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 http://A07007.wow.uscgaux.info

We’re on the web!

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.

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

Auxiliary Assists During 2023 Frogman Swim

By George Papabeis,

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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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