What a week for the demands of my day job to have taken me away from writing. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrated its 71st Birthday this past Wednesday, June 23, 2010. I spent that evening reviewing charting techniques and problems with our new boat crew trainees, followed up afterwards with a celebratory drink across the street. Celebrations and milestones there may be, but our work never ceases....And the work goes on in the Gulf of Mexico, where on Tuesday -- the day before the Auxiliary's birthday -- Admiral Salerno released a message calling Auxiliarists to 30 day assignments supporting the Coast Guard's response to the "oil spill" there. The message assures that Auxiliarists will be "incorporated into the Coast Guard long-term Deepwater Horizon response strategy," but that there is an immediate need for Trident qualified and Incident Command knowledgable Auxiliarists to step up now. Personnel with qualifications as Pollution Investigators, Pollution Response Specialists, Prevention Outreach Specialists, Marine Safety Watchstanders, and those possessing Incident Command System (ICS) course completions have been specifically called on. I encourage all to read the message distributed on June 22 and act accordingly.
The men and women of the Coast Guard Auxiliary have answered the call for seventy-one years, but we are now called to do so in ways previously unimagined. Unique in history, volunteer lifesavers, Guardians, honored by their country's uniform, the coming months and years will call us to new missions, new expectations that will truly test our Devotion to Duty as we continue to modernize our structure, our model of training and force readiness, and as we recruit, educate, and train a new generation of America's Volunteer Guardians. There is great work ahead in the Gulf of Mexico, around the country, and around the world.The Commandant, Admiral Papp, wrote of the Auxiliary's birthday this week...
"Over the past year, the Auxiliary has set the standard for organizational resilience and continuous improvement... it broadened its capabilities through a major expansion of its Trident program to provide greater support for the Coast Guard’s marine safety mission, the innovative application of social media and language interpretation skills to support rescue operations following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the formalization of the Auxiliary’s chef program to better support Coast Guard food service personnel. More recently, Auxiliarists have served in a range of capacities in support of Deepwater Horizon Spill Response operations, including over 5,000 hours checking the readiness of vessels participating in clean-up operations, monitoring deployed booms, supporting the area command center, and assisting with public affairs."Admiral Salerno wrote...
"Coast Guard Auxiliarists have answered the call for 71 years, but non have been as uniquely challenging as this assignment [in the Gulf of Mexico]. Your consideration and concerted effort as shipmates in answering this bell are already appreciated and admired. Semper Paratus."Indeed, as Admiral Papp concluded, "Our shipmates, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, have performed superbly, always standing a taut watch and exemplifying our core values. Please join me in recognizing their superb dedication by celebrating their seventy-first anniversary with your local Auxiliarists."
To the Auxiliary, happy birthday, and to all: thank you for your