train
and train for the unexpected. This is
similar to what you are doing here at
N-TRAIN, said Kunkel.
He praised the newly created AUX-15
Auxiliar y liaison ofcers course as an
excellent example of this dedication.
Although there is still work to be
done, the successful par tnering of
Auxiliar y and active duty aviation
resources into one community has
been accomplished, he said.
Kunkel praised these and other
Auxiliar y training programs that will
provide great training oppor tunities,
including such topics as Americas
Water way Watch program coming up
in Orlando, Fla. to RBS Program visitor
training and testing available online.
The combination of these and other
training topics with other recr uiting
and retention effor ts, leads to overall
Auxiliar y capability to suppor t a full
spectr um of authorized Coast Guard
missions, he said.
Retaining and recr uiting the right
people and giving them the right tools
to do their job effectively is a force
multiplier for the Coast Guard, said
Kunkel.
This years N-TRAIN conference included a display of equipment available to Auxiliary members.
Photo by Mel Borofsky, DVC-AP
SEE N-TRAINPG. 12
12 Navigator Spring 2005
He said that in an age of competing
projects, such as Deepwater, MDA,
etc. It is a comfor ting thought that I
work with a 32,000 member volunteer
organization capable of providing such
a wide range of ser vices. You make my
job of providing the Coast Guard with
relevant capabilities that much easier.
Rear Adm. James C. Van Sice, direc-
tor of reser ve and training, addressed
the assembly, which featured a discus-
sion and PowerPoint presentation
highlighting the way ahead.
Van Sice recounted the differences
between the Coast Guard and the
other ser vices. With pride he stated
that in the Coast Guard, personnel are
usually asked to do more at ever y
level. We often ask the impossible. It
doesnt stop. We ask a lot of you,
whether you wear silver or gold, and
we ask a lot of you whether youre
star ting out, or whether youve been
doing it for awhile.
One of the things Im par ticularly
proud of when I talk to my
Depar tment of Defense brethren is our
Coast Guard Auxiliar y, continued Van
Sice. When I tell them that we have
approximately 32,000 members who
volunteer their time without pay and
assist us in per forming our missions,
frankly their jaws drop. They would
like to know how we (the Coast
Guard) do that. I am proud of that afl-
iation, and to tell the Auxiliar y stor y
inside the Pentagon. And it gets the
attention of senior leaders there.
Van Sice went on to say that In cer-
tain regions, if you were to be rescued
by the Coast Guard, for instance on
the Ohio River, there is almost no
chance of the rescuers shoulder
boards being gold. Contributions made
by Auxiliarists throughout the hear t-
land are phenomenal.
Fur thermore Van Sice said, In any
case, Id like to express my personal
thanks for all that the Auxiliar y does
each day in suppor t of active duty
training effor t. We are in a rapidly
changing training environment. It is
transformational.
He commended the Auxiliar y for
their unselsh contributions to the
Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)
program. People who go to AIM 60
percent turn into completed applica-
tions. It is, by far, our best recr uiting
tool for the Coast Guard Academy and
our best tool for nding the Coast
Guard ofcers we need for the future.
It is a proven program, he said.
Van Sice stated that one of our
biggest challenges ahead will be to
develop e-learning and e-testing capa-
bilities that suppor t all members of
Team Coast Guard.
This is a Commandant mandate,
and is an impor tant initiative in line
with the Commandants watch words
of readiness, people, and stewardship,
he said. He commended the Training
Depar tments emphasis on e-learning
technologies, and for their extensive
suppor t of active duty training pro-
grams.
The way ahead for transforming tra-
ditional training to state of the ar t to
new e-learning and e-testing will take
time. But we are on our way as an
organization, with the Auxiliar y as a
key component of our development
and implement strategy, he said.
Van Sice suggested the Auxiliar y
explore an e-learning group that would
meet ever y six months to share suc-
cess: Lets capitalize on our collective
brain power and advance this par tner-
ship quickly and effectively.
Your broad based talent and exper t-
ise have enabled us to ratchet up its
readiness posture, continued Van Sice.
Lets keep nding ways to work
together to combine our exper tise,
passion and spirit. The potential impact
is signicant.
Commodore Seiber ts watchwords
of ready, responsive, and resolute are
most tting for the way ahead. I look
for ward to continuing my involvement
with the Auxiliar y as I assume my new
role as Superintendent at the Coast
Guard Academy. I want to personally
thank you for the dedication, pride and
patriotism you display with your self-
less devotion, he said.
In summation, Van Sice said, The
Coast Guard and the United States of
America need the assets and capabili-
Capt. Barry Smith, CHDIRAUX, promised that he or members of the chief
directors staff will be attending district conferences to help work out
issues. Photo by Mel Borofsky, DVC-AP
N-TRAIN
continued from page 11
Spring 2005 Navigator 13
ties of the worlds nest and most dedi-
cated volunteer organization. Together
we have and will accomplish much.
Another upcoming challenge, for the
active duty side and Auxiliar y alike, is
the concept of sectorization. Capt.
Dean Lee, Chief Boat Forces, led a
discussion on what he called Sector
101.
Lee described sectorization as the
end of marine safety (M) and opera-
tions (O) as we know it. Its about
bringing together human resources,
logistics, and assets/ resources.
Basically the sector concept makes
sense.
Lee stated that the sectorization
plan calls for combining the existing 43
Groups with the existing 52 Marine
Safety Ofces (MSOs) into approxi-
mately 40 sectors. Sectors will resem-
ble somewhat the concept of
Activities that were in place in New
York, Baltimore, and San Diego.
The sectorization process will take
place over the next two years. said
Lee. Even though this greatly reduces
the number of command billets in the
Coast Guard, it still makes good busi-
ness sense.
Lee described the sector as having
three depar tments of sor t: (1) preven-
tion; (2) response; and (3) logistics.
Many, but not all of the MSO mis-
sions have been prevention, and many
but not all of the groups missions have
been response, said Lee. What sec-
tors basically will do is categorize per-
sonnel and assets into prevention,
response, or logistics activities/ mis-
sions. The sector is process based, not
program based.
The sector concept represents a
major cultural change, said Lee.
Each side (M and O) initially thinks
theyre losing something, he added.
In order for this to succeed, were
going to need great leadership. Ther
bottom line is, sectors are all about
command and control, and no Coast
Guard-owned facilities will be lost.
Lee also noted the Auxiliar y will play
a key role in the sector concept.
There will be a senior-level
Auxiliarist working with the sector
commander. We are currently rening
their duties and responsibilities. But
you can rest assured; the Auxiliar y will
be a key component in the overall suc-
cess of sectors, he said.
Bear with us, Lee asked, There
will be kinks that need to be ironed
out. I am asking you as Auxiliarists to
tr y to understanding the changing
roles that sectors will bring.
In sum, Lee asked the Auxiliar y to
think outside the box and be a disci-
ple of sectors. Moreover, he conclud-
ed by asking the Auxiliar ys senior
leadership to begin now to realign
themselves to better integrate them-
selves into the sector str ucture.
For more information from the
depar tments, visit
http:/ / www.auxpa.org/ ntrain05 . For
additional N-TRAIN coverage, includ-
ing photos and more ar ticles, visit
http:/ / teamcoastguard.org/ 2005/ NTr
ain05/ NTrain05.htm .
Dick Clinchy, DC-E, offered seminar attendees some of the latest thinking
about public education. Photo by Mel Borofsky, DVC-AP
Karel Kester receives a Trident award from Commander Suzanne Engelbert
from MSO St. Louis. Photo by Ed Sweeney, DC-Ad
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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14 Navigator Spring 2005
When they are not ying,
the active duty workforce is
fully employed with HU-25 and
HH-60 maintenance responsi-
bilities. The regular presence
of trained volunteers to
assume critically impor tant
administrative functions has
had an extremely positive
effect on aircraft and crew
readiness postures.
Working together in cohe-
sive teams, Auxiliar y volun-
teers dedicate as much as 15
hours per week to administra-
tive tasks related to aircraft
maintenance.
One of the rst and most suc-
cessful projects this team took
on was the monthly audit of the
aircraft maintenance logbooks
for the eight aircraft assigned
to Air Station Cape Cod.
Working teams of two, these
Auxiliarists compared the com-
puter printed conguration
repor ts of all installed compo-
nents to the detailed compo-
nent histor y repor ts. Ensuring
that the lists of installed com-
ponents matched the compo-
nent histor y repor ts was an
arduous task requiring great
attention to detail.
An accurately per formed
logbook audit required that
each component be cross
checked for the proper serial
number and par t number
against two computer generat-
ed repor ts for all major air-
frame and engine instillations.
With over 240 such compo-
nents per aircraft, this monthly
review normally consumes
eight to ten man hours per
month.
Another vital maintenance
suppor t role that the
Auxiliar y recently per formed
was a comprehensive audit of
the technical publications
librar y.
Semi-annual audits of the
technical publications librar y
are required to ensure that
vital technical publications are
updated with the latest revi-
sions. Not only did the dedi-
cated Auxiliar y team complete
the audit, they also per formed
several page changes to air-
craft technical manuals that
are used by technicians on a
regular basis.
The Auxiliar y team drew
Valued Service
Flotilla Members Free Up More than
300 Active Duty Man Hours at CGAS Cape Cod, Mass.
CAPE COD-Members of Auxiliar y Flotilla
11-08 D1NR just surpassed the one year mile-
stone in their volunteer ser vice to Coast
Guard Air Station Cape Cod.
A dedicated team of seven Auxilarists has
been providing an extremely valuable ser vice
in the Aviation Engineering Depar tment of
Air Station Cape Cod since November 2003.
By per forming administrative tasks, which
require meticulous attention to detail and fre-
quent repetition, they freed up over 300 work
hours that would have other wise been a bur-
den on the over tasked active duty workforce.
Aircraft maintenance technicians, who also
ser ve as ight crewmembers, are frequently
task-saturated with ying duties related to
search and rescue, law enforcement, and
Homeland Security missions.
SEE SERVICEPG. 16
Spring 2005 Navigator 15
On several occasions leaving together late, Emile, Neil, and I would stop and linger
around the aircraft ... no one around. We had the place all to ourselves. A common feeling we
spoke about was how accepted we were by the crew. While I shared the feeling, I was amazed
listening to these two men who have given so much of themselves and their lives to our country,
speak about how the Air Station crews felt about us, went out of there way to talk to us,
and to say how much they appreciated our efforts. We would talk about how fortunate and
how honored we were to be part of such a special and dedicated effort. In those quiet
moments of reection under the strong hanger lights, we three knew we were part
of Team Coast Guard, and how lucky we were to still be able to contribute.
I knew this was true in my heart, but I never thought about saying it out loud.
No paycheck could ever be greater.
- PAUL NEVOSH, FLOTILLA 11-08 D1NR
Flotilla 11-08 members (from left to right) Steve Cochran, Neil Maher and Paul Nevosh, team leader, are seen doing
the monthly aviation computerized maintenance (ACMS) logbook reviews for CGAS Cape Cod. Photo by Lt. Nelson Brandt
16 Navigator Spring 2005
from their diverse work experience to
develop processes that increased the
efciency of each hour dedicated to
administrative actions. In the classic
case of working smar ter to avoid the
need to work harder, they created a
photographic archive of all tools
requiring calibration and cataloged
them in an easy to use binder. This
made tracking tool locations and cali-
bration inter vals much easier.
With aircraft tools and avionics test
sets distributed among ve different
shops and two separate hangars, the
Auxiliar y team had a daunting task
ahead of them.
For tunately, their previous work
experience lent itself well to the ardu-
ous task and they made great
progress. One of their rst initiatives
was to catalog each tool according to
its location and function in a binder
complete with digital photographs
which they took themselves. This
greatly eased the burden of sor ting
through the Precision Measurement
Equipment Lab (PMEL) repor t which
lists the items that were due for cali-
bration.
By relieving active duty members of
cer tain administrative functions, the
Auxiliar y team has signicantly
enhanced productivity and morale.
Auxiliar y members committed over
400 hours in direct suppor t of aviation
maintenance activities. Representing a
signicant depar ture from the tradi-
tional uses of Auxiliar y members at air
stations, the innovative management
practices of this Auxiliar y team made
it possible for active duty members to
be relieved of suppor t roles and
assigned to maintenance or ight
related tasks.
This was only possible because the
highly talented Auxiliar y team gained
the skill and ability to act autonomous-
ly within the scope of their responsibil-
ities after receiving initial training and
guidance from active duty members.
The Auxiliar y members also repre-
sent a degree of continuity that, as a
result of frequent job rotations within
the enlisted workforce, has historically
resulted in frequent lear ning cur ves.
Realizing the impact of their commit-
ment, technicians on the hangar deck
accept the Auxiliar y members as par t
of the team that makes Air Station
Cape Cod one of the best units in the
Coast Guard.
Please accept
my gratitude for
the outstanding
support you provided
this command over
the past year.
By working in support
of the Aviation Engineering
Department, you enabled
my active duty workforce to
focus on projects requiring
their specialized technical
skill and training.
While administrative
roles are still vital to
the efcient operation
of any organization,
they are among the rst to
be neglected during periods
of heavy workload.
Your assistance to our
organization assured
this would not be
the case here.
CAPT DAVID S. BRIMBLECOM
Commanding Officer
CGAS Cape Cod
SERVICE
continued from page 14
Paul Nevosh, Neil Maher and Steve Cochran stand in front of some of the
aircraft at CGAS Cape Cod for which they review maintenance logbooks.
Photo by Lt. Nelson Brandt
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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Spring 2005 Navigator 17
BY ROB WESTCOTT
BC-APA (Atlantic East)
National Press Corps
Four Coast Guard Auxiliar y airmen
from Auxiliar y Flotilla 44 D7 in
Daytona Beach, Fla., on their way back
from training at Air Station Savannah,
played a key role in the search and res-
cue of a downed plane near Br unswick,
Ga. on Sunday Feb. 14.
We had just clicked off from Hunter
Field Tower, remarked Mike Renuar t
BC-OAC/ FE, an aircraft commander
and member of the Flotilla 44 crew.
Savannah Approach Control, Renuar t
said, aler ted the Auxiliar y Aircraft that
there was a repor t of a downed plane
20 miles from their location and told
the Auxiliarists, We need your help.
Aircrew member Gar y Ford, who
manned the aircraft VHF radio for this
SAR, commented, We found that guy
so fast it went bing, bang, boom, and
noted that the Auxiliar y aircraft only
made one turn before coming on the
downed plane.
We didnt even have time to star t a
SAR (search and rescue) pattern,
Ford said.
Involvement of the Auxiliar y facility
at an early stage of this search came
from a subtle nuance of procedure,
which had been a par t of the weekend
training for the Auxiliarists.
By identifying itself as an Auxiliar y
facility rather than by civilian identica-
tion to the Savannah Approach Control,
The facility was immediately seen by
the controller as a SAR resource, and
asked to par ticipate in the search,
commented crewmember and aircraft
commander Joe Friend.
The speed in which the facility locat-
ed the downed Piper Cub amazed
Friend, who stated it was his rst nd
in ying six years with the Civil Air
Patrol as well as ying with the
Auxiliar y. It was too easy, said Friend.
Given word from the pilot of the
downed yellow and orange Cub that
his plane was in a large marshy area
from which a bridge and two towers
could be seen, the Auxiliar y facility was
quickly able to locate the downed craft.
The crew was relieved to see its pilot,
David Johnson, waving his arms to the
circling facility, indicating he had sur-
vived the rough and unplanned landing
of his 1940s-era aircraft. Johnson, a
Nor th Carolinian, received only minor
injuries.
Crew resource management played
an impor tant par t in this efcient and
productive mission, remarked
Renuar t. While pilot and aircraft com-
mander David Lloyd manned the con-
trols, Friend plotted course and posi-
tions, and Renuar t and Ford manned
the radios and kept a lookout for the
downed plane.
With the Auxiliar y facility circling
overhead, an H-65 rescue helicopter,
piloted by Lieutenant Commander Tim
Schang from Air Station Savannah, was
quickly dispatched to rescue the
downed pilot.
SARs, said Renuar t, are never pre-
dictable. This one, the veteran pilot
remarked, was a textbook thing.
It was the per fect conclusion to a
superb training weekend. Putting train-
ing into practice is what its all about,
he said.
We Need Your Help
Auxiliarists Play Key Role in Search and Rescue of Downed Aircraft
Left: Coast Guard
Auxiliarists (from left to
right) Gary Ford, air crew
specialist; David Lloyd, air-
craft commander; Mike
Renuart, aircraft command-
er; and Joe Friend, aircraft
commander. Above: A Piper
Cub can be seen lying on
its back after forced land-
ing in Georgia marsh grass.
Photos by Joe Friend
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
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18 Navigator Spring 2005
BY ED SWEENEY
DC-Ad
The Depar tment of Public Affairs formed the
Photographic Corps in 2004, with the intent of
making skilled photographers available to both
the Coast Guard Auxiliar y and U.S. Coast Guard.
Our goal in forming the Photographic Corps is
twofold, according to Nick Tarlson, Depar tment
Chief Public Affairs. First, to increase both the
quantity and quality of photos depicting the
Auxiliar y and telling the stor y of who we are and
what we do, and second, make this resource avail-
able to local Auxiliar y and USCG units, as well as
other national depar tments.
Cur rently there are 24 members ser ving on the
Photographic Corps, and they are disbursed
throughout the countr y.
Our plan is to increase that number to around
100 photographers by NACON. said Tarlson.
Once we grow the Photographic Corps, we hope
to have a skilled photographer available in many
areas of the countr y, which will help us expand
our exter nal media campaign, and thus get more
media exposure for the Auxiliar y.
The Photographic Corps is in the process of
building a database of high resolution photos
available for print publications.
To view images, go to the Auxiliar y Image
Librar y at http:/ / cgaux7.org/ imagelibrar y/
search_images.asp then select photos as image
type, and enter PG in the key words section,
then search.
If you know of a skilled photographer who
would make a great addition to our team, have
them contact Bob Dennis, said Tarlson. Dennis
email address is [email protected]
To contact a member of the Photographic
Corps, or to ar range for coverage of an upcoming
event, visit http:/ / www.auxpa.org/ dept/ photo-
corps.html or email Bob Dennis BC-AIP at rjden-
[email protected]
Photographic Corps Helps Prove:
Security patrol for Fair St. Louis, Mississippi River, St. Louis Coxswain Len Schulte, Crew: Roger
Berger, Ernie Passarelli. Photo by Kitty Nicolai
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
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Spring 2005 Navigator 19
a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Fleet Week 2003 San Francisco
Bay, CGAUX Vessel Footloose.
Photo by Linda Vetter, D11N FL19.
Winter OPs 2 Its plenty cold! Photo by Jason Farrow D1SR FL72
20 Navigator Spring 2005
Flotilla 8-11 D11NR has
been operating in ocean
waters in and around
Crescent City Harbor in
Northern California
since November 2001
offering boaters a range
of services including a
friendly tow now and
then. Photo by Anthony Barron,
SO-CM 8, 11NR
Spring 2005 Navigator 21
BY ANTHONY BARRON
SO-CM 8, 11NR
Since its inception in the summer of 2003,
the Operational Excellence Award has been
admired and desired by many Auxiliarists;
however, relatively few have achieved it thus
far.
In a little coastal town on the r ugged
Nor thern California Coast, a small Auxiliar y
otilla with about 40 members has met the
challenge and is among the rst in the
nation to have achieved Operational
Excellence.
What makes this an even more monumen-
tal moment is that Flotilla 8-11 has been in
existence for less than three years when
they took on and conquered the Operational
Excellence challenge.
Trained in basic seamanship by Group
Humboldt Bay, Crescent City Flotilla 8-11
(located approximately 80 miles nor th of
Group Humboldt) was initially assigned to
operate Coast Guard vessel 214505. There
are many shermen in their area of respon-
sibility, and when the USCG Cutter Dorado
is at sea, the otilla represents the only
Coast Guard presence in the area.
As they matured in their skills, a larger
boat was assigned Coast Guard vessel
254851. The 851 is fully equipped with all
the latest electronics, radar, GPS, and VHF
radios. Learning how to operate the equip-
In Search
of Operational
Excellence
Flotilla 8-11 of Crescent City, Calif. Is Among
the First to Earn this Coveted Award
SEE EXCELLENCEPG. 22
22 Navigator Spring 2005
ment was a challenge, but that didnt
deter Flotilla 8-11.
Established in November 2001,
Flotilla 8-11 has been operating in
ocean waters in and around Crescent
City Harbor ever since. Their area of
responsibility is a ve-mile radius
around the harbor. Since they are using
a Coast Guard vessel, all crew mem-
bers are qualied Boat Crewmember,
using the U.S. Coast Guard standards.
They are regularly trained, tested and
evaluated by BMCM M.P. Leavitt of
Group Humboldt Bay.
The otilla gets its cases from Group
Humboldt Bay and works side by side
with the USCG Cutter Dorado, which
With the USCGC Dorado in the background, Flotilla 8-11 members prepare to get underway for another patrol.
Photos by Anthony Barron, SO-CM 8, 11NR
Crew Member Helen OConnor helps with cleanup at the end of a patrol.
EXCELLENCE
continued from page 21
is moored in the same harbor. They
also carr y pagers and can be called on
by the Del Nor te County Sheriff
Depar tment to assist or take a case.
In 2004 Flotilla 8-11 has been on over
two dozen SAR cases, and more than
35 since that rst one on May 2, 2003.
That was just one day after they were
given the keys to Coast Guard Vessel
214505. The crew does training two to
three evenings a week and safety
patrols on weekends.
Maintenance of the 851 is a continu-
ing labor of love. A wash job and ush-
ing the engines after each r un is stan-
dard procedure and all crew members
share in this endeavor. A power wash
of the hull is something Flotilla
Commander Thom OConnor takes
personal pride in and super vises each
session. All maintenance needs are
repor ted to Group and they respond in
a timely manner.
The Operational Excellence curricu-
lum is a little different compared to
what Helen OConnor is used to. Most
days Im a teacher of 6th graders at the
local middle school, but on some days,
I double as an Auxiliarist, she said.
Like many of us in our Coast Guard
Auxiliar y otilla, here in Crescent City
I wear many hats. I am the FSO-PE,
FSO-MS, and the VFC for our
Auxiliar y.
On this day, she planned to focus on
being the best crewperson she can be.
We all arrived cranked up and ready
to go, she said. There were lots of
pats on the back and excitement.
Many of us thought well do ne, we
have been practicing all week. Heck,
weve been practicing for three years,
or well be ne, what are they going to
do, re us? (Lots of laughs over that
one.)
But, down deep, we all wanted to do
better than ne. We wanted to do
great. Thats what makes us who we
are, she added.
The Operational Excellence
Challenge took place in the fall of 2004,
administered by USCG Group
Humboldt Bay.
It covered boat inspection, communi-
cations, de-watering pump deployment,
plotting and navigation in ocean
waters, search pattern execution,
RADM Kevin J. Eldridge, left, and Jeff Corning discuss plans for the day. Photo by Anthony Barron, SO-CM 8, 11NR
SEE EXCELLENCEPG. 24
Spring 2005 Navigator 23
24 Navigator Spring 2005
MOB drill, stern tow and side tow.
CWO4 R. K. Loster, BMCM Michael
Leavitt, and CWO3 William Toroni
were the Coast Guard ofcials con-
ducting the test.
Boat inspection was the rst par t of
the test and the 851 was 100 percent
good to go. Maintenance records
were all up to-date and all systems
were operational, all equipment
from Mustang suits to pyro-vest to de-
watering pump were inspected. The
851 was ship shape and squared away.
De-watering pump deployment was
done on the dock and a three-minute
time limit was in effect. All crew mem-
bers were tested by CWO4 Loster and
all passed. The fastest time was 1 min.
and 20 sec. achieved by Dennis Melton
and Helen OConnor.
Communication was next on the
agenda.
This required knowledge of all Coast
Guard working channels, the phonetic
alphabet, and proper pro-words.
Setting up a radio guard for the mis-
sion was also among the topics that
CWO4 Loster considered in this seg-
ment of the test. The otilla provided
their own radio guard. Coxswain
Rosemar y Halldorsson stood radio
watch and was in constant contact with
all the boat crews as they per formed
their tasks.
Plotting and navigation was a ver y
impor tant segment of the mission.
Coordinates were given to the crew, a
course had to be plotted on the char t
and then way-points had to be input to
the GPS. Once on scene, search pat-
terns were executed and positions
repor ted to base. Simple and clear
communication and execution of skills
necessar y for a safe and successful
mission was what BMCM Leavitt was
looking for and thats exactly what he
saw.
Stern-tow and side-tow evolutions
were next.
Again BMCM Leavitt did the testing.
Three boat crews were mustered from
the membership with crew qualica-
tions. Each crew was composed of one
coxswain and two crewmen. Each crew
in turn was tested on their skills and
prociency.
"With safety as our first priority, we all worked together to standard-
ize our training," said Jill Munger, FSO-PB. Photo by Anthony Barron, SO-CM 8, 11NR
All crew members are
qualified Boat
Crewmember, using
the U.S. Coast Guard
standards. Photo by
Rosemary Halldorson, SO-MT 8,
11NR
EXCELLENCE
continued from page 23
Spring 2005 Navigator 25
According to Jill Munger, FSO-PB
8-11, With safety as our rst priority,
we all worked together to standardize
our training. Each of us took the time
to understand the reasons for our
actions, like putting the eye of the
line on the cleat or calling our speed
out to the coxswain. What a great
team ef for t and personal growth
spur t for all of us. It is with great
pride that I call myself a crew person
on this excellent team and I look for-
ward to our next great challenge
together.
As the day proceeded, our teams met
each event with enthusiasm and high
spirits, said OConnor. There were
moments of quiet anxiety, from time to
time, but overall, we were focused and
ready to get it done. Our proctor and
organizers were efcient and suppor tive
and by days-end the news was good. All
three teams had met the goals for
Operational Excellence.
According to OConnor, Ever y
crew member there said there is
always room for improvement. We all
could point to something we could or
would do dif ferently next time, but
the reward of passing our operational
inspection and achieving the award
was ter ric.
The event can probably be summed
up best by Rosemar y Halldorson
FSO-MA 8-11 11NR, who said: Good
training gets good results.
Ed Sweeney DC-Ad contributed to this story.
Crew Member Alan Porteous enjoys a lot of things about his days on the water, including taking in the natural
surroundings. Photo by Anthony Barron, SO-CM 8, 11NR
Pride in a job
well done is a big
factor for mem-
bers of Flotilla
8-11. Photo by Anthony
Barron, SO-CM 8, 11NR
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
PARATU
S
26 Navigator Spring 2005
Hail to the Chief
Auxiliarists Play a Role in Helping the Presidential Inaugration Go Smoothly
Coast Guard Auxiliarist Terrie Verna of Flotilla 29 at the helm of Coast Guard owned, Auxiliary operated Vessel
275917; with Auxiliarists Pete Delaney of Flotilla 14-04 (l) and Falk Kantor of Flotilla 7-10 (r) during a patrol of
the Potomac River on the 2005 Presidential Inauguration Day. Braving snow and frigid temperatures in the teens,
with wind-chills of zero-degrees, 58 Coast Guard Auxiliarists augmented Coast Guard Station Washington, DC,
during Presidential Inauguration events over a nine day period. USCG Photo by Joseph P. Cirone, USCGAUX
BY JOSEPH P. CIRONE
Fifth Coast Guard District Southern
Region
I do solemnly swear that I will faith-
fully execute the ofce of the
President of the United States and will,
to the best of my ability, preser ve, pro-
tect, and defend the Constitution of the
United States.
On Jan. 20, 2005 in Washington,
D.C., President George W. Bush,
spoke those words and took the oath
of ofce, beginning his second term.
While 42 other Presidents have
taken the same oath in years past, this
was the rst inaugural since the attack
on the United States in 2001. Thanks
to the effor ts of many people, includ-
ing a contingent of U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliar y members, it went off without
a hitch.
Early on, the Depar tment of
Homeland Security (DHS) announced
that the Inauguration was designated
as a National Special Security Event.
The U.S. Secret Ser vice (USSS) then
assumed the role as the lead federal
agency, designing, implementing and
coordinating an operational security
plan. Employing existing par tnerships
with federal, state and local agencies,
the goal of the operation was to pro-
vide a safe and secure environment for
the event and those in attendance.
Described as unprecedented, the
Spring 2005 Navigator 27
USSS oversaw effor ts that resulted in
the tightest security in the histor y of
the United States; utilizing a large con-
tingent of law enforcement from
around the countr y; and, ever y tech-
nology available, according to pub-
lished repor ts.
The Coast Guard established a tem-
porar y security zone in the National
Capital Region, barring all non-govern-
ment vessels from entering the zone,
which included Washington, D.C. and
par ts of Nor thern Virginia and
Southern Mar yland. The Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) estab-
lished a temporar y no-y zone in the
same vicinity.
Special Coast Guard K-9 teams per-
formed sweeps of commercial vessels
and their passengers in the area.
Overall, nearly 7,000 law enforcement
ofcers helped secure the Capital
region.
When the request for Auxiliar y assis-
tance, in suppor t of Coast Guard
Station Washington (STAWASHDC),
D.C. was made, Barbara Allen,
Division Captain of Division 2, which
covers the Nations Capital, and par ts
of Nor thern Virginia and Southern
Mar yland, began making plans.
Barbara, and husband, Ken Allen
(Division 2s operations ofcer), coor-
dinated with STAWASHDC to deter-
mine their needs and for making use
of the Coast Guard-owned, Auxiliar y-
operated, 27-foot Boston Whaler (UTL-
T).
They then worked with Divisions 7,
8, 11, and 15 (Mar yland), and Division
14 (Nor thern Virginia), to supplement
Division 2s resources in order to pro-
vide the number of boats, crews, and
watchstanders needed to cover an
operational surge period that lasted
nine days. During the surge period,
numerous pre and post-Inauguration
Day events took place in the capital.
For the Auxiliarists who par ticipated
in the surge operations, preparation
began well in advance. Active-duty
Coast Guardsmen from Coast Guard
Activities Baltimore, M.D., conducted
special training courses for them in
selected topics so they would be better
prepared for the operation.
Once the temporar y security zone
was put into place, the Auxiliar y went
into action.
Auxiliar y watchstanders from
Divisions 2, 11 and 15 augmented
STAWASHDC by providing 24-40 man-
hours per day, freeing additional active-
duty and reser ve personnel to staff the
stations boats.
Auxiliarists, from Divisions 2, 7, 14
and 15, staffed the UTL-T and other
Auxiliar y boats, completing 21 patrols
and contributing a total of 132 patrol
hours in suppor t of the operation. The
effor t freed two active-duty boats and
crews to be deployed where their pres-
ence was most needed.
Donning dr y suits, gloves and hats;
and braving frigid temperatures, with
winds of 15-20 knots and wind-chills of
zero-degrees the Auxiliar y boat crews
worked with their STAWASHDC
active-duty counterpar ts, components
of two specially-deployed Marine
Safety and Security Teams (MSST),
With a Coast Guard
boat in the back-
ground heading out on
a patrol, Coast Guard
Auxiliarist Falk
Kantor of Flotilla 7-10
finishes clearing two
inches of snow from
the deck of Coast
Guard owned,
Auxiliary operated
Vessel 275917, prior
to getting underway
from Coast Guard
Station Washington,
DC to patrol the
Potomac River.
Braving snow and
frigid temperatures in
the teens, with wind-
chills of zero-degrees,
58 Coast Guard
Auxiliarists augment-
ed Coast Guard
Station Washington,
DC, during
Presidential
Inauguration events
over a nine day peri-
od. USCG Photo by Joseph P.
Cirone, USCGAUX
SEE INAUGURATIONPG. 28
28 Navigator Spring 2005
A Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Team 91110 member from Boston, MA, shows Auxiliarists Terrie Verna
of Flotilla 29 (l), Falk Kantor, a Coast Guard reservist, and Auxiliarist Pete Delaney of Flotilla 14-04 (r), the M-60
machine gun aboard Coast Guard Vessel 25454, during a break from patrol on Inauguration Day. Braving snow and
frigid temperatures in the teens, with wind-chills of zero-degrees, 58 Coast Guard Auxiliarists augmented Coast
Guard Station Washington, DC, during Presidential Inauguration events over a nine day period, conducting patrols
of the Potomac River and performed radio watchstanding duties at the Station. Photo by Joseph P. Cirone
and the Coast Guard Cutter Beluga
(WPB-87325), to patrol the nations
capital on the Potomac and Anacostia
Rivers.
In spite of one snow storm, which
left two inches on the ground and
reduced visibility to one-quar ter of a
mile, followed by a much more potent
snow storm a few days later, the crews
endured the cold. They also fought
the ice which quickly formed on the
decks and gunwales of the boats, from
the waters spray, to per form their mis-
sions without incident.
The boat crews also worked in con-
junction with Coast Guard and DHS
helicopters patrolling the skies over-
head. Coast Guard boarding teams
went into action, when necessar y.
Reecting on the success of the
operation, LT Frank Del Rosso, com-
manding ofcer of Coast Guard Station
Washington, DC, estimated a need for
an additional four or ve more person-
nel to per form watchstanding duties
and two additional boats and crews, if
he hadnt been able to call upon the
Auxiliar y.
He was grateful for the local knowl-
edge that Auxiliar y watchstanders and
boat crews brought to the operation,
helping guide Coast Guard personnel
new to, or temporarily deployed, to the
area.
Del Rosso said, I have 45 to 50
Auxiliar y platforms and approximately
200 Auxiliarists, in Divisions 2 and 14
that I can call on. Because we have just
25 active-duty personnel and a few
reser vists, the Auxiliar y is a huge par t
of Station Washington.
In summarizing the contributions of
the Auxiliar y to the operation, Del
Rosso said, We couldnt have done it
without the Auxiliar y suppor t. Their
suppor t enabled me to put my people
where their repower needed to be.
INAUGURATION
continued from page 27
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
PARATU
S
Spring 2005 Navigator 29
Aviation
Observers
Needed
BY RON DARCEY
FSO-PA 31 11N3
Soon after qualifying and beginning ight opera-
tions, Obser ver Leo Gross and First Pilot Ron Darcey
realized a ver y necessar y need to increase the ranks
of aviation obser vers.
There were lots of pilots and aircraft but not
enough obser vers to ll the cockpits. That meant
pilots were doing double duty as obser vers and
two pilots on patrol meant only one airplane in the air
rather than two.
They decided a ratio of four obser vers was needed
for each aircraft facility to assure enough personnel
would be available to ll the ranks. An aggressive
recr uitment effor t was needed and the two teamed
up to make it happen.
First to be addressed was development of a recr uit-
ment program and organization of a comprehensive
STRUCTURED RECRUITMENT PROGRAM
BRINGS SUCCESS FOR AUXILIARY AVIATORS
SEE OBSERVERSPG. 30
John Theilen, left, observer, and Ron Darcey, pilot, are shown
on a routine safety patrol. Photo by Ron Darcey
new member introduction packet.
Second, initiate a public affairs cam-
paign using radio and newspaper to
create awareness for Auxiliar y Aviation
and the need for air obser vers that
would generate enough interest to hold
recr uitment meetings once a month on
a weekday evening at the airpor t from
where the aviators operate.
The Auxiliarists assembled an
impressive package of materials con-
sisting of current and available
Auxiliar y brochures, the New Member
Reference Guide and Auxiliar y pam-
phlets Char ting Your Course for
Ser vice in the United States Coast
Guard Auxiliar y, and Volunteer to
Make a Difference.
Completing the packet included a
new member application, inter view
form and a two-page outline that details
Auxiliar y Aircrew descriptions, quali-
cations and currency requirements, a
document of militar y protocol and, the
squadrons required Obser ver Ground
School.
To greatly simplify introduction into
the Auxiliar y and guidance through
Auxiliar y Web sites, a concise, step-by-
step process into the Auxiliar y and new
member procedure is provided. All of
this is topped off with the Coast
Guards promotional folder The Shield
of Freedom brochure, provided by
Coast Guard Island Alameda, Public
Affairs.
To kick off the recr uitment cam-
paign, local media was contacted and
supplied with an Air Operations fact
sheet (outlining only Auxiliar y Air
Operations enter target marketing),
news releases of Air Obser ver recr uit-
ment and dates for obser ver orienta-
tion and recr uitment meetings.
To fully involve the media of the
impact of Auxiliar y Air Operations,
repor ters are invited to take par t in a
routine patrol that has been readily
accepted. The results of one such
patrol led to a front page stor y circulat-
ed through all ve of the medias news-
paper subsidiaries. The cumulative
effect of this single stor y continues to
create awareness for Auxiliar y
Aviation, and solicit interested
prospects on an average of eight men
and women per month attending
obser ver orientations.
Gross and Darcey conduct the orien-
tation in tropical uniform to profession-
ally represent the Auxiliar y and intro-
duce the organizations role and mis-
sions in a militar y manner.
Orientation begins with a primar y
introduction for membership. This
includes covering security require-
ments such as the need for ngerprint-
ing, background check, the reasons
and the time these necessities take
(explaining that during the background
check new members are allowed to
progress through Obser ver Ground
30 Navigator Spring 2005
OBSERVERS
continued from page 29
Squadron D-11N safety officer Randy Parent (standing) helps Vick Linsey, left, the missions observer, and Cathy
Culver, pilot, with cockpit familiarization. Photo by Ron Darcey
SEE OBSERVERSPG. 36
Spring 2005 Navigator 31
BY RICHARD EBERHARDT
Flotilla 04-09
Jimmy Duckwor th was managing
one of his familys tire stores in New
Orleans, La. when the four commercial
airliners were hijacked on 9-ll. Like so
many other Americans, his world
would change dramatically.
As a Coast Guard reser vist, LCDR
Duckwor th was called to active duty.
While his reser vist job was overseas
vessels inspection, his new title would
become Chief of Por t Security for the
bustling Por t of New Orleans.
There was no por t security in New
Orleans since World War II, at least not
in a war time sense, Duckwor th
explained. Instantly, there was a need
for patrols and increased security.
The Coast Guard activated 110
reser vists to help the Marine Safety
Ofce (MSO) New Orleans with the
new security duties, but initially had lit-
tle in the way of additional ofce space
or patrol vehicles needed for the inux
of personnel.
There was a shor tage of weapons
and the reser vists had limited, if any,
security training, Duckwor th added.
The activated reser vists shipped in
from all par ts of the countr y. Most had
never seen the Mississippi River.
The rst thing they learned was the
river can kill you, Duckwor th said,
referring to the swift currents and
eddies that are so treacherous and so
common. Then they learned we had
some bad neighborhoods along the
river where you can get killed. The
reser vists also quickly learned they
could get into trouble on Bourbon
Street.
But assigning the few locals in the
unit who understood the Mississippi
River with the many newcomers com-
ing in was not working out. There
were just not enough locals.
Rollin on the River
Auxiliary Members Bring Local Knowledge to Bolster
Security Patrols on the Mississippi River
SEE MISSISSIPPI PG. 32
Erston and Karen Reisch inspect security lights installed after 9-11 at the Algiers Locks in New Orleans.
Photo by Ricard Eberhardt
32 Navigator Spring 2005
Duckwor th quickly recognized he
needed outside help from people who
already knew the river.
Duckwor th called the Auxiliar y.
The rst call he made was to Erston
Reisch Jr. He had been in the Auxiliar y
only a few months, but he knew the
river.
Reisch spent much of his time on
boats while growing up. Later, he man-
aged the ofce of a river towing com-
pany during the day, while he attended
Tulane University at night.
Reisch is a member of Flotilla 04-09
in New Orleans. Living nor th of Lake
Pontchar train, some 40 miles from the
Auxiliar y meeting place, he was
recr uited by Bill Gr usich, a retired
river pilot, who was looking for a ride
to the meetings, along with two other
Auxiliarists.
After the call from Duckwor th,
Reisch volunteered to help with the
river watch program. He super vised
reser vists who had been called up
after 9-11, inspecting and providing a
presence on the river front where
cr uise ships docked weekly. The job
would take most of Erstons weekends.
Then, six months after he took on
the dockside inspections, Reisch suf-
fered a stroke.
As he began to recover, he wanted to
attend the Auxiliar y meetings again.
Karen, his wife, took over the driving
and sat in the back of the room during
the meetings. But she wanted to do do
more than just sit in the back.
I can do this, too, Karen said. She
joined Flotilla 04-09, and currently is
now Flotilla Commander. Erston
Reisch Jr. is past commander.
Twice a week, Erston and Karen
patrol the river levees, visit chemical
plants along the banks and inspect
barge eets. They pass out literature to
joggers and bicycle riders on the levee
trails, adding more eyes and ears to
the vigilance mix.
Other Auxiliarists also joined in
patrolling.
Chuck Ber tetto, a recent retiree
from the Louisiana Offshore Oil Por t
(LOOP), joined the Auxiliar y shor tly
after 9-11 and conducted patrols, con-
centrating on eeting and crew boat
ser vices, handing out literature to the
professional mariners and generally
making them aware of security
issues.
He also visited pleasure boat dealers
to spread the word to civilians.
We used marked government vehi-
cles, Ber tetto said. A big par t was
showing the ag and having a pres-
ence.
Using his private sector experience
where he scheduled tanker arrivals at
LOOP, Ber tetto was also instr umental
in helping MSO New Orleans set up
the vessel arrival procedures used to
keep track of literally thousands of
MISSISSIPPI
continued from page 31
Erston and Karen Reisch observe a tow locking through the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal lock in New Orleans
during a security patrol. Photo by Ricard Eberhardt
commercial vessels which transit the
Mississippi River yearly.
Another active par ticipant was Capt.
Jim Umberger.
Retired from the Coast Guard in
1992, Umberger has an impressive
Coast Guard resume, including
Captain of the Por t in Chicago, Por t
Operations Ofcer in New Orleans,
Chief of Environmental Protection for
the 8th Coast Guard District,
Commanding Ofcer of Vessel Trafc
Ser vice in New Orleans and Director
of Auxiliar y in the 7th District.
At the time, the Coast Guard didnt
need any more captains, Umberger
said with a smile. So he put on work-
ing blues and made the security
patrols with the other Auxiliarists.
The advice Umberger gives while on
patrol is simple.
If its an imminent threat, call the
nearest law enforcement agency. If its
unusual activity, something that is not
the normal routine, call the Coast
Guard number in Washington.
The National Response Center num-
ber is 1-800-424-8802.
Umberger is now National Branch
Chief for Water way Management in
the Marine Safety Division, a job in
which he advises Captains of the Por t
on how to t Auxiliar y members into
the security mix.
Chris Reider is another member of
Flotilla 04-09. As one of the elite group
of Mississippi River pilots, Reiders job
is to guide deep draft vessels on the
river. With his job, hes constantly talk-
ing to other river pilots and towboat
wheelmen.
Duckwor th credits Reider with
repor ting problems on the river, while
mostly from the prospective of a pilot.
Our relationship is extremely close
because hes also an Auxiliar y guy.
The area of responsibility for MSO
New Orleans is divided into eight sec-
tions downstream of Baton Rouge and
r unning to the Gulf of Mexico.
Originally called the River Watch
Program, it is now the Critical
Infrastr ucture Patrol.
Each facility is visited at least once a
week. Its a big job and Auxiliarists ll
in to help with the workload.
Much of patrolling is showing the
ag at the identied critical facilities.
Karen and Erston have taken to stop-
ping at facilities and getting the busi-
ness cards of the security directors
that list phone numbers for emergen-
cies.
When we go back, we know who to
ask, Karen explained, showing a
plethora of business cards arranged by
location in the master patrol book she
carries. The idea in visiting the river-
front facilities is to collect and share
ideas about security concerns, not to
snoop on the facilities.
When the Reisches began patrolling,
the newly called-up reser vists, with
whom they worked, had no idea where
the facilities were situated when they
called in.
We developed a MapQuest route to
each dock, Karen said, as Erston was
driving. She then went to the state
tourism bureau ofce to get maps to
place in each Coast Guard vehicle.
In December last year, the Reisches
stopped at barge eets to notify them
of the high water requirements for
extra mooring lines, and to check that
the lines were actually deployed.
When the river rises, as it did early
this winter, more lines and cables are
required to prevent barge break-aways
as the current rips along the shoreline.
Capt. Paskewich credits the
Auxiliarists with much of the notica-
tion and inspection process.
Auxiliarists relieve the active duty
personnel of the need to stop other
critical functions to inspect barge
eets, Capt. Paskewich said. There
are maybe 88 barge eets between
New Orleans and Baton Rouge with
barges rafted together like big parking
lots. If barges break loose, we have a
big problem.
And while Auxiliarists have no law
enforcement authority, Capt.
Paskewich said their presence does
keep the barge eets honest in put-
ting out the required extra lines.
On a recent patrol, for example, the
Reisches discovered a number of navi-
gational buoys (aids to navigation, or
ATONs) which had broken loose
upriver, oated down stream, and were
snagged by trees along the shoreline.
Erston used the handheld GPS he
brought from his sailboat to pinpoint
the location of the buoys for MSO New
Orleans. Karen cross-referenced the
location by using binoculars to read
street signs at the foot of the levee. A
winch tr uck is available to recover the
wayward buoys.
The Marine Safety Ofce in New
Orleans received a Meritorious Unit
Commendation Award for integrating
the Coast Guard Reser ve and
Auxiliar y as a team.
Auxiliarists augment the active duty
Coast Guard who would other wise be
over whelmed by the demands of
checking each identied critical facility
ever y week.
We continue to need Auxiliarists to
handle more jobs to relieve the active
duty Coast Guard, LCDR Duckwor th
said. Were looking for self star ters
who show up and dig in.
The Coast Guard is using the
Auxiliar y in novel ways, CAPT
Paskewich added. The Auxiliarists
have identied a niche where they can
step in and help, where the active
Coast Guard is stretched thin on
resources.
Spring 2005 Navigator 33
A wayward navi-
gation buoy is
marked by Erston
and Karen Reisch
while patrolling
the Mississippi
River levee as
part of the
Auxiliary assis-
tance to the
Coast Guard
Critical
Infrastructure
Patrol. Photo by Ricard
Eberhardt
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
PARATU
S
34 Navigator Spring 2005
Reach
Out and
Touch the
Media
A PAs Decision to
Contact His Local Cable
Television Provider
Opened the Door for
Auxiliary Coverage
With boating season just ahead, a
priority for otillas around the county
is getting the message out to the pub-
lic about the impor tance of boating
safely. How to deliver the message,
however, can test the creativity of any
public affairs ofcer.
For the East Coasts Division 8 an
answer to the question was contacting
the regions local cable television
provider and simply asking the news
depar tment to help.
I knew that broadcast and newspa-
per media always are looking for good
stuff, but they want the people contact-
ing them to provide the basic informa-
tion in order to get something out
there, said Joseph Giannattasio FSO-
PA with Flotilla 8-2, Cape May, N.J.
Giannattasio said two years ago he
came up with the idea of contacting
the news director of the Comcast
Newsmakers show about promoting
the otillas boating safety classes. But
the staff at CN8 wanted a broader
scope.
They gave us a spot where talked
about boating safety and boating legis-
lation, he said. That was two years
ago.
Comcast Newsmakers is a ve-
minute inter view program that airs
twice an hour on CNN Headline News
featuring community leaders who
speak on the issues that impact the
region.
This spring Auxiliarists from
Division 8 were inter viewed by CN8
cable television correspondent Jill
Horner for two separate segments to
be aired for the upcoming boating sea-
son.
Chris Winans, SO-MT, discussed the
impor tance of boating safety with
examples and recent statistics. Topics
included general safety tips, Boating
Safety Classes, and Vessel Safety
Checks.
Giannattasio, SO-MSEP, highlighted
per tinent facts about the Auxiliar y and
detailed the focus of the Marine Safety
- Environmental Protection program,
and informed viewers about Americas
Water way Watch.
Both segments are scheduled for
broadcast throughout 2005.
Giannattasio said because Division 8
covers a tri-state territor y and the
Comcast Newsmakers show reaches
into the same geographical area it was
decided the media contact would
should be done at the division level
instead of the otilla level.
But he added that different par ts of
the countr y have different needs and
otillas should tr y contacting local
media outlets. For example some col-
leges have their own local cable or
news shows, and some small towns
might be open for local stories, he
said.
Another idea is to show appreciation
when media coverage is achieved.
We presented the show with a cer-
ticate of appreciation, he said. The
news director was so impressed that
he said anytime you need anything
call us.
Where did Giannattasio get the cer-
ticate? He made it up on his comput-
er. It really doesnt take much to show
someone you appreciate what they
did, he added.
Giannattasio also had a nal word for
his fellow PAs take the initiative.
If you wait for a newspaper to come
to you, youll be waiting a long time,
he said. You have to go to them.
Getting coverage for Auxiliary programs is just a matter of being willing to
reach out to the media, says Joseph Giannattasio, SO-PA, left, shown here
with Comcast Newsmakers Correspondent Jill Horner, and Chris Winans SO-
MT at CN8s broadcast facility. Photo by Joseph Giannattasio\
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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Spring 2005 Navigator 35
WANT TO ATTEND
A C SCHOOL?
What is a C School? Class C Schools are Shor t Term
Resident Training schools. These schools are usually one week
or less in duration and are paid for out of Coast Guard training
funds. You donate your time and the Coast Guard pays for the
travel costs.
What C Schools can I attend? Auxiliarists are eligible to
attend any C School provided they meet the course prerequi-
sites, and their training request is approved by the program
manager for that C School. The chief director, Ofce of
Auxiliar y (G-OCX) is the programs manager for the C
Schools that are specically designated for Auxiliarists. It is
impor tant to note under cur rent policy a member may only
attend one C School per year and that a member may not
attend a C School if they have previously attended that
course. Thats because demand for C Schools is high. Waiver
of policy requirements should be noted on training requests.
How do I know what C Schools are available? The sched-
ule of C Schools is published online at
http:/ / www.uscg.mil/ hq/ tqc/ 1540TableofContents.htm. Select
Auxiliar y from the pull down menu with Links for Class C
Schools CLCVNs in the box.
How do I apply for a C School? You ll out a Shor t-Term
Resident Training Request (STTR). You then route the STTR
up the chain to the Director of Auxiliar y (DIRAUX) for your
district. The specic routing for the STTR depends on your dis-
trict/ division. The form is available online at
http:/ / www.uscgaux.org/ ~forms/ archive/ a7059f.pdf. STTRs
should reach the DIRAUX no later than 60 days before the
class-star t date.
If I sign up to go to a C School, why is it important for
me to attend? Ever y C School quota is a valued and tr usted
investment. The Auxiliar y has been r unning at a 26 percent
wasted quota rate for the last three years. These Auxiliar y quo-
tas are funded by the Coast Guard at $1,500 each. Each quota
wasted by a late cancellation or no show, goes unused and cre-
ates future funding exposure for the Auxiliar y. The Coast
Guard has advised the Auxiliar y training leadership that they
will deduct wasted/ no show quotas from future allocation fund-
ing levels. That represents a potential loss of over $125,000
annually. We all need to be aware of this problem and be good
stewards of these funds. All C School registrations come with
an individual responsibility to make sure each quota is used.
How do I get my orders/notification that I am approved
to attend the course? The goal is to issue orders 30 days
before the star t of a specic class. Orders are e-mailed directly
to the member by Direct Access. You must have an accurate e-
mail address in AUXDATA for this to happen. The DIRAUX can
print out your orders and mail them to you if you do not have a
valid email address.
What about travel to the C School? The orders will con-
tain specic information about travel to the class. You should
use the gover nment contracted travel agency for your district.
Your DIRAUX can provide this information to you. You will
need your Travel Order Number (TONO) from your orders to
make gover nment travel ar rangements.
Where do I stay? Specic ber thing ar rangements var y from
class to class. Information will be provided in the comments
section of your orders.
Where do I go for the training? Training locations var y
from class to class. Specic information will be provided in the
comments section of your orders. Most of the time, training
will be held at a Coast Guard Training Center such as the
Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., Training Center
Yorktown, Va., and Training Center Petaluma, Calif.
How do I file a travel claim? You ll out a form Travel
Claim Voucher (Form DD-1351-2) which can be found at
http:/ / www.uscgaux.org/ ~forms/ archive/ dd1351-2f.pdf. Print
out the completed form, sign it, attach copies of receipts for
lodging (required), receipts for items over $75, attach your
orders, and for ward via the chain of leadership to your
DIRAUX.
How do I find out the status of my travel claim? You may
nd out the status of your travel claim by going to the web site:
http:/ / www.uscg.mil/ hq/ psc/ tvl.htm#tps, or calling (toll free)
Personnel Suppor t Command at 1-866-PSC-USCG (1-866-772-
8724).
How do I find out what I was paid for? A Travel Voucher
Summar y (TVS) details what travel expenses you were paid.
Heres what you need to know
C
oast Guard Auxiliarists have an oppor tunity to
gain additional knowledge, skills, and qualica-
tions by par ticipating in training programs.
Par ticipation in training enhances the Auxiliarists
competence and enables increased professionalism in
the per formance of most Auxiliar y ser vices. The
Coast Guard has budgeted approximately $700,000
for Auxiliar y C Schools in FY 2005.
Following are a few questions and answers about
attending C School.
SEE C SCHOOLPG. 36
36 Navigator Spring 2005
You may access the TVS on the CG
Intranet
https:/ / cgweb.ncen.uscg.mil/ tvs_aux/ .
How do I get credit for completing
the course? Once you have fullled all
the course requirements (some courses
have post-attendance requirements), the
lead instr uctor for the course will for-
ward a class roster to G-OCX within 30
days of the course completion date. You
will also get a course completion cer ti-
cate from the lead instr uctor. It is your
responsibility to for ward a copy of that
course completion cer ticate via the
chain of leadership to your DIRAUX for
ling in your personnel le at the
DIRAUX.
What else should I know?
Par ticipation in Auxiliar y C Schools is a
benet provided to you to assist you in
per formance of your Auxiliar y duties.
However, C School quotas are valuable
and cost on average $1,500 per quota. If
you request a C School and then cancel
at the last minute or do not show up for
the class, then that money is wasted as
there are only a limited number of class-
es scheduled. C Schools are intended
to give you knowledge and skills to help
you per form your job in the Auxiliar y.
As such, some Retur n-On-Investment is
expected. In other words, you would be
expected to per form in a par ticular staff
position or function for a period of time
after you completed a C School associ-
ated with that staff position.
Where can I get more informa-
tion? Eventually all C Schools will
have student suppor t pages that can be
accessed through a central lear ning por-
tal at http:/ / cschool/ auxser vices.org/ .
Student suppor t web pages will be set up
for most C Schools. The link for those
classes with suppor t pages will be provid-
ed in the comments section of the
orders. Student suppor t pages for those
C Schools without them will be created
soon.
SUMMARY
C Schools increase your knowledge
and skills. Plan for them well in advance
and submit your requests early.
Completion of C Schools will benet
you and the Coast Guard.
CSCHOOL
continued from page 35
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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School and non-operational Auxiliar y
training). This is followed with an out-
line of Auxiliar y histor y, entrance into
the aviation program, qualications and
the stringent currency requirements
required for Squadron D11N, and an
outline and dates of training and opera-
tional activities.
The recr uiters also stress the respect
and value the Coast Guard places on
the districts Auxiliar y aviators as mem-
bers of Team Coast Guard.
Once the rst phase of the introduc-
tion is completed, detailed new member
packets are handed out and carefully
reviewed page-by-page. This phase cov-
ers member involvement, time required
to complete obser ver qualications and
in par ticular, personal dedication to the
aviation program, training and currency
requirements. All aspects are carefully
discussed to leave no doubt that com-
mitment is paramount to becoming a
fully qualied obser ver in a respectable
period of time.
A question and answer period con-
cludes the introduction phase that is
followed by the new member inter view,
completion of applications, date to com-
plete the new member exam, times of
otilla meetings, Obser ver Ground
School, other required training pro-
grams and relevant activities.
At the conclusion of each orientation,
the recr uitment effor t leads to about
three of ever y ve persons attending
into Auxiliar y membership.
Response to the recr uitment blitz is a
constant stream of interested prospects
into the Aviation program. Enthusiasm
with the orientation, follow-up
Obser ver Ground School and ying is
such that new members are adding to
the cumulative effect, introducing per-
sonal friends and associates into the
orientation each month.
Star ted in May, 2004, the recr uit-
ment campaign has brought aboard 38
new members and projections suggest
that by years end this number is
expected to be equaled.
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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OBSERVERS
continued from page 30
Crew members
stand next to a
twin-engine
Cessna 401, one
of the flotillas
offshore and
training aircraft.
Photo by Ron Darcey
Spring 2005 Navigator 37
Auxiliary Chairman Selected for Coast
Guard Mutual Assistance Campaign
National Commodore Gene M. Seiber t has
announced the appointment of Commodore
Joseph Lanz, PNACO, as Auxiliar y National
Chairman for the 2005 Coast Guard Mutual
Assistance (CGMA) fund-raising campaign.
COMO Lanz will head up a committee of dis-
trict/ region representatives formed to promote the
CGMA fund-raising effor ts at district/ region, divi-
sion and otilla levels. The Campaign r uns from
April 1 to April 30 this year but contributions will
be accepted and encouraged throughout the year.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) is the Coast
Guards own relief society, providing nancial assistance to
all families in the Coast Guard community, Auxiliar y families
included. Its mission is to promote the nancial stability and
general well being of its members through loans, grants, and
nancial counseling. Along with need-based emergency and
general nancial assistance, CGMA also offers Auxiliar y
members a number of education assistance programs. This
past year, CGMA provided close to $26,000 in assistance to
Auxiliar y members.
Since its inception in 1924, CGMA has given Coast Guard
people the oppor tunity to help one another through times of
distress and need. It has developed a strong reputation for
fair, effective, and efcient use of member contributions.
The future of CGMA rests upon the generosity of its mem-
bers. The need for assistance among Coast
Guard families has grown over the past sev-
eral years. Without an on-going infusion of
funds, CGMA, a valuable and time-tested
resource for meeting the nancial needs that
arise within the Coast Guard family would be
hampered in providing this level of assis-
tance.
Many of you have been putting in long
hours with Active Duty and Reser ve counter-
par ts, and have probably seen rsthand some
of the unusual family nancial needs that crop
up as op tempos increase and members are
called upon to work even harder than before.
During this years fundraising campaign,
Auxiliar y members will each receive, via their
otilla commanders, a letter of appeal and a
response envelope. Please give generously to
suppor t fellow Auxiliarists and others in the
Coast Guard Community.
Of course contributions may be made at
any time by check, money order, or credit
card. Information and convenient contribu-
tion forms are available on the Coast Guard
Mutual Assistance web site,
www.cgmahq.org, or you may simply cut out
and complete the attached contribution form
and send it along with your gift to Coast
Guard Mutual Assistance, 4200 Wilson Blvd.,
Suite 610, Arlington, VA 22203-1804. Checks
or money orders may be made payable to
CGMA.
CGMA CONTRIBUTION FORM
FLOTILLA NUMBER
YES! Id like to contribute to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.
My check for $_____________ is enclosed. (Make check payable to CGMA)
Please mail your contribution to the following address:
COAST GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE
4200 Wilson Blvd
Suite 610
Arlington, VA 22203
I prefer to contribute by Credit Card
PRINT NAME
STREET/APT #
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
SIGNATURE (FOR CREDIT CARD)
ACCT NUMBER:
EXP DATE:
AMOUNT
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is a tax-exempt organization under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to Coast Guard Mutual
Assistance are deductible for income and estate tax purposes.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Please visit the CGMA web site or call CGMA Headquarters at 1 (800) 881-
2462 if you have any additional questions.
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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38 Navigator Spring 2005
BoatU.S. Presents Best Flotilla in the Nation
Award to New Jerseys Flotilla 22
BRAGGING
RIGHTS
BY PAULETTE NEDROW FSO-PB,
AND DONNA COLE CH-UF,
Flotilla 22
At the Coast Guard Auxiliar y
National Convention in September
2004, the BoatU.S. Foundation present-
ed Flotilla 22, D1SR the BoatU.S. Best
Flotilla in the Nation Award. Flotilla
22, Sandy Hook, N.J. was recognized
as the best of 1,200 Coast Guard
Auxiliar y otillas for their activity and
achievements during 2003.
Flotilla 22 was founded in May 1942
as Flotilla 311 of the Jersey Shore
Division. The otilla provided men and
vessels for the patrol of the New Jersey
beaches and shores. Members also
patrolled the two rivers, the
Shrewsbur y and Navesink Rivers that
made up the otillas area of responsi-
bility.
From the beginning, the otilla held
meetings at Coast Guard Station Sandy
Hook that today is located in
Highlands, N.J. Coast Guard Station
Sandy Hook stands at the entrance to New York Harbor.
The otillas original designation as Flotilla 311 was
changed to the present Flotilla 22, the Sandy Hook Flotilla
in 1966. Today the otilla has more than 40 active men and
women who are committed to the missions of the Auxiliar y.
In May 1992 Flotilla 22 celebrated its 50th anniversar y. The
otilla will soon mark its 63rd year of ser ving the United
States Coast Guard and assisting the boating public of the
Nor thern New Jersey Shore Area.
In recognizing the otilla with the BoatU.S. Foundation
award, the citation enumerated the one-year accomplish-
ments of this outstanding unit.
In 2003 the members of Flotilla 22 did more than 10,500
hours in suppor t of the missions of the Coast Guard and the
Coast Guard Auxiliar y. The otilla conducted 815 RBS
Program Visitor visits (MDV) 352 vessel safety checks, 285
marine patrol missions, 50 search and rescue missions, 225
public education missions, and 140 member training mis-
sions.
Standing watch on Coast Guard cutters and acting as sta-
tion watch standers at Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook
added another 520 hours to the contribution made by the
otilla in direct assistance to the Coast Guard.
In accepting the award on behalf of the otilla, Bill
Anania, Flotilla Commander, commented, We work hard to
suppor t the Coast Guard, and were proud of our members
and their achievements.
Added Len Pampaloni, Immediate Past Flotilla
Commander: Ever yone worked ver y hard in 2003, and
even harder in 2004 with special events like the Republican
National Convention here in our area.
The men and women of Flotilla 22 dedicate a lot of time
and exper tise to help make the water ways safe for the boat-
ing public.
U.S.COASTGUARD
AUXILIARY
SEMPER
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Flotilla Commander Bill Anania with past Flotilla Commander Len
Pampaloni show the BoatU.S. Flotilla of the Year award given to Flotilla 22.
Photo by William Anania
Spring 2005 Navigator 39
Left: Members of
Flotilla 22, Sandy
Hook, N.J., are all
smiles about their
BoatU.S. Award for
"Best Flotilla in the
Nation." Below: Flotilla
22 facility Sea Star on
patrol in Sandy Hook
Bay with Coxswain
Harold Star and crew
members Frank Giblin
and Coleen Pinelli.
Photos by William Anania
Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.
The Auxiliar y Center
9449 Watson Industrial Park
St. Louis, MO 63126
Address service requested
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 842
JACKSONVILLE, FL.
U
.S.COASTGUA
R
D
A
UXILIARY
SEMPER
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Auxiliarists had their game face on for Super Bowl Sunday
at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Rob Wescott
STORY ON PAGE 3