Intercom, issue 1, 2023

Page 21

Division 7 Tampa Bay USCG Auxiliary Spring 2023
1 CONTENTS From the Helm Tony Hooper 5 From the Helm Dean Hoskin, DCDR 4 The Auxiliary Offers Fun Adventures! Auxiliarists Visit North Pole 20 Start the Year Right: Set Goals For Your Flotilla 22 Division 7 Facilities Assist the Coast Guard with Practicing Air Drops. 21 24 Volunteers Needed 9 Operations Update 12 Poverty Awareness (Diversity & Inclusion) 13 Sector St. Petersburg Holds 43rd Blackthorn Remembrance Ceremony 14 February is Black History Month 17 In Case You Hit That Delete Key Too Soon... (Recent ALAUX Bulletins) 18 25 USCG Auxiliary International Affairs Directorate: Interpreter Corps 26 Congresswoman Luna Attends Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach Meeting. 27 Upon the Sea A poem by Mike Bronson, Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater, 6 Auxiliary Assists During 2023 Frogman Swim Auxiliary Assists in Gasparilla Pirate Invasion AUXPAD Program: Perfect for Florida Weather! 29 2023 National Boy Scout Jamboree 28
We invite you to share this publication with your friends and acquaintances to encourage interest in joining the Auxiliary. Recruiting is every member’s business!

INTERCOM

Newsletter for Division 7 Tampa Bay, District 7, USCG Auxiliary Spring 2023

Division 7 Elected Officers 2023

Div 7 Division Commander

Div 7 Division Vice Commander

Div 7 Immed. Past Division Commander

FL-72 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

FL-74 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

FL-75 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

FL-77 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

FL-78 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

FL-79 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

FL-7-16 Flotilla Commander

Flotilla Vice Commander

Division 7 Appointed Staff 2023

Auxiliary Scouting Program

Culinary Assistant

Communications

Communication Services

Diversity

Finance

Information Services

Human Resources

Materials

Marine Safety

Member Training

Navigation Systems

Operations

Public Affairs

Publications

Public Education

Partner Visits

Secretary

Vessel Examinations

Dean Hoskin, DCDR

Anthony Hooper, VCDR

Daniel Helou, IPDCDR

Gordon Hornby III, FC

Cathy Campbell Heroux, VFC

Dorothy Riley, FC

William Sage, VFC

Elliot Seda, FC

Santiago Castrodad, VFC

Gilbert Thomas, FC

Ronald Ramos, VFC

Rollin Shouse, Jr., FC

Anne-Marie Woolsey, VFC

Rick Hockinson, FC

George Bartuska, VFC

William Zinner, FC

Howard Bush, VFC

We’re on the web!

http://A07007.wow.uscgaux.info

You can contact any of our officers on the Division 7 web page!

Stephen Browning, SO-AS

Patrick McAlvey, SO-FS

Howard Bush , SO-CM

Robert Witty, SO-CS

John Kline, SO-DV

Jack Lee, SO-FN

John Robbins, SO-IS

Gilbert Thomas, SO-HR

Martin Jordan, SO-MA

John Laurent, SO-MS

Rollin Shouse III, SO-MT

Anthony Hooper, SO-NS

Dean Bell, SO-OP

Joe Rice Johnson III, SO-PA

Dorothy Riley, SO-PB

James Fogle, SO-PE

D. Terry Hershman, SO-PV

Anne-Marie Woolsey, SO-SR

Raymond Langley, SO-VE

Intercom is a publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Division Seven, District Seven. The cost of publication is provided by dues-paying members of the Auxiliary, an organization of unpaid, civilian volunteers whose mission is to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in promoting boating safety. Articles may be reprinted only with the express consent of the author or photographer, with proper credit given to same. For permissions or for more information, please contact the editor, Dorothy Riley, SO-PB, email address:

dottieriley@gmail.com

COVER: TAMP BAY — Coxswain

Dean Bell at the helm of the Coast Guard facility “Ms. Daisy” during the 2023 Frogman Swim on January 15. “Ms. Daisy” escorted a flotilla of support jet skis from the Salty Sol (Gandy) boat ramp to the area where the swimmers were deployed. USCGAUX photo by George Papabeis

To navigate the pages, click on the article’s title at left. To return to the ‘Contents’ page, click on the ‘Home. button at the bottom of each page.

FROM THE HELM

We are force multipliers for the Coast Guard. As such, we have stepped up our participation with the active-duty side. Our Operational support has gotten off to a running start this year. Our Auxiliary vessels have been asked to assist the Coast Guard with their Crew and Coxswain Qualifications. The Coast Guard surface vessels have performed many training qualification activities alongside our Auxiliary vessels.

The Operational side of the Auxiliary has also been asked to assist with the C-130 Hercules drop recovery missions performed by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater. We have been involved with these C-130 missions in the daytime and are now supporting the C-130 drop recovery missions at night. These are very exciting times for the Operational side of the Auxiliary.

I encourage anyone who would like to participate and become part of boat crew to meet with your flotilla commanders and Operations Officers to sign up for the new crew classes starting this spring. Operations is always looking for new crew members and radio guards for

all of their missions. We need more crew and coxswains for our increased operational activities.

Many of our flotillas are seeing an increase in new members and a regeneration of some seasoned members. Commodore Holmes’s goals for this year are to rejuvenate our seasoned members and increase our membership with new faces and talents.

Each flotilla member should invite one new guest each month to accompany them to their flotilla meetings. Just think of what could be accomplished by this one act. As a team, we can accomplish great things. I encourage each division member to support and encourage each other by participating in the many upcoming events we have scheduled.

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Background photo: Maxamilian Weisbecker, Unspash, License free to use Dean William Hoskin Division 7 Commander
“Operations is always looking for new crew members and radio guards for all of their missions.”
Dean Hoskin Division Commander

The key 2023 goals set by the District Commodore are to increase membership by enhanced recruiting and better retention of existing members. I will address the opportunities and challenges of retention in this letter.

We are recovering from many negative consequences of the COVID epidemic and attendant restrictions. Members could not gather in person, and the Auxiliary moved most training online. Interactions became less personal and less effective. Activities with active duty were curtailed or eliminated. Members with certifications went into REYR. Naturally, there be a recovery stage as we move back to normal.

Now it is time to engage members, encourage them to restart their favorite missions, or consider new roles they may have previously considered but were not encouraged to pursue.

The Auxiliary is short of everything now except opportunity.

The Coast Guard, like our other armed services and the country in general, has a problem with recruiting and retention. The Coast Guard has unfilled posi-

tions everywhere we look, often at the entry-level. Our greatest prospect is expanding support for active duty.

We see requests for more Auxiliary support. In Operations, we are undertaking missions to support active duty on-thewater training. Station is asking for more Watchstanders. The Aids to Navigation Team wants Auxiliarists to take over private aids to navigation (PATON) administration. Marine Safety is actively looking for Auxiliarists in multiple roles. There is a demand for more Auxiliary Culinary Assistants. The list of opportunities goes on.

This is not caused by new enlightenment – it is a pragmatic response to a need.

We can capitalize on this need and carve out new and lasting relationships with the active duty. Let’s do it!

Very Respectfully, Tony Hooper

FROM THE HELM Intercom Spring 2023 5
Tony Hooper Division Vice Commander
“The Auxiliary is short of everything now except opportunity.”

Auxiliary Assists During 2023 Frogman Swim

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary facility Miss Daisy and its crew assisted in the 2023 Frogman Swim. The crew of the Miss Daisy consisted of coxswain Dean Bell and boat crew members Joe Silva, Miguel Anibal Marquez-Reines, Charles Lambeth, Joe Primosch, George Papabeis, and trainee Steve Williams.

The 3.4-mile endurance swim is an annual fundraiser for the Navy Seal Foundation. The event had layers of support on land and water from law enforcement, first responders, wave runners, jet skis, and kayaks with two aid stations on either side of the swim route in Old Tampa Bay. Miss. Daisy’s mission started with a 5:30 AM dockside muster at Salty Sol Park (aka Gandy boat ramp). Because of the low air and water temps, Mustang survival suits were issued to the crew and coxswain. The air temperatures saw frost in certain areas of Tampa Bay overnight, but by start time, the air temperature reached a balmy 48 F, with water temperatures at 62 F. The first task of the Miss Daisy was to escort a group of jet skis and wave runners from the boat ramp across the bay to the event start. Among the onshore festivities was a very impressive pinpoint parachute drop on a small strip of sand in the deployment area.

Approximately 150 swimmers deployed in six separate waves. Each swimmer had a designated kayak escort. The first wave started at

8:30 AM, with each following wave at 10-minute intervals. The first wave consisted of a unique “deployment.” Swimmers wore body armor and towed a pack simulating conditions that special forces might encounter in the field.

Early on, the crew of the Miss Daisy noticed a kayak whose operator had a concerned look on her face. She had lost her swimmer. We had one of the wave runner operators call in the incident by radio, and Miss Daisy ran a parallel course to the swimmers while the crew kept a lookout for the “orphaned” swimmer. Fortunately, as previously stated, there was an overabundance of support craft. A few swimmers were picked up by wave runners and taken aboard support vessels when they could not continue. The Miss Daisy tracked forward and back along the line of swimmers half a dozen times.

As the end of the line was past the halfway mark, we were informed by a kayak operator that a swimmer was in distress. This was confirmed by a kayak operator holding her paddle in the vertical position, a known distress signal. The swimmer had developed bad cramps in his legs he was taken on board and taken to the finish line at American Legion Post 138, where he could receive medical treatment if needed.

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FSO-PA Flotilla 74, Brandon

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The crew of the Miss Daisy exercised caution while transiting the narrow channel due to shallow waters on either side. After disembarking the swimmer into capable hands, the crew of the Miss Daisy came upon an orphaned swimmer who informed us that she had lost her kayak escort. A quick check of her participation number revealed that she was the swimmer who had separated from her kayak escort earlier.

At 11 AM, any swimmers still in the water were picked up by support craft since this was the official end time of the race. The Miss Daisy made a leisurely transit back to the dock, whereupon her crew debriefed and disbanded. Ω

Opposite page: TAMP BAY— A swimmer tows a pack during the 3.4 miles 2023 Frogman Swim with a support craft trailing close behind.

Top: Miss Daisy crew is preparing for the pre-mission brief before the 2023 Frogman Swim on January 15. From left are Joe Silva, Miguel Anibal Marquez-Reines, Charles Lambeth, Joe Primosch, and Steve Williams. Not Pictured is coxswain Dean Bell.

Mid-page: Miguel Anibal Marquez-Reines, on starboard watch aboard the facility Miss Daisy keeps a lookout.

Bottom: A parachutist prepares to make a pinpoint landing during the 2023 Frogman Swim. USCG Auxiliary photos by George Papabeis

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Auxiliary assists in Gasparilla Pirate Invasion

The Gasparilla Boat Parade has a long history in Tampa, Florida. It is one of the oldest and most well-known events in the Tampa Bay area and has been held annually since the early 1900s.

The boat parade is held on the last Saturday in January and is followed by a series of other events, including a pirate invasion and a music festival. This year, the invasion and subsequent parade were held on January 28. The parade is named after the legendary pirate José Gaspar, also known as Gasparilla, and inspired by the pirate’s legendary raids on the west coast of Florida. The parade is traditionally led by the José Gasparilla, a pirate ship (barge) that is the festival’s centerpiece. The

Gasparilla events attract thousands of visitors each year.

Many pirate ‘krewe’ ships and hundreds of recreational vessels accompany the Gasparilla up the channel. Boaters often adhere to the pirate theme in dress and consume quantities of alcohol. For this reason, the Coast Guard and law

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enforcement from all over the state assist in peacekeeping, preventing collisions, and keeping recreational vessels from crossing the Gasparilla barge’s path.

The Auxiliary plays a significant role. In past years, Auxiliary facilities from all divisions under Sector St. Petersburg provided safety zones for manatees sighted in or near the parade route. This year, Auxiliary facilities from Divisions 7 and 8 assisted in keeping boaters safe in the channel.

Before this year’s Gasparilla Pirate Invasion, Flotilla 74, Brandon’s facility Miss Daisy had the distinction of transporting VIPs. Before the start of the parade, Miss Daisy, under the command of Coxswain Dean Bell, provided transport to RADM Brendan McPherson, Commander,

RADM Brendan McPherson, Commander, Coast Guard District 7; CDR Shawn Lansing, Deputy Commander, Sector St Petersburg; Dean Bell, Flotilla 79, Tampa, Auxiliary coxswain, and CAPT Michael Kahle, Sector St Petersburg Commanding Officer and Captain of the Port aboard Miss Daisy January 28 before the Gasparilla pirate invasion. USCG Auxiliary photo by George Papabeis

Coast Guard District 7; CAPT Michael Kahle, Sector St Petersburg Commanding Officer and Captain of the Port, and CDR Shawn Lansing, Deputy Commander, Sector St Petersburg, from the Coast Guard facility on Davis Island to

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Dennis Smith, Flotilla 77, Polk County, keeps a lookout on board Miss Daisy during the Gasparilla boat parade Jan. 28 in Tampa Bay. USCG Auxiliary photo by George Papabeis

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the Incident Command Post near Hooker’s Point. RADM McPherson wanted to meet with the Coast Guard team supporting the event. Coxswain Bell returned these dignitaries to Davis Islands before the parade began so they could join in the Coast Guard morale event. Each year Sector arranges a party for Coast Guard members and their families so they can safely view the water parade.

Serving aboard Miss Daisy were Dean Bell, Flotilla 79, Tampa, coxswain; George Papabeis, Flotilla 74, Brandon; Dennis Smith, Flotilla 77, Polk County, crew; Steve Williams, Flotilla 74, Brandon, trainee; and Miguel Marquez, Flotilla 79 Tampa, trainee.

Three additional Auxiliary facilities assisted in the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion. First from Division 7 was Sue Sea Q, Tony Novellino, coxswain, and Charles Lambeth, crew, both from Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach, Tracy Adkins, from Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, crew; and Jeff Agrall from Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach, trainee. The second was Duty Calls, with Dean Hoskin, coxswain; Gordon Hornby, crew; Jack Lee, trainee, all from Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, and Anne-Marie Woolsey from Flotilla 78 Gulfport, crew. The third vessel was the Idlewild from Division 8 with Walter Jennings, Flotilla 86, Venice, coxswain; Tom Mooney, also from Flotilla 86, crew; and Tom Alvord, Flotilla 81, Manatee, crew.

One of the most important missions carried out by the Auxiliary was radio watchstanding. The Auxiliary team at the Unified Command Post consisted of Dave Rockwell, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, acting as Auxiliary Branch Director, and the Auxiliary Communications Group (AUXCOM) led by Howard Bush, Flotilla 7-16, Gulfport. Hal Chase, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, and Chris Anderson, FL 7-16, Gulfport. Bush adapted one

of Sector’s Rescue 21 Go-Kits radios to serve as the control radio station. This eliminated the expense of moving a communications trailer.

Flotilla 75, Apollo Beach’s Ruskin Radio provided transit guard and backup communications led by Elliott Seda, Flotilla 75. Telecommunications Operators assisting were Ray Langley, Judy Clapp, Don Hebert, and Larry Binder. Jim Keene assisted in trainee status. All are members of Flotilla 75, Apollo Beach.

The Gasparilla festival was created by the society editor of the “Tampa Tribune” in partnership with civic and social leaders in the Bay area. The event was so popular that the Tampa leaders agreed to organize the parade annually. The first mock pirate invasion by the “Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla” was in May 1904, when the pirates arrived on horseback. The mock invasions continued on horseback and by automobile until 1911, the first year that the pirate krewes invaded by boat.

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The Auxiliary facility Sue Sea Q, Tony Novellino, coxswain, Charles Lambeth, crew, both from Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach; and Tracy Adkins, from Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg crew, and Jeff Agrall from Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach, trainee, patrol Seddon channel during the 2023 Gasparilla boat parade. USCG Auxiliary photo by George Papabeis

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from Tampa’s mayor, they march through the city to Ybor. The four-and-a-half-hour parade is viewed by over 300,000 citizens and includes over 50 krewes and 100 floats. Two weeks later, the Knights of Sant’Yago Illuminated night parade serves as the outgoing event for the pirate krewes.

Until after the September 11 attacks, a US Navy ship volunteered to be “attacked” by small boats of the “Ybor City Navy,” who attacked the defender by throwing stale Cuban bread and water hoses. This occurred about two weeks before the Parade of Pirates. The US Navy returned “fire” with their water hoses. Eventually, it surrendered to the Alcalde of Ybor City, who, as the story goes, was hired by Jose Gaspar to clear resistance to his impending pirate attack. After the “battle,” the navy sailors were treated to an evening on the town. This event began in 1956 and was held about two weeks before the Parade of Pirates. While the ‘defense’ was temporarily discontinued after the September 11 attacks, it has been held most years since, with the museum ship SS American Victory standing in for the US Navy.

Howard Bush, Auxiliary Communications lead, set up one of Sector St. Petersburg’s Rescue 21 Go Kits at the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office Marine Unit on Seddon Channel. Once set up, Bush called Ruskin Radio by cell phone to let them know they were ready. USCG Auxiliary photo by Chris Anderson (Both Bush and Anderson are members of Flotilla 7-16, Gulfport.)

Until 1988, the Gasparilla Pirate Festival was celebrated on the first Monday in February. In 1988, organizers moved the event to Saturday, and in 2002, to the last Saturday in January. A family-friendly children’s parade and fireworks are typically held a week before the boat parade. Also on the annual calendar is the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, which showcases more than 233 of the world’s most talented artists who turn Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park into a museum. Sporting events, music festivals, and formal krewe balls occur before and after the main event.

After Jose Gaspar and crew land at the Tampa Convention Center and take the key to the city

The Gasparilla parade is the third-largest parade in the nation and is worth seeing at least once. Ahoy, me maities! Come join us! Ω

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Pirates invade on horseback, 1904. Source: FloridaMemory.com

Operations Update

Source: Response Directorate

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=r-dept

Surface operations documents, including the new Operations Policy Manual (OPM) 16798-3E, Uniform Procurement Guide, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Ops Check List’ Rescue and Survival Systems Manual, COMDTINST M10470.10G; SAR Addendum NSS 16130-2F, Operations Excellence Program 16794-4, Risk Management Assessment Matrix, and Peace/STARR/GAR 2.0 documents are located at:

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=R-DEPT&category=telecomms-documents

(Note: You must be signed in to access this page.)

Currency maintenance for the Boat Crew Program (crew members, coxswain, and personal watercraft operators) can be found at:

https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=R-DEPT&category=ops-currency-maint

Failure to meet currency requirements in any annual or three-year cycle will cause a member ’s certification to lapse, and the designation for this status is required yearly, not met (REYR). Ω

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Background photo: Division 7 members training with members of Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg, November 2022. USCG Auxiliary photo by Howard Bush

Did you know?

Poverty Awareness

Tracy Schultz, ANACO D-Directorate Diversity & Inclusion Poverty Awareness

Poverty in the United States is increasing- nearly 12% of our population lives in poverty. (Statistics from census.gov) The poverty rate is defined as a family of 4 with an income of less than $26,696 annually. In 2021, 11.5% of Americans lived in poverty. That’s nearly 40 million people.

Working people are affected; it is not just the homeless.

Who is impacted? It might not be whom you think.

Non-Hispanic Whites (8.2% in 2020), Asian Americans (8.1% in 2020), Hispanics (17% in 2020), and Black Americans (19.5% in 2020).

How about young people?

People under 18 living in poverty increased from 14.4% in 2019 to 16.1 % in 2020.

Adults suffer from poverty, as well.

Overall, the rate of poverty for adults 18-64 is 9.4% For female heads of household families, the rate is over 23%. Where to learn more about poverty:

Census.gov has real-life stories on how poverty impacts people in the United States.

What does poverty look like in America?

It means empty refrigerators and hungry summers when there aren’t school lunches to tide kids over.

• Living in poverty means hot summers and cold winters, as families can’t afford the electricity to keep an air conditioner or heater running.

• Poverty means not having internet access to attend virtual school during the pandemic or not having a computer or phone to apply for

jobs and respond to calls for interviews.

• Poverty creates a dependence on public transit regardless of whether the city has a reliable bus and train infrastructure or not. This can limit a family’s ability to get groceries, attend doctor’s appointments, or make it to work on time.

Fighting Poverty is a personal endeavor. What can our members do?

Volunteer for or donate to organizations that help feed the hungry.

1. Donate to your local food shelf.

2. Read to kids from poor homes.

3. Understand poverty; it is pervasive, and people you interact with may be dealing with it.

4. Challenge ideas and assumptions about poverty. Example below:

One common misconception is that people experiencing homelessness choose not to work. This misconception is incredibly harmful because it negates the many uncontrollable and systemic conditions that can cause housing instability or poverty. In reality, there are many factors people have to deal with that make it hard to find employment, including loss of affordable housing, inequitable access to training and tools, and mental illness. CommonBond.org Ω

Editor’s note: Poverty may be closer than you think. Many of our members struggle with poverty and it impacts our recruitment efforts.

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Background photo by Dorothy Riley

Sector St. Petersburg Holds 43rd Blackthorn Remembrance Ceremony

Every year, Sector St. Petersburg holds a remembrance ceremony to honor the 23 Coast Guardians who lost their lives on Jan. 28, 1980. The annual ceremony in St. Petersburg is held at the Blackthorn Memorial at the northern approach to the Skyway Bridge. Due to scheduling conflicts, the 43rd Remembrance Ceremony was held on January 27, 2023.

Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, delivered introductory remarks and words of remembrance for the lives lost in the tragedy before Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, spoke as the presiding official. Crews from U.S. Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg, U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, and Coast Guard Auxiliary participated in the ceremony and memorial observance. Daniel Helou, District Captain-West, Dean Hoskin, Division Commander 7; Joe Rice-Johnson, Staff Officer-Public Affairs Division 7; and Steve Browning, Flotilla 75, Apollo Beach, attended the ceremony. Helou and Hoskin were interviewed by the press and broadcasted on WFLA Tampa Bay Channel 8 evening news.

“People don’t think an accident can happen,” said Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Captain Daniel Helou. “It happens to the best trained, most prepared.”

“If it happens to one person in the Coast Guard, it happens to all of us,” Helou added. “They had to reevaluate a lot of the safety protocols they had in place for people,” Helou said. “Sometimes, if you’re not on war footing, if you’re not in battle, you forget that the sea can take you anytime it

Wreaths donated by various individuals and groups line the walkway in front of the Blackthorn Memorial. Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District can be seen rear center greeting dignitaries and guests. USCG Auxiliary photograph by Steve Browning

Below: Daniel Helou, District Captain-West, and Dean Hoskin, Division Commander 7, at the Blackthorn Remembrance Ceremony. WFLA Channel 8 interviewed both members for the evening news broadcast. USCG Auxiliary photo by Joe Rice Johnson

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wants.”

Few members of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary remain who served at the time of the tragedy. The average age of today’s members of the Coast Guard is thirty years old, which means most were not born when this tragedy occurred. Given that the average age of Auxiliarists is considerably higher, even fewer Auxiliarists survive who remember first-hand the events of that day. It is an event that should be remembered. Not only did it constitute the greatest loss of life through a single event by the Coast Guard in peacetime, but also it changed how the Coast Guard trained its command-level officers and senior enlisted members for duty afloat.

The Blackthorn tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the Coast Guard. It was unthinkable that a sturdy buoy tender would sink within minutes and even more disturbing that nearly half of its crew drowned. Subsequent investigations by the United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation concluded that while both the captains of the Blackthorn and the Capricorn were at fault, primary responsibility rested with the captain of the Blackthorn. From

Daniel Helou, District Captain-West, and Dean Hoskin, Division Commander 7, were interviewed by WFLA Tampa Bay Channel 8 for the evening news broadcast about the Blackthorn Remembrance Ceremony. Click on the image or the link to watch the broadcast. https:// drive.google.com/file/d/1OM8FZDMIBLZqwyV8tq5beHhUb5eIkkPm/view

the Marine Casualty report:

“The board determined that the cause of the casualty was the failure of both vessels to keep well to that side of the channel which lay on their starboard (right) side. Concurring with the marine board’s determination of the cause, the Commandant emphasized in his “Action” that the failure of the persons in charge of both vessels to ascertain the intentions of the other through the exchange of appropriate whistle signals was the primary contributing cause. Additionally, Admiral Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing agreement by using only radiotelephone communications failed to be an adequate substitute for exchanging proper whistle signals.

“The collision occurred on the evening of January 28, 1980, near the junction of Mullet Key and Cut “A” Channels approximately three-quarters of a mile from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. The vessels collided nearly headon, and as a result, the port anchor of Capricorn became embedded in the port side of the Blackthorn.

“The momentum of the two vessels caused the Capricorn’s anchor chain to become taut, resulting in the Blackthorn’s capsizing. The Capricorn ran aground north of the channel, and the Blackthorn sank in the channel. Twenty-seven of the

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The memorial stone lists the names of the 23 Guardians who lost their lives when the USCGC Blackthorn sank on Jan. 28, 1980. USCG photograph

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50 Blackthorn crew members were rescued.”1

The sinking of the Blackthorn and the subsequent investigative report provided the impetus for establishing the Command and Operations School at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Commanding officers are now required to assess risks such as transiting an unfamiliar port at night and are encouraged to say no if they feel the risks involved are unnecessary. Additionally, the Coast Guard developed new training requirements, spent more money on safety equipment, and changed navigational aids in and around Tampa Bay.

As tragic and unnecessary as were the lives lost in the 1980 Blackthorn and the Capricorn collision, crews aboard Coast Guard cutters and Auxiliary operational facilities today know that safety comes first, and our training reflects this all-important worth.

After the ceremony, Dean Hoskin, Division 7 Commander noted, “I think they’ve done a great job in honoring those who have fallen, and I think that we always need to remember those who have served our country.” Ω

*1 Marine Casualty Report, USCGC Blackthorn - SS Capricorn, Collision in Tampa Bay with Loss of Life on 28 January 1980, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation Report and Commandant’s Action.

Top: Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, delivers the introductory remarks at the 43rd Blackthorn Remembrance ceremony Jan. 27, 2023,in St. Petersburg. USCG photograph

Below: Below: A Coast Guard crewmember aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft prepares to drop a wreath over where the USCGC Blackthorn collided with the Capricorn in Tampa Bay. United States Coast Guard photograph

A video that explains the Blackthorn tragedy: https://youtu.be/dLhI-NyjYRY

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February is Black History Month

The crew of the Pea Island Life Saving Station in 1890 is just one example of the many contributions of African-Americans to the Coast Guard. Read “African Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard,” at: https:// www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Minorities/African-Americans/

“Black History Month, celebrated annually during February, affords Americans an opportunity to learn sometimes under-valued and even untold details of our nation’s rich history. The observance grew out of Negro History Week, conceptualized in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and the organization that became the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). With civil rights advances, ASALH officially transitioned the celebration to a month-long observance in 1976. Every U.S. President has since officially designated February as National Black History Month.

“... Throughout the month-long celebration, all personnel are encouraged to participate in events by organizing programs highlighting African American health and wellness history and accomplishments, as well as the medical professionals serving our Nation and the Coast Guard. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, please follow established guidelines for in-person gatherings and creatively use virtual collaboration platforms and tools as necessary.” Excerpts from By “MyCG” Published Feb. 1, 2022 Ω

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S Sp p i ri r n ng g 202023 3

In Case You Hit That Delete Key Too Soon... Things You May Have Missed.

Boating Safety Application for Smart Phones

(See ALAUX 005/23)

The Coast Guard Boating Safety application has allowed smart phone users on the Apple and Android mobile operating system platforms to input a profile, email a float plan, review safety equipment requirements, and obtain emergency assistance, as well as other features. Unfortunately, the application is no longer available in the application stores since updates have not been possible. Remember to inform recreational boaters when conducting Vessel Safety Checks, Public Affairs events, and Public Education classes. Ω



Boat Crew Training Changes

(See ALAUX 003/23

PROMULGATION OF THE AUXILIARY BOAT CREW QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING HANDBOOKS:

A.) Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualification Handbook, ABQH 16794.52A

B.) Auxiliary Training Handbook – Boat Crew, ATH 16794.51A

C.) Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualification Hand-

book, ABQH 16794.52B

D.) Auxiliary Training Handbook –Boat Crew, ATH 16794.51B

This ALAUX announces the cancellation of references (A and B) and the promulgation of references (C and D). This is an update to ALAUX 041/22, Promulgation of the Auxiliary Training Handbook – Boat Crew, ATH 16794.51A and ALAUX 042/22, Promulgation of the Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualification Handbook – Boat Crew, ABQH 16794.52A.

References (C and D) were signed by the Chief Director of Auxiliary on 13 January 2023. References (C and D) lists of major changes can be found in each Handbook’s Letter of Promulgation.

No paper distribution will be made of these Handbooks. They are available on SharePoint at: CGBSX-1 - BSX-1 Directives - All Documents (SharePoint-mil.us) and the Internet at: Surface Program Manuals and Document Info (uscgaux.info)

Auxiliary members who have started the qualification process prior to release of this ALAUX, as either a crewmember, coxswain, or PWC operator under reference (A), are authorized to transfer applicable “tasks” from reference (A) to reference (C) and continue the qualification process using reference (C). Ω

18 Division 7 , District 7 USCG Auxiliary
N o a B D a g ( A s p e o (A p to
(Background: USCG image)

Auxiliary Paddlecraft Program Update

(See ALAUX 008/23)

PROMULGATION OF THE AUXILIARY PADDLECRAFT (AUXPAD) PROGRAM HANDBOOK, 16794.11A

A. Auxiliary Paddle Craft (AUXPAD) Program, COMDTINST 16794.11A

B. Auxiliary Paddlecraft (AUXPAD) Program Handbook, 16794.11A 1. This ALAUX announces the cancellation of reference (A), and the promulgation of reference (B).

2. Reference (B) was signed by the Chief Director of Auxiliary on 30 January 2023. Major changes include:

• Converted from Manual to Handbook.

• Added district cold weather patrol order guidance.

We

• Expanded qualifications for participation in the on-water activity.

3. No paper distribution will be made of this Handbook. This Handbook is available on SharePoint at: CG-BSX-1 - BSX-1 Directives - All Documents (sharepoint-mil.us) and the Internet on the AUXPAD main page at Auxiliary Paddlecraft (AUXPAD) Program or directly to the Auxiliary Paddlecraft (AUXPAD) Program Handbook.

4. Auxiliary members that have started the qualification process prior to the release of this ALAUX are authorized to transfer applicable “TASKs” from reference (A) to reference (B) and continue the qualification process using reference (B). Any further questions on PQS and the qualification process will be directed through the member’s Chain of Leadership and Management (COLM).

Click on http://agroup-bx.wow.uscgaux. info/content.php?unit=BX-GROUP&category=2023-alaux to review recent updates and changes.

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Image: USCGAUX RBS Directorate on Facebook
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encourage members to visit the Chief Director of Auxiliary website periodically.

The Auxiliary Offers Fun Adventures! Auxiliarists Visit North Pole

Source: United States Coast Guard Pacific Area

Auxiliary Chaplain Lyle Schrag and Deborah Heldt Cordone, Auxiliary Public Affairs Specialist 1 on the bow of USCGC HEALY (WAGB-20) at the North Pole, Oct 2, 2022. Photo by BM3 Wilson USCG Coast Guard Pacific Area

For information on becoming an Auxiliary Public Affairs Specialist visit https:// wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=A-DEPT&category=pa-specialist.

Public Affairs C-school is available for 2023.

Congratulations to the very first Auxiliarists to reach the North Pole aboard a Coast Guard vessel! What an exciting mission! On Sept 30, Deborah Heldt Cordone, Auxiliary Public Affairs Specialist 1 and National staff member, along with Lyle Schrag, PhD, Auxiliary Chaplain Corps, traveled to the North Pole aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter HEALY (WAGB-20).

Cordone was deployed for the entire fourmonth mission, leaving from Seattle with HEALY on July 11, to augment in the area of Public Affairs. This is her third mission aboard the icebreaker. Schrag came on board at the beginning of September to augment as the Chaplain when HEALY had a port call in Dutch Harbor, Alaska (located in the Aleutian Islands). This was his first mission aboard HEALY. Both Auxiliarists are from District 13, where

Are you interested in fun adventures and volunteering for the Coast Guard Auxiliary?

Invite your friends to visit cgaux.org for more information and to look for a flotilla near you.

For information on the Auxiliary Chaplain Support program, visit https://tinyurl. com/2ytcxuzy.

20 Division 7 , District 7 USCG Auxiliary
HEALY homeports. USCGC Healy (WAGB 20) crew members and the science team gather for a group photo at the North Pole, Oct. 2, 2022. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Deborah Heldt Cordone, Auxiliary Public Affairs Specialist 1.

Start the Year Right: Set Goals For Your Flotilla

Adapted from CALE Learning Enhancement, Eastern Washington University

What is goal setting?

Goal setting is taking active steps to achieve your desired outcome. Maybe you hope to become an instructor, flotilla staff officer, or elected leader. Each of these dreams involves setting and reaching small (and big!) goals. These major goals can be broken down into smaller, more attainable goals that will propel you toward success.

There are three types of goals: process, performance, and outcome goals.

Process goals are specific actions or ‘processes’ of performing. For example, aiming to attend every flotilla meeting in 2023. Process goals are 100% controllable by the individual.

Performance goals are based on personal standards. For example, Earn two new qualifications. Personal goals are mostly controllable.

Outcome goals are based on winning or achieving. For an Auxiliary member, this could look like winning an election for an elected leadership position. Outcome goals are very difficult to control because of other outside influences.

Process, performance, and outcome goals have a linear relationship. This is important because if you achieve your process goals, you give yourself a good chance to achieve your performance goals. Similarly, when you achieve your performance goals, you have a better chance of achieving your outcome goal.

General Goal Setting Tips

• Set both short- and long-term goals.

• Set SMART goals.

• Set goals that motivate you.

• Write your goals down and put them in a place you can see.

• Adjust your goals as necessary.

• Recognize and reward yourself when you meet a goal.

Set all three types of goals- process, performance, and outcome – but focus on executing your smaller process goals to give you the best chance for success!

What is a SMART goal?

• Specific – highly detailed statement on what you want to accomplish (use who, what, where, how etc.)

• Measurable- how will you demonstrate and evaluate how your goal has been met?

• Attainable- they can be achieved by your hard work and dedication- make sure your goals are within your ability to achieve.

• Relevant- how do your goals align with your objectives?

• Time-based- set one or more target datesthese are the “by when” to guide your goal to successful and timely completion (include deadlines, frequency, and dates.)

Every staff officer is encouraged to write their goals for 2023. Share them with your elected leaders. Present them at a flotilla staff meeting. Is there something a fellow staff officer can do to help you achieve your goals? How can you contribute to the success of another staff officer’s goal? Working as a team increases your unit’s likelyhood of success.

Intercom Spring 2023 21
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(Image from Unsplash.com)
A GOAL without a PLAN is a WISH!

Division 7 Facilities Assist the Coast Guard with Practicing Air Drops.

Articles and photos by George Papabeis

One of the more interesting operational activities for the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard with the HC-130 Hercules aircraft drop mission. MISS DAISY and her crew enjoyed that exercise Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.

Coxswain Dean Bell, Flotilla 79, Tampa; Tracy Adkins, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg; George Papabeis and Steve Williams, a trainee from Flotilla 74, Brandon, were aboard MISS DAISY.

DUTY CALLS with Dean Hoskins, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, coxswain; Paul Ruckert, Flotilla 75, Apollo Beach, and Charles Lambeth, Flotilla 78 St. Pete Beach, crew, served as a standby vessel. MISS DAISY put in at Ft. DeSoto boat ramp at 3:30 p.m. and transited through Bunce’s Pass to Tierra Verde Marina to pick up Coast Guard personnel, Airman Gabriel Sadell, AMTII Andrew Esker. They had spools to retrieve the lines of the air-dropped packages.

The packages included parachuted cans (two dropped) and a string of bags (two dropped). The cans contained radios, food, and emergency lights. The bags contained life rafts and other survival gear. HC-130s can also parachute drop water pumps. Ω

22 Division 7 , District 7 USCG Auxiliary

All

Intercom Spring 2023 23
Opposing page: Dean Bell Flotilla 79, Tampa, coxswain for the Feb. 6 mission, watchs as the approach of an HC-130 Hercules aircraft. Top left: Tracy Adkins, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, sits on the bow watching the Hercules approach. Top Right: Earlier in the evening, an HC-130 Hercules aircraft passes low over Miss Daisy. Left: Steve Williams, Flotilla 74 Brandon, prepares to assist with bringing a can on board. One of the two Coast Guard members is behind him. photos by George Papabeis, Flotilla 74, Brandon.

Volunteers Needed

“Got something left in the old tank?” asked COMO Pete Scamardo, Commander, District 8 Coastal,“Unfinished business or an un desire to make a difference? We may have just the thing to that. ... Volunteer for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary!

Scamardo said many retiring mariners think they are too old. But as a professional mariner, “you’ve earned your stripes. Your experience is invaluable. Why not use it for a greater good ... saving lives?’’ he asked. Auxiliary members can put in as many or as few hours as they choose.

ete Scamardo, or an unfilled hing to fix ary!” too old. tripes. reater Guard,

He suggested some of the areas that volunteers can help become “force multipliers” for the active-duty Coast Guard, including:

• Culinary assistance: working with active-duty chefs on bases or aboard cutters. Recently a request for 144 Auxiliarists with culinary certification was put out to assist at the southern border;

efs on 44 to assist

• Surface operations: patrolling the waterways and providing safety zones for various waterway events.

• Communications: working side by side with active-duty watchstanders at Coast Guard stations and Vessel Tra Service.

e-duty el ffic e ng.

• Public education: the number one objective of the Auxiliary is sharing your knowledge by teaching safe boating.

ommeruired safe yone on n

• Vessel examinations: inspecting recreational or commercial vessels, ensuring they are equipped with required safe boating equipment, including life jackets for everyone on board.

“There are roughly 22,000 Auxiliarists today,” Scamardo said. “Our job is to assist the active duty with its mission of safe boating. We stand alongside 38,000 men and women of the United States Coast Guard. They call us a force multiplier. We are there to save lives,” he continued. “So, are you interested? It’s as simple as going to your computer and typing cgaux.org.”

Source: Edited excerpt from “Auxiliarists Serve As ‘Force Multiplier’ For U.S. Coast Guard,” the Waterways Journal Weekly, January 21, 2023. https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/?s=auxiliarists+serve+as+force+multipliers

rdo said f safe n of mul, are utery, Januarists+-

24 Division 7 , District 7 USCG Auxiliary
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USCG Auxiliary Photos: Top: Unidentified culinary assistant from AUXCHEF Facebook page. Midpage: Terry Hershman, Telecommunications watchstander. Bottom: Dennis Smith, Auxiliary boat crew member.

USCG Auxiliary International Affairs Directorate Interpreter Corps

https://uscgauxidir.wixsite.com/interpretercorps

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary Interpreter Corps is a component of the USCG Auxiliary International

Affairs Department. Interpreters are members of the USCG Auxiliary. They offer their linguistic skills to the US Coast Guard and other agencies of the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense.

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Interpreter Corps members measure up to the highest quality standards and have already provided over 50,000 mission hours, mainly in Coast Guard Operational Support. Interpreter Corps FAQs

Q – What is an Interpreter?

A – One who translates and interprets a language into another language.

Q – What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator

A - The interpreter interprets oral communication, while a translator translates written text. Both interpretation and translation presuppose a certain love of language and deep knowledge of more than one tongue

Q – Why do we need Interpreters?

A – Not everyone speaks or uses English as their basic language. The Coast Guard needs to communicate clearly with individuals or groups that don’t speak English. Professional Interpreters are very costly, not familiar with CG terminology, and not always ready or qualified to assist. That is where the Auxiliary Interpreters come to the “rescue.” We are Always Ready to assist when and where needed.

Q – How does the Coast Guard use Interpreters?

A – Here are a few examples of successful Interpreter missions:

• Air Medevac

• Boarding Team

• Cutter Deployments

• Communications Watch Standing

• Foreign VIP Tours

• Foreign SAR Training Events

• Foreign MSO Training Events

• Foreign Border Guard Training

• Basic Emergency Training at CG Units

• Translations of CG documents, foreign speeches, media articles

• Translations of MSO Guidelines

• Translations of Incident Investigating Documents

• Foreign Conferences

• Other authorized CG missions

• Translation of Auxiliary documents/training materials

• Participate in CG courts of inquiry where witnesses do not speak English

• Translate radio recordings from foreign vessels involved in accidents

Q – Who can qualify for the USCG Auxiliary Interpreter Corps?

A – Any member of the USCG Auxiliary who speaks a foreign language in addition to English may submit an Application online.

To apply, click on this link: http://icdept.cgaux. org/interpreter/interpreter_application.php

Becoming an Interpreter begins with joining the Auxiliary!

Intercom Spring 2023 25
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Congresswoman Luna Attends Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach, Meeting.

U.S. Congresswoman Anna Luna was a guest at the Madeira Beach location of Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach. Congresswoman Luna informed the flotilla members that she represented the Thirteenth Congressional district in her first term in Congress. Luna talked about her passion for supporting the Bay Pines VA hospital, their desperate need to hire more nursing and support staff, and her passion for supporting clean water and keeping our bays and waterways clean and healthy.

Members had a chance to ask questions, and afterward, she walked the room shaking hands, inviting anyone wishing to visit her Seminole o

Ron Shouse, Flotilla 78 Commander, was supported by Dean Hoskin, Auxiliary Division 7 Commander, and Tony Novellino, District Directorate Chief-Logistics and member of Flotilla 78. Ω

Dean Hoskin, Division 7 Commander, and Tony Novellino, District Directorate Chief-Logistics and Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach member stand with Congresswoman Anna Luna, U.S. Representative, 13th District, by the front table during the meeting of Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach, on Feb. 13. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photo

Congresswoman Anna Luna holds up a Division 7 challenge coin presented to her by the members. To her left stands Ron Shouse, Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach Commander, and to her right are Tony Novellino, District Directorate Chief-Logistics and Dean Hoskin, Division 7 Commander. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photo

26 Division 7 , District 7 USCG Auxiliary
ce.

Upon the Sea

Upon the sea, a perilous tale

Upon the sea, our heroes sail

Upon the sea, do perils lie

Upon the sea, our heroes fly

Upon the sea, a ship’s aground

Upon the sea, our heroes pound

Upon the sea, a terrible sight

Upon the sea, our heroes take flight

Upon the sea, though we may die Upon the sea, our heroes try

Upon the sea, we risk our lives

Upon the sea, the Coast Guard thrives.

Intercom Spring 2023 27
A poem by Mike Bronson, Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater, written upon his retirement from the Coast Guard. Reprinted from “Channel Marker,” a quarterly publication of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater, District 7, Lisa Repetto, Editor Background photo: Ship approaches for replenishment-at-sea. Released by Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Wolpert, Carrier Strike Group 8, justin.wolpert@cvn75.navy.mil via DVIDS Colorized for artistic purposes. Mike Bronson, Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater.

2023 National Boy Scout Jamboree

Source: ALCOAST 046/23 (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/3467483)

The Boy Scouts of America has announced that the next National Scout Jamboree will be held at the

The Coast Guard will host an exhibit at the National Scout Jamboree (NSJ), on July 19-28, 2023, at the Bechtel Summit Reserve in Beckley, West Virginia. This high-visibility event presents a great opportunity for the Coast Guard to educate and inform a target audience of future leaders from around the nation about our Service’s missions and objectives. The NSJ brings together male and female Scouts, and adult leaders for training and outdoor adventures and experiences. Scout attendance is expected to exceed 40,000, with an additional 10,000 daily visitors.

following functional areas: administration, operations, exhibits, planning, logistics, merit badges, Sea Scouts, Communications, Public Affairs, and safety / medical liaison. Prior scouting experience is not required; this opportunity is open to male and female Auxiliary members. Volunteers must submit the following information to CMC Shawn Burns, Command Master Chief, NSJ Task Force, at Shawn.A.Burns@uscg.mil.: a. Name

b. Rank/rate/position description and contact information.

c. Present unit and description of duties

d. United States Coast Guard /Auxiliary experience and specialties

During previous Jamborees, the Coast Guard’s

g Jamborees, , the Coast Guards exhi h bi b t required d 80-100 active duty, reserve, civilian, and retired volunteers. Volunteers will have the opportuunity to wo w rk k directly with th membe bers r of f thhe Armymy, Ai A r Fo F rccee, Mar a in ineses, Na N vyy, an a d the e Na N tion o al Guaard r and d comomplpletete po porttio i n ns s of f thheieir r In Inci c deent nt Commaand n Sysystetem m P Peersrsononaal Quuaalificcati t on o St Standaardrds s in n a Deeppar a tm tment t of Defefennse s exe x rc rcisse e en envvironm n enntt. .

Vo Vollu t nt n ee eers s are re neeeededed i immmemedidiatatelely y to o fill vaari rou ous le lead a er ershshiipp, li l a aiissoonn, , annd d sta taff pos o it itiioons ns in th the e

e. Name and contact information of supervisor.

f. Command approval (email, memo, or letter)

g. List up to 4 positions of interest as outlined in paragraph three.

e. Name and contact t information of f. Command memo, or g. g List up p to 4 posi s tiions s of interes e t as a outtlineed in n paaragraaph threreee.

R Reefer r ALC L OA OAST 046 4 /2 /23 for mo m re r inffor o maattiion n an and d thhe ap applplicicatatioion pr prococesesss. . (ht h tpps: s //contten e t. goovdvdeeliverry. y c com/ m ac accocoununtss/U/USSDDHSHSCGG//bbulullele- g ti t nss/33446677448833) ) Ω

Refer to ALCOAST 046/23 for more information and the application process. ( govdelivery tins/3467483

28 Division 7 , District 7 USCG Auxiliary
Photo credit: Boy Scout Jamboree from BSA webpage.

AUXPAD Program: Perfect for Florida Weather!

Source: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=B-DEPT&category=auxpad

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has initiated a paddlecraft safety outreach program called Auxiliary Paddlecraft, or AUXPAD. There are two components, AUXPAD Ashore Outreach, and AUXPAD Afloat Outreach. AUXPAD Ashore will include traditional dockside Auxiliary boating safety activities such as public education, public affairs, literature drops at vendors, and vessel safety exams. AUXPAD Afloat is a new element in which the Auxiliary will go on the water in kayaks to deliver safety messages to novice and occasional paddlers.

Paddle sports are a fast-growing segment of recreational boating in the US. Unfortunately, as participation has grown, so have the number of fatalities and accidents related to paddlesports. The Coast Guard wants the Auxiliary to educate this community about safety practices.

The program targets new paddlers, novice paddlers, and occasional paddlers. Auxiliary paddlers will be expected to be experienced and obtain the required training and/or certifications.

The program has three major safety messages for the public: the need to have and wear a proper life jacket, the need to be prepared and have proper safety equipment, and the need for general awareness about all aspects of paddling safety, including situational awareness and the need to practice skills.

AUXPAD Ashore Outreach involves Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) activities targeted toward recreational paddlecraft users. Ashore activities include classroom outreach and instruction, literature distribution, promotion of safety courses and materials, paddlecraft vessel safety checks (VSC), and promotional displays. Any Auxiliarist may execute AUXPAD Ashore at a pier, dockside, convention center, store location, classroom, or similar venue.

AUXPAD Afloat Outreach is an extension of ashore activities. AUXPAD Afloat Outreach activities place

qualified AUXPAD operators in direct contact with recreational paddlecraft users on the water. It promotes paddlecraft RBS via personal example and allows Auxiliarists to assimilate with the paddlecraft community and develop networks to promote boating safety. Only kayaks offered for use and approved by the Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) may be utilized for AUXPAD Outreach Afloat activities.

Auxiliary Paddlecraft operators will work directly with coastal kayakers while on the water, serving as exemplars of paddling skill and safety practices and sources of safety information. Patrols will be anywhere paddlers congregate to interact with them. This is an RBS mission, not an operations mission.

For more information on how to qualify for the onthe-water program, have your kayak approved as an AUXPAD facility, and other questions about program requirements, visit http://wow.uscgaux.info/ content.php?unit=B-DEPT&category=auxpad

Intercom Spring 2023 29
Photo: USCG Boating Safety Poster by Dorothy Riley

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