Coast Guard iCommandant

LORAN Signal Termination - LSU Wildwood, NJ

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:45:00 +0000

LORAN Signal Termination - LSU Wildwood, NJ
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians,
On Tuesday, 8 February at 1500 EST, domestic LORAN C operations ceased as all signals were secured. This short video provides some scenes from LORAN Support Unit Wildwood, NJ where I joined my fellow LORANimals to witness the shutdown. I offered CDR Gary Thomas, Commanding Officer of LSU Wildwood, the opportunity to provide a commentary and his thoughts are provided below.

ADM A
(LT ALLEN, Commanding Officer, LORAN Station Lampang, Thailand, 1974-75)

Guest Blog by CDR Gary M. Thomas,
Commanding Officer US Coast Guard Loran Support Unit
Wildwood, New Jersey

Yesterday, VADM Papp presided over the termination of the Loran C signal
transmission after more than 67 years of Coast Guard involvement with Loran,
in accordance with the President's intent and the 2010 Coast Guard
Appropriation law. The Coast Guard's Navigation Center (NAVCEN), who was the
Operational Commander of the Loran C system, was charged with development
of the Operations Order to execute the termination of the signal. At 1958Z,
CAPT Ed Thiedeman, Commanding Officer of the NAVCEN, gave the order for all
stations to secure transmission of the Loran C signal, bring to close era
of radio navigation, one in which the United States Coast Guard established
the Gold Standard for engineering, operations and system availability.

As the reports confirming signal termination rolled in, starting with the
Northeast United States chain and moving from east to west, finally
finishing with Alaska, there was more than one person who felt a bit
saddened when they heard stations that they had served at call out that
the signal had been secured. The securing of the transmitters left an eerie
quiet for a system that was known worldwide for its 99.7% system availability
and 99.9% system performance. The quiet poignantly marked the end of an era.

Admiral Allen, who witnessed the event while at the Loran Support Unit
(LSU), had a hand in securing the last signal, when the LSU secured their
test rate as the last station to broadcast a Loran C signal for the United
States. Standing along side, and with the assistance of a veteran of Loran
A service from the 1950s and two veterans of Loran C service dating back
to the 1960s, Admiral Allen threw the switch securing the signal
transmission of the 8090 Master Test rate for the final time.

Following the securing of the transmitters, celebrations were held at both
NAVCEN and the LSU. However, the celebrations were not about securing the
signal, but rather to honor the service of the men and women who stood the
watch for more than 65 years, from remote places like Attu, Alaska so far
west that they say "From Here You Can See Tomorrow", to small islands like
Johnston Island which had the Loran station and little more, to Havre,
Montana where the tower was the tallest structure for miles, to Sylt,
Germany and many other European, Mediterranean and Pacific countries. It was
never the most glamorous duty available, but it was one of the most critical
duties that help our country navigation through several wars and showed the
civilian community just what could be done with precision position,
navigation and timing services.

At the LSU, the event was closed with a simple toast "To those who stood
the watch" to recognize all who did and all of the men and women, military
and civilian, who supported them.

History Becomes Real When You Participate

USCG Band 2010 Performance Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:32:00 +0000

USCG Band 2010 Performance Schedule
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians:
Every year the U.S. Coast Guard Band thrills audiences with their musical talent and delightful songs ranging from swing to jazz. Hundreds of performances each year are given for official military functions, public concerts, and patriotic musical support at national conventions and meetings. Click here for the 2010 performance schedule.
A proud musical representative of the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, the Band appeared at presidential and cabinet level functions and regularly performs in Leamy Hall Auditorium on the grounds of the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the Band's at-home venue. The Coast Guard Band also tours regularly throughout the United States, and has performed in the former Soviet Union, Canada, United Kingdom and recently in Taiwan. Here are a couple upcoming events I thought you?d like to know about:

Honoring Black History
The United States Coast Guard Band presents a concert in honor of African American History Month on Sunday, February 14, 2010, at 2 p.m. in Leamy Hall Auditorium at the Coast Guard Academy.
The highlighted work on the program, conducted by Assistant Director CWO3 Richard Wyman, is "New Morning for the World 'Daybreak for Freedom,'" by New Hampshire composer Joseph Schwantner. The work includes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King. Also featured on the concert is music by African-American composers Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, and William Grant Still. MU1 Lisa Williamson, soprano, performs MUC Ian Frenkel's arrangement of spirituals, "Songs for Freedom."
This concert is free, open to the public, and no tickets are required. For more information call the Band's Concert Information Line at (860) 701-6826 or follow the Band blog

Young Artists Solo Competition
The United States Coast Guard Band has announced its fourth annual Young Artists Solo Competition. Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 in Leamy Hall Auditorium. The selected winner will be announced during the week after the audition date. A performance by this student in conjunction with the Coast Guard Band's public concert series is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in Leamy Hall.

CGC Blackthorn Memorial (Tampa, FL): A Post Script

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:25:00 +0000

CGC Blackthorn Memorial (Tampa, FL): A Post Script
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians,

Many of you commented on our Facebook page regarding the BLACKTHORN Memorial. In my remarks I mentioned a friend that I lost in the tragedy, CWO BOSN Jack Roberts. Jack had served with me when I was Operations Officer on GALLATIN (1975-77). Following the ceremony one of the BLACKTHORN survivors came up to me and talked about how much he admired Jack. I offered him the chance to tell all of us and his guest post follows.

ADM A

Admiral Allen -
Let me begin by saying what an honor and a pleasure it was meeting you and speaking with you last week in St. Petersburg at the Blackthorn Memorial Service. This annual commemoration is a fitting tribute to our shipmates. I cherish my memories of each of them and it's so hard to believe that thirty years has passed. At the service you requested that I share some of my memories of CWO2 Jack Roberts with you. I was assigned to Blackthorn coming out of Boot Camp in 1979. Going aboard a buoy tender as a Seaman Apprentice straight out of boot camp was quite an indoctrination into the Coast Guard - to say the least. I'm sure you'll agree they are some of the hardest working Coast Guard units afloat. Mr. Roberts was the head of our deck department. He made an immediate impression on me as a hard-working, experienced, and tenacious Coast Guardsman. He ran a tight deck department and expected nothing short of excellence from all of us. His salt and pepper hair and well trimmed beard gave him the look of experience and wisdom - both of which he had. His South Mississippi dialect was very distinctive and just added more to his unique character and demeanor. Mr. Roberts related well to the enlisted men, he had definitely walked in our boots. On the night of the collision, I was standing watch during the special sea detail as a lookout on the forecastle with Mr. Roberts. We were both ready to get back to Galveston, and together we stood watch for the last time. As the special sea detail was relaxed to a modified special sea detail, Mr. Roberts suggested I lay below to get some rest for the impending sea watch that I was to stand as we cleared the sea buoy leaving the Tampa shipping channel. Following the collision and my escape from the capsized and flooding Blackthorn, I would encounter Mr. Roberts one last time. He was unconscious and unresponsive as we struggled to keep him afloat. These memories are painful. Again, I cherish my memories of Jack Roberts and our other twenty-two shipmates that perished that night. I take solace in knowing that they "sail with one more divine."

Respectfully yours,

Steve Coleman
USCG Veteran
USCGC Blackthorn survivor

MSD Nashville Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:53:00 +0000

MSD Nashville Visit
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians

I had the opportunity this week to visit Marine Safety Detachment Nashville, TN. We thank LCDR Josh McTaggart and his Guardian team for a great All Hands and some insightful questions.

MSD Nashville performs the full suite of maritime Safety, Security and Stewardship missions for nearly 1,000 miles of navigable waterways spanning 4 states, including vast portions of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.

MSD Nashville was first established as a Port Safety Unit and later came under the operational control of Marine Safety Office Paducah, KY as a Marine Safety Detachment. In Spring of 2009, MSD Nashville was reorganized and now reports directly to Sector Ohio Valley. Nashville is responsible for nearly all of the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, an area as large as or larger than any of the Sector?s three Marine Safety Units, as measured in both navigable river miles and total square miles. Large quantities of coal and fertilizer move on these waterways, as well as industrial chemicals.

They have a strong team as evidenced by the large number of Reservists and Auxiliarist who attended the All Hands.

A great unit in a great location, Music City USA.

ADM A

SOUTHCOM Coast Guard Reservists Support Haiti Response

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Guest Blog by Captain Doug Dawson, Commanding Officer,
Coast Guard Reserve Unit US Southern Command

CGRU USSOUTHCOM is one of four reserve units that support the Commandant Commands (COCOMS), the others being CGRU US Northern Command, CGRU US Joint Forces Command, and CGRU US Transportation Command. These units consist of about 20 senior officers and enlisted personnel. Unit members are fully integrated into the COCOM Directorate staff or "J codes." Members are often called upon for their expertise with maritime/port operations and knowledge of interagency coordination, however, like all Joint Staff Officers, they must be thoroughly familiar with the capabilities of all the services and the DoD Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES).

Soon after the earthquake struck Haiti Coast Guard Reserve Unit, US Southern Command was ready to support. Within 24 hours of the quake two personnel reported for duty; within 48 hours we had four personnel on-board. There are currently 11 personnel on Title 10 orders in support of Operation Unified Response. Unit personnel are serving as planners, watch standers, legal consultants, liaison officers, and mobility officers. One member is deployed to Haiti and four others are on stand by for deployment.

Lt Noah Maignan is in Haiti serving as SOUTHCOM's liaison to Joint Task Force-HAITI and Special Advisor to the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, JTF-HAITI, Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center. CDR Steve Hill (CGRU XO), MECS Charles Ferrante and MSTC Matt Rouse are standing watch at the Crisis Action Center CG desk. CDR Drew Cromwell, CDR (sel) Tiffany Danko, and LCDR Mike Crippen serve as senior Maritime and Air Operations Planners. LCDR Scott Hale provides valuable legal assistance to the Command. ME2 George Jacobi and GM2 Jorge Fernandez de Lara ensure that CG and other DoD personnel are properly processed prior to deployment to Haiti. YN1 Julie Bosman supports the CG LNO shop and ensures CGRU member's orders and berthing is taken care of.

Our unit provides US SOUTHCOM with surge capacity in support of all three core reserve functions: Maritime Homeland Security; Domestic/Expeditionary Support to National Defense; and Domestic Natural & Manmade Disaster Response & Recovery. CGRU SOUTHCOM's support of Operation Unified Response demonstrates the value of the unit, and provides a model for the other COCOM CGRU's when responding to major operations.

Sector CO's conference (Orlando, FL)

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:27:00 +0000

Sector CO's conference (Orlando, FL)
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians,

This week a number of senior leaders are meeting with our Sector Commanders at their annual conference. Yesterday I spent some time discussing the status of our Authorization Bill as it relates to Modernization, deployment of our new maintenance program to the small boat and patrol communities, and the FY2011 budget. We also had a good discussion regarding SAR staffing, doctrine and operating procedures. As we have reviewed our response to cases over the last several years there has been much discussion regarding how our operations centers are staffed and how we manage SAR cases. These are healthy discussions and we need to continually assess our readiness in all of our mission areas and look for areas where we need to change and adapt ... the hallmark of a change centric organization. I did pass on a personal standard I have used for over thirty years of SAR operations. If you have even a generalized location of an event and doubt as to personal safety ... launch. In short hand, doubt plus datum equals do something (D3).

ADM A

Senior Leadership Nominations and Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:34:00 +0000

Guardians,

Earlier today, we released an All Hands email regarding Senior Leadership nominations and an announcement. Here is the text of that email:

I am pleased to announce the new leadership team which will assume their positions when VADM Papp relieves me as Commandant on 25 May 2010.

Secretary Napolitano has forwarded and President Obama has approved the nominations of Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara for promotion to Vice Admiral and assignment as Vice Commandant; Rear Admiral Robert C. Parker for promotion to Vice Admiral and assignment as Commander, Atlantic Area; and Rear Admiral Manson K. Brown for promotion to Vice Admiral and assignment as Commander, Pacific Area. Vice Admiral John P. Currier will continue to serve as the Chief of Staff. The President has forwarded these nominations to the Senate for its consideration.

Appointment to these billets and promotion as appropriate will occur following confirmation by the Senate.

Rear Admiral Brian M. Salerno will be assigned as the Deputy Commandant for Operations; this position does not require Senate confirmation. Additional flag assignments will be announced at a later date.

We have been fortunate to have the service of Vice Admiral David Pekoske, our current Vice Commandant and Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge, our current Pacific Area Commander. Both have made enormous contributions to our Service as members of the Leadership Council and throughout their careers. I truly appreciate their dedication and commitment to position the Service for future success. We are a better Coast Guard because of them.

Over the next few months, we will work to have a seamless transition to a new leadership team so our men and women can continue to execute and support our missions without disruption. We owe that to you, our Active Duty, Reserves, Civilians and Auxiliarists, and to the American public.

Semper Paratus!

Admiral Thad W. Allen
Commandant

St Elizabeths New Coast Guard Headquarters Building

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:38:00 +0000

St Elizabeths New Coast Guard Headquarters Building
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians,
I'm pleased to report that the new Coast Guard Headquarters building was approved for construction on January 7, 2010 by the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal government's planning agency for the National Capital Region, allowing the project to proceed on schedule. This new facility will be a part of the consolidated U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters campus being developed on the historic St. Elizabeths Hospital site near the Anacostia River in SE Washington, DC approximately 2 miles from our current Headquarters building. The campus will be developed in phases and, when complete, will support a population of 14,000 employees department wide. The Coast Guard will be the first to occupy the site scheduled for 2013.
The construction required for the Coast Guard occupancy is funded and on schedule. It includes the new headquarters building, parking, utilities, support spaces and the Coast Guard Operations Center. The aerial view here shows the location for the Coast Guard building on the campus. Other construction, including renovation of historic buildings, is scheduled for completion during 2014-2016.
A rendering of the new Coast Guard Headquarters building is also shown. This building will meet criteria for a gold rating in Leadership in Energy and Environment (LEED)the 2nd highest certification as set by the U. S. Green Building Council. The building will include robust technology infrastructure, state of the art conference rooms, a child care center with capacity for 120 children, and a medical and dental clinic for military personnel. Shared support facilities on campus will include a fitness center, cafeterias, and additional conference center spaces.
You can watch a short video about the plan for revitalizing this historic campus for DHS' headquarters here.

Mrs. Lola Poisson Joseph - Spouse of Haitian Ambassador to the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:29:00 +0000

Mrs. Lola Poisson Joseph - Spouse of Haitian Ambassador to the U.S.
Originally uploaded by icommandant

Guest post from Portia Davidson (Workforce Policy Advisor in CG-12B):

I had the opportunity to attend a luncheon in mid-January which focused on enhancing diversity and creating opportunities for all people within the public sector. Mrs. Lola Poisson Joseph, wife of the Haitian Ambassador to the United States, Raymond Joseph, attended this event. Mrs. Poisson Joseph told me that her husband wanted the men and women of the Coast Guard to know how much "He personally appreciated the Coast Guard's efforts as first responders to the earthquake tragedy. Their work is greatly appreciated and admired by all the Haitian people."

In the photograph, Mrs. Poisson Joseph is seated in the middle.

Ambassador Joseph is planning to attend the Coast Guard's Diversity Leadership Summit which will occur from 20-22 April 2010 at the Westin Hotel in Alexandria, VA. The purpose of the Summit is to further educate our internal and external stakeholders on the benefits of inclusion, equity, and respect for people of all backgrounds. It will be an honor to host Ambassador Joseph at this wonderful event.

Modernization Series: Asset Project Office

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:07:00 +0000

Guest Post by VADM Currier, Coast Guard Chief of Staff:

Established in early 2009, the Asset Project Office (APO) fills a gap between acquisition of an asset and sustainment throughout its life. It will manage the total ownership costs of our legacy and future assets in alignment with the Coast Guard Logistics Business Model. The APO is making critical contributions to the Surface Forces Logistics Center's (SFLC's ) new Patrol Boat Product Line (PBPL), which includes responsibility for support of the 87 foot Coastal Patrol Boat (CPB), the 110 foot Patrol Boat (WPB), and the Fast Response Cutter (FRC). The APO is determining and planning the new FRC's maintenance schedule, training cycle, facilities and equipment needs, and life-cycle costs, making it among the first new acquisitions expected to be delivered under the new business model. CAPT James Sebastian (APO Commanding Officer) provides an update on the work of the Asset Project Office on DCMS Log.

Coast Guard Honorees in Latina Style Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:12:00 +0000

Guardians,

I am pleased to announce that two of our Coast Guard members, Commander Alicia Garcia Vantran (Flight Surgeon and Medical Doctor assigned to the Clinic in Headquarters) and Ms. Irma Edys Fuentes (Civil Engineering Unit Miami), were honored by Latina Style Magazine for their outstanding military service to the Nation. They were among 12 members selected from all the military services and the National Guard Bureau. According to the magazine:

"The men and women of the active and reserve branches continue to work in traditional and nontraditional operations sustaining readiness and core capabilities while building a future where they can operate to fight and lead for their country. LATINA Style's mission is to ensure Latinas are recognized for their commitment and accomplishes this by honoring brave Latinas in the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, National Guard Bureau, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Defense Logistics Agency. These 12 active-duty service members and Department of Defense civilians are Latinas who serve the nation in the defense of our freedom and are outstanding examples of leadership, dedication and bravery."

Congratulations again to CDR Vantran and Ms. Edys!

Coast Guard Auxiliary National Training Conference (NTRAIN)

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Coast Guard Auxiliary N-Train
Originally uploaded by icommandant

Guest post by RADM Sally Brice-O'Hara, Deputy Commandant for Operations (CG-DCO):

This year's Coast Guard Auxiliary National Training Conference (NTRAIN) 2010 concluded on Sunday. The theme was "Leadership, Performance, Readiness". The culmination of extensive joint efforts between Auxiliary and active duty leadership enhances Auxiliary surge capability and capacity to support the active duty workforce, and ultimately improves Coast Guard mission effectiveness. The Coast Guard Auxiliary provides critical reinforcement, not only within our local communities but expanding to national and international response missions, such as the Haiti earthquake.

Auxiliarists have provided vital support in wake of the Haiti tragedy. Immediately following the earthquake event, eight Auxiliary Creole-French interpreters volunteered their service and stand ready to utilize their language skills to contribute to the ongoing response efforts. In addition, Auxiliary members are standing watch in the Seventh Coast Guard District's Joint Information Center to handle public information needs. Also of particular note were the efforts of Mr. Robert Nelson, Director, USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs, who established a system that allowed him to monitor social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook for reports of people in distress. Mr. Nelson also helped coordinate the development of a distress SMS Short Code through the Department of State to allow those in Haiti to send distress text messages. Due to the thousands of text messages that were received, additional Auxiliary members were brought in to assist in filtering messages.

America's Volunteer Guardians live the Coast Guard's Core Values above and beyond the call of duty. The approximate 30,000 members offer their time, skills and resources. The volunteer efforts of the Auxiliarists, through vessel safety checks, safe boating courses, and search and rescue, is immeasurable. I recently issued an ALCOAST that moves the Auxiliary Trident Program one step further in providing additional support to the field. ALCOAST 045/10 announced the release of twelve new and twelve revised and updated Prevention and Response Performance Qualification Standards (PQS) for the Auxiliary Trident Program. The new PQS is the culmination of an extensive joint effort on behalf of Auxiliary and Active Duty Leadership. The Auxiliary must continue its forward-leaning support of Coast Guard missions, and progressively steer its evolution as a volunteer service through well-planned and well managed change in order to improve mission execution within a Modernized Coast Guard.

In the picture Anne Lockwood (left), CG Auxiliary Public Education Director, explains the workings of an inflatable lifejacket to Commodore Robin Freeman.

Haitian Relief Operations: Forward Operating Base GTMO

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:20:00 +0000

VADM Currier Conducting All Hands Session
Originally uploaded by icommandant

Guest Post from VADM J. P. Currier, Chief of Staff:

On Friday, I had the distinct honor of visiting our dedicated men and women on the front lines of support for our operational partners involved in Haitian Relief Operations. I was very proud of our mission support and operations personnel operating from Guantanamo Bay Naval Station (GTMO) as I witnessed firsthand their hard work in support of this important international humanitarian effort.

I met with mission support personnel that stood up and continue to operate at a high pace at our logistics' cell Forward Operating Base (FOB). At the base's hub on the leeward side of GTMO (near the airstrip), humanitarian supply movement is executed flawlessly under our bi-level support model. On the windward side of the island, I watched with pride as mission support personnel worked tirelessly to support vessels inport for maintenance, repair, and logistics; often augmenting engineering work parties to enable where our cutter crews receive much needed time off inport. I sat down with CGC LEGARE's Commanding Officer, CDR Scott Bauby, for a 30 minute frank and open discussion on Haitian Operations, support, and way forward for better service to our fleet. The material condition of the cutter, and high crew morale during this high tempo operation was noteworthy and I applaud Scott for his leadership. CMC Kevin Isherwood and I received an informative brief from CDR Charlene Downey and LT Bryan Burkhalter of MSST 91103 (Los Angeles/Long Beach) on their current operational engagement at GTMO. We then met with the entire MSST for an all hands where I had the pleasure recognizing several outstanding individuals for their hard work and adherence to our core values.

In addition to visiting Coast Guard people, I also met with RDML Patricia Wolfe, J4 cell lead for the Joint Task Force (JTF) in GTMO, pier-side while an LCU was being loaded with humanitarian supplies bound for Haiti. We had an informative discussion on current ops support and I was proud to hear how well our Coast Guard men and women are integrating into the JTF structure. At my meeting with GTMO NAVSTA CO, CAPT Steven Blaisdell, I discussed Coast Guard interests in GTMO with respect to our logistics footprint and preparations for possible engagement in Operation Vigilant Sentry.

To conclude the visit, I had the honor of presenting CG Air Station Miami's Enlisted Person of the Year Award to Petty Officer Carlos Rodriguez. Carlos, a Store Keeper serving detached duty in at AVDET GTMO, set a shining example this past year and was a real leader in standing up FOB GTMO in support of Haitian Relief Operations. I would like to thank everyone at FOB GTMO, especially CAPT Jim Sebastian and LCDR Eric Carter, for operationalizing our modernized, bi-level logistics model in this first "true" test of providing critical support to high-tempo operations on the front lines of this humanitarian campaign. Thank you and continue the great work!

Semper Paratus,

J.P. Currier, VADM
Chief of Staff

Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2011 Budget

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:30:00 +0000

Guardians,
Earlier today, the President's budget for Fiscal Year 2011, which included the Coast Guard's request, was submitted to the Congress. Here is an All Hands email (/FY11%20Budget.pdf) which details the request, the current budget environment, and the impacts for our Service.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Responds to Help with Haiti Operations

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:55:00 +0000

Guest blog by LT Sue Kerver, USCG
JIC Manager Coast Guard Public Affairs
Haitian Relief Operations

I reported to D7 in Miami on January 14th to manage the District Seven Joint Information Center (JIC) two days after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake ravaged the island of Haiti. With a robust, round-the-clock public affairs operation, the cameras and media have focused on the amazing work our shipmates and other agencies have been doing downrange (including over 1,100 medevacs and placement of nearly 700 search and rescue personnel hailing from around the globe).

With such unique orchestration from logistics to response and recovery, it came as little surprise that local Auxiliary members from Divisions 3 and 6, based in South Florida, jumped into action as soon as the request was made. Using their ICS experience and Public Relations backgrounds, the local Flotillas were able to adeptly assist with the public affairs, logistics, foreign language translation, social media and administration functions in the D7 JIC.

Auxiliary members of all ages and backgrounds arrived expeditiously and quickly integrated as part of the staff. Public information and press releases were translated to Spanish and Creole using members from the Auxiliary Interpreter Corps, and the Auxiliary's Social Media branch (part of the Auxiliary's National Public Affairs Staff) assumed responsibility for the entire social media component, including improving linkages and corroboration between D7, the Haiti JIC and DoD.

Additionally, the Social Media branch coordinated directly with DoD's Southern Command to collect, vet and pass information gathered from texts, Twitter, Facebook posts and Internet pings. This info often contained vital rescue information such as latitude / longitude coordinates, addresses of injured, extent of injuries and criminal activities that had the potential to hinder rescue operations.

During the course of this response, in doing what we do best, the Coast Guard has made a definable impact on thousands of lives; and, volunteer forces from local and national Auxiliary divisions assisted tremendously in this effort. From creating an SOP for incoming D7 JIC AUX volunteers to working directly with civilian contractors to establish a more permanent way of using social media / intel collection for response situations, our all-volunteer force has had a tremendous impact on the success of Operation Unified Response Haiti.

Visit to Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:12:00 +0000

CGC Blackthorn Memorial
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians,
I traveled to Tampa and St. Petersburg to visit with our Coast Guard personnel in the area and to speak to the local Propeller Club and the Tampa Bay Harbor Safety and Security Committee (TBHSSC) about our current activities in Haiti as well as some of the other maritime challenges facing our Service.

The Propeller Club was created to promote, further, and support an American Merchant Marine and aid in the development of river, Great Lakes and harbor improvements. We have a long-standing and beneficial relationship with this industry group. Many thanks to Tony Austin, President of the International Propeller Club, Tampa; RADM William Merlin, USCG (Ret); and Capt Allen Thompson, Jr., USCG (Ret) for their support. Capt Tim Close, CO of Sector Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Capt Todd Sokalzak, CO of AIRSTA Clearwater, were also in attendance.

The TBHSSC provides a forum for all maritime stakeholders to address safety, security, and related maritime issues in Tampa Bay. The TBHSSC has recently been designated as the representative of Tampa Bay to the Marine Transportation System Task Force. Thank you to Terry Fluke, Chairman of the TBHSSC and RADM William Merlin, USCG (Ret) for their assistance as well.

I also provided remarks at a memorial for the 30th anniversary of the BLACKTHORN sinking on January 28th, 1980. The ceremony was held at BLACKTHORN Memorial Park which was dedicated in 1982 and sits at the north end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg (pictured at right). After colliding with the freighter CAPRICORN, the BLACKTHORN sank in three minutes claiming 23 of the 50 lives aboard. While it was a terrible tragedy, we learned many valuable lessons which are passed along to future cutter command cadre at the Command and Operations School (http://www.cga.edu/LDC_display.aspx?id=627) at the Coast Guard Academy. This school was created as a result of the BLACKTHORN and in addition to the Memorial in St. Petersburg, it serves as a living reminder of that terrible accident.

Modernization Series: Product Line Management

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:20:00 +0000

Mr. Jeff Orner (CG-4D) Addressing PLM Conference
Originally uploaded by icommandant

Guest post from RDML Ostebo, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics (CG-4):

The tragic earthquake in Haiti reminds us of the ongoing need for our organization to be agile and adaptable in response to unexpected events and dynamic operational demands. This need is driving Modernization. One of the benefits of Modernization lies in how the new mission support organization can bring support to bear on an operation that is predictable, interchangeable, and reliable. In the modernized construct, support personnel share responsibility with operators for the successful execution of the mission.

This was the basis of my opening remarks at a two day training session on the mission support model at Coast Guard Headquarters earlier this month. Sponsored by the Mission Support Organization Director?s Council, approximately 80 military and civilian personnel from Headquarters and members of the American Federation of Government Employees Union attended this session, which was a follow on to the Product Line Managers (PLM) Academy held in May 2009. By all accounts, the training was very well received. Based on interest, we will look to hold another session in the National Capital Region in the near future. Aviation Logistics Center Commanding Officer, CAPT Ed Gibbons' post (http://dcmslog.blogspot.com/2010/01/coast-guard-business-model.html#links) on the DCMS Log discusses the training in more detail.

Regards,
RDML Ostebo (CG-4)

Thank You - Haiti Relief Efforts

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:25:00 +0000

Here is a video thank you from Admiral Allen to all members of the Coast Guard's workforce.

Maritime Transportation System Recovery in Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:02:00 +0000

Guardians,

I just returned from a meeting at US Northern Command in Colorado Springs. The meeting was hosted by General Gene Renuart and included General Duncan McNabb (Commander, US Transportation Command), David Matsuda (MARAD Administrator), and representatives of the shipping community. We engaged in a half day meeting on the current state of preparedness and resiliency of our ports and the economic implications of a port closure. It was an open and frank discussion that will mark the way for further meetings.

In the Coast Guard we have been evolving the concept of Maritime Transportation System Recovery for some time. We gained huge experience following Hurricane Katrina when we established a Maritime Transportation Recovery Unit under the leadership of RADM Larry Hereth in St. Louis. This group coordinated the recovery of all Gulf Coast ports and involved stakeholders to determine priorities and provide recommendations to field commanders. That concept has been refined in subsequent hurricane recovery efforts and in the current oil spill response in Port Arthur, TX. We have actually imported that competency to assist in the reopening of the port of Port Au Prince and other ports in Haiti. The following guest post details our efforts.

ADM A

Guest Blog by LCDR Mark Shepard, USCG MTSRAT on board CGC OAK
in Port Au Prince, Haiti

The earthquake in Haiti rocked the ports in the Bay of Port au Prince, destroyed much of the shore-side infrastructure, and significantly disrupted the government agencies with maritime transportation responsibilities. Every Haitian has been significantly impacted by this catastrophe. All of the Haitian Port Authority and Customs Officials, Pilots, Agents, Labor, and Vessel and Facility Operators have been very helpful while dealing with their own personal tragedies/impacts from the earthquake and aftershocks.

The Marine Transportation System Recovery Assist Team (MTSRAT) was deployed to assist the Haitian people with the restoration of the Maritime Transportation System. The team arrived on January 18th, and immediately began operations to assess the capability of the ports and their intermodal connections within the Bay of Port Au Prince. Upon arrival the MTSRAT rendezvoused with the DOD components, Haitian authorities and Haitian businesses to begin the process of reopening the port facilities. Within a couple of days of arrival the MTSRAT was chopped to SOUTHCOM under the TACON of Commander Task Force 42.

The MTSRAT is currently engaged in the soft tasks of working inter-personal relationships with military, government, public, and private industry, and the hard tasks of verifying capabilities, capacities, prioritizing operations, and managing offshore traffic. The message to the world shipping industry is that the port facilities are open for business with limited capacity. In the days since the earthquake the port has been able to receive several vessels with humanitarian cargos, commercial cargos and military cargos. The first container barge to arrive after the earthquake conducted cargo operations on January 19th, the first tank ship arrived January 24th and is replenishing a critically short supply of propane today. The military has arrived and the port has been modified with a Roll-On/Roll-Off ramp to be able to accommodate military cargo. Prioritizing humanitarian aid, commercial cargo and military cargo are important for ensuring that no-one function takes over the port infrastructure or causes further damage that would cause the infrastructure to further collapse.

The challenge for the Maritime Infrastructure now is that despite being open for business the local infrastructure (personnel, roads, warehouses, supermarkets, labor, chassis, trucks, etc.) are so severely damaged that the capacity to receive the cargo into the port and distribute beyond the port is limited. In the coming days there is potential for the port to reach real estate capacity. We will continue to work with Haiti's inter-modal partners and the international relief efforts to ensure an efficient system as possible under the current conditions.

Bottom-line...Humanitarian aid is being delivered to the port and further distributed to the Haitian people!

The MTSRAT is currently attached to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter OAK in Port au Prince Harbor and conducts daytime missions into Port au Prince and the surrounding areas.

The MTSRAT consists of 11 personnel under the direction of Captain John Little (Deputy Sector Hampton Roads). The members of the team are: CDR Wayne Clayborne (1st District), LCDR Mike Pierno (LANT IPSLO to Haiti), LCDR Mark Gibbs (Sector Jacksonville), LCDR Mark Shepard (Gulf Strike Team), LT Brian Sadler (Sector Buffalo), MSTC Bridgette Brown (Atlantic Strike Team), MST1 Steve Wilkes (Gulf Strike Team), MST3 Juan Patino (Gulf Strike Team), Mr. Fritz Wasco (9th District), and Mr. Carl N Hatfiled (Sector Lower Mississippi River).

The MTSRAT would like to thank the Captain and crew of the CGC OAK for their exceptional assistance with every aspect of living and working in Haiti...Their support and willingness to assist has been truly spectacular!

MTSRU Haiti on CCG OAK
US Coast Guard
CAPT John Little
CDR Wayne Clayborne
LCDR Mark Shepard

Making Port Au Prince Harbor Safe and Navigable for Supplies from Sea ? CGC OAK

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Guardians,
Another update regarding port recovery from the CO of USCGC OAK.
ADM A

Guest Blog from Commanding Officer, CGC Oak At Anchor in Port au Prince, Republic of Haiti January 25, 2010

The crew keeps telling me how happy they are for the chance to be here in Haiti helping make things better, shared CDR Mike Glander. Many have told me they feel this is the most personally rewarding thing they have ever done.

A Day in Haiti

Today, the Coast Guard Cutter OAK sits at anchor very close to the Port Terminal in downtown Port-au-Prince. Our folks have spent most of the day in our two small boats zipping around the harbor, transporting the embarked MTSRU Team to their various inspection, assessment, and meeting points around the harbor. The MTSRU is the Maritime Transportation System recovery Unit, the team on the ground working most closely with the Haitian Port authority in recovery efforts. During the day the MTSRU breaks up into several teams and goes in every direction.

Around 0930, our Operations Officer, LTjg Jenni Ferreira told me the boat was ready to deploy our last buoy near the Port Terminal. (We had already added several buoys to make the harbor safer, after consulting with the two Haitian Harbor Pilots, but this last buoy was going in shallow water, and had to be deployed by our work-boat.) I jumped in and the coxswain, BM2 Tommy Frantz took us over to the pier, since he already knew the general location of where this new buoy would go. We wanted to drop this buoy's anchor (sinker) right on the 13 ft depth curve so that the Haitian Harbor Pilots would know exactly how much water they had to work with while maneuvering ships and barges up to their only remaining pier at the Terminal.

Sinking a Buoy

Positioning tech, BM2 Pete Boggeln guided the boat up to the spot with his GPS and laptop, BM2 Frantz called out the depth, and BMC Chuck Gittings and BM3 Trey Thompson carefully tilted up the wooden board which held the 250lb sinker and mooring chain. The buoy and sinker slid right in, and BM2 Boggeln recorded the position so that he could notify U.S. and British Admiralty authorities that a chart update would be needed showing the buoy.

Meeting with Haitian Port Authority, Navy Dive Teams and Port Security Unit

The boat dropped me off at the pier where I was hoping to meet the CG Port Security Unit folks who had just arrived to help the Haitian Port authority keep the terminal nice and safe while all the assessment and offloading was going on. The Navy dive teams and their engineers were all over (and under) the pier continuing with their assessments and recommendations. We saw a contingent of Columbian Red Cross folks offloading humanitarian aid.

On the Bridge of CGC OAK ? Keeping Track of Vessel Offloads

When I got back to the ship at anchor around 1200, I peeked in on the bridge team, who was busy managing and monitoring the movement of vessels in the harbor. They had updated their status board to show that the two vessels who had completed their offloads yesterday had departed. The floating Vessel Traffic Management System that OAK's crew and the MTSRU set up was helping the Haitians keep the harbor orderly. Earlier yesterday, this Team had assigned each vessel an anchorage in which to wait while the Haitian Port Authority checked their plans and readied to receive the ships for offloading.

Helping Haitian CG Station Killick

Meanwhile, our ship's Engineer Officer (EO), Chief Warrant Officer Rich Belcher gave me an update on what was going on at the Haitian Coast Guard (Garde Cote) Base at Killick, where he had been all morning. We knew the Base suffered a lot of damage in the quake, and the Coast Guard Cutter LEGARE's crew was there today, where it had been for several days, working hard to reconstitute the small Garde Cote force. LEGARE's EO, LT Mike Dykema, was leading a clean-up and assessment team of LEGARE crewmembers who were getting ready to start helping the Garde Cote fix up some of its boats. The two EO's had compared notes that morning and were sharpening the plan.

Haitian Garde Cote boats are one of CWO Belcher's specialty - he works directly with the Haitian engineers every six months when OAK comes to Port au Prince for an international exchange. He got busy hatching a plan to enlist the help of LT Jason Dunn's team, back at the Industrial Support Activity in Miami - to create a list and purchase the boat parts that were needed. (The Garde Cote's warehouse, unfortunately, was condemned.)

In the afternoon, MK2 Perry Clement and EM3 Logan Richards went back over to Killick to assist LEGARE's engineers.

Early Sunsets, Long Days

The sun sets early in Haiti in the winter, because of the time zone, and soon the boats will all start heading back to our ship where we make plans for the next day, get a little rest, and continue to go about the normal ship routine of standing watches. (Most of the crew are standing more watches than normal at their different stations, since so many folks are ashore or out in the boats all day.) The days are long, but no one is complaining. Over and over, members of OAK's crew keep telling me how happy they are for the chance to be here in Haiti helping make things better. Many have told me they feel this is the most personally rewarding thing they have ever done.

Haiti: The Work Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Commandant) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:21:00 +0000

Haiti: The Work Continues
Originally uploaded by uscgpress

Guardians,

I am watching the benefit concert for Haiti and was prompted to write this post.

As we move into the second week of our response in Haiti, senior leadership at Coast Guard Headquarters, in the Department of Homeland Security, and across the federal government are pulling together to support this critical mission. I thought it would appropriate to provide an overview of how the response is being coordinated. This is the first of what will be a series that describe how we are involved.

As many of you know, we in the Coast Guard have a long and valued relationship with the government of Haiti and in particular, the Haitian Coast Guard. My first visit to Haiti was in 1973 when I was a Search and Rescue Controller in the Rescue Coordination Center in San Juan. I have returned many times and have visited the Haitian Coast Guard Base at Killick. We have trained with our Haitian counterparts, worked to save lives, and share a common culture of service to our nations. Because of that relationship we know that the Haitians are a proud and wonderful people.

In an event of this magnitude there are always questions about who works for whom. It really isn't a question of who works for whom. It is a question of how we work together to create a better present and future for Haiti. That said, we deploy forces and we have command and control structures that allow us to be effective as a force. Here is how we all work together:

Haiti is an independent, sovereign nation. They have the last say on anything and everything. The family of nations supports Haiti. Prior to the earthquake, that support was provided largely through the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. The acronym in French is MINUSTAH (Mission des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Ha�ti ).

Following the earthquake the international community rushed to aid Haiti and that effort required coordination to be effective. In the Coast Guard we are use to constructs like the Incident Command System (ICS), which is how we coordinate domestic responses with federal state and local governments. We also interact with the Department of Defense in their planning and execution construct, the Joint Planning and Operation Execution System (JOPES). The United Nations operates under functional organization similar to ICS but they call their staff components "clusters." Our (US) interaction with the United Nations is through the State Department and through our Chief of Mission in Haiti, Ambassador Ken Merten.

In the days following the earthquake there has been an incredible convergence of effort and coordination. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead federal agency for the United States' response in support of Haiti. USAID's roots lie in the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II. In consultation with the State Department USAID supports Ambassador Merten in leading the response.

USAID is led by Rajiv "Raj" Shah who was confirmed to his position on 24 December 2010. I have worked with Raj over the last 10 days and he has impressed everyone with his compassion, commitment, and energy. He has led his team decisively and has partnered with all of us. He is a true "shipmate" and "Guardian." I am proud to work with him. On scene in Port Au Prince, USAID is represented by Ambassador Lewis Lucke, a former USAID senior leader. He is the Disaster Relief Coordinator.

In support of Ambassador Lucke, the Department of Homeland Security has deployed a multiagency incident management team to support the United States effort. The DHS team is led by Damon Penn from FEMA and RDML Roy Nash from the Coast Guard. This team brings the technical support that I relied on during the Hurricane Katrina response and the doctrinal structure of the Incident Command System.

In this effort FEMA Director Craig Fugate and I have been joined at the hip in Washington in support of Secretary Napolitano and the United States effort. We attend meetings at the White House together and seek each other's counsel and advice. We have provided our best advice to Secretary Napolitano and Deputy Secretary Lute. Our component partners in CBP, TSA, ICE, and USCIS have been terrific partners as well (we will have more posts on this effort).

The DOD forces in Haiti report to U.S. Southern Command under the command of my good friend General Doug Fraser. Joint Task Force-Haiti is commanded by LTG Ken Keen the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Southern Command. He is supported by components commands from each service. In his absence RADM Rob Parker (USCG) is the Acting Deputy at SOUTHCOM. I will have a separate post on our relationship with DOD in a subsequent post.

The Disaster Relief Coordinator (Ambassador Lucke) and Joint Task Force Haiti (LTG Keen) support Ambassador Merten as Chief of Mission.

Beyond on the United States response organization, there are numerous non-governmental organizations (NGO), the United Nations, and other nations eager to help. We will have more on these organizations in future posts. The total effort is a combined coordinated activity that supports Haiti.

Where is your Coast Guard, where are our Guardians in this complex and needed effort? We are literally and metaphorically everywhere. From the first responders from USCGC FORWARD who led the way in, to the logisticians keeping our cutters on station and working through multiple engineering casualties, to the ad hoc security teams that secured Haitian ports, to the many air crews who lifted, medevaced, and saved, we have been everywhere we can be. My morning brief tells me that we have 62 personnel on ground, 719 manning cutters, and 56 deployed air crewmembers. That brief comes with a listing of each Guardian by name that is deployed in theater. We know who you are and we honor your service ? we wish we could be there as well.

Watching the many talented people perform tonight during the "Hope for Haiti Now" Concert I am reminded of a similar concert that took place following Hurricane Katrina. I am also reminded that these events as terrible as they are, remind us of our humanity and those things that connect us. The recurring vision of the hand reaching down to the hand reaching up is our past, present and future. From the surf of Cape Hatteras and Cape Disappointment, to the beaches of Guadalcanal and Normandy, to the awash decks of the PRINSENDAM and PENDLETON, to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans and the street of Port Au Prince, our mission endures and each generation proves again we are Guardians.

Very proud of all of you tonight.

ADM A

Modernization Series: Support for Mission in Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Guest Post from VADM Currier, Chief of Staff:

A key driver of Modernization was the need to be agile in an All Threats, All Hazards operating environment. Last Tuesday's tragic earthquake in Haiti became the largest, real world test of the new modernized mission support organization to date. Our modernized system is designed to deliver support on all operational fronts in a way that is pre-planned, responsive, reliable and accountable. I am proud to report that our support personnel are responding to these mission challenges with a sense of ownership, sharing in its success with our operational partners.

I directed DCMS personnel embedded at each stage of the process to ensure equal responsibility for the success of this mission with our operational partners. These logistical envoys, placed in theater at Forward Operating Base GTMO, District 7, Joint Task Force Haiti J4 Staff, and Homeland Security Task Force Southeast, ensure critical support needs are met at all levels. Notably, the CO of Personnel Services and Support Unit Miami, acting as the Primary Support Officer (PSO), has done a fantastic job coordinating the efforts of all local DCMS elements and acting as a trusted advisor in the D7 Incident Management Team. At the strategic level, my priorities for engagement are four-fold:

1. Operational readiness of deployed forces
2. Support of our people, particularly those in theater
3. Proactive identification of sustainment issues and problems
4. Actively assist operational partners with planning

The Logistics Integration Staff (DCMS-53) continues to stand a 24x7 watch in the LANT Command Center serving as the on-site representative for all theater-level logistics issues. They represent the new Logistics and Service Center product lines and are responsible for contingency and tactical logistics support for all deployed operational assets. An integration logistics cell has also been embedded in the National Command Center Watch to ensure expedited information flow between operations, mission support, and headquarters entities.

This is the first major contingency operation where we are supporting surface assets under the modernized Mission Support model which is based on a similar approach used with aviation assets during the 2005 hurricane season. Cutter support is managed through product lines at the Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC). The Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center (SILC), C4IT Service Center and Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) all have been incredibly responsive to the needs and requirements of the operational community. Personnel Service Center?s Surge Staffing Branch has tracked forward personnel deployments and requests for forces (RFFs) in support of the mission in Haiti. Success in this endeavor can be measured by the operational readiness of deployed assets ? and they are delivering!

Coast Guard personnel can identify and apply for volunteer opportunities with the Surge Staffing Branch through the Mobilization Readiness Tracking Tool Volunteer Bulletin Board (MRTT VBB). Applications are subject to Command Endorsement provided through the MRTT VBB. Additional information and a tutorial on how to use the MRTT VBB is available by clicking here.

The modernized support model works through seamless bi-level support to our operational partners. As one of the first international agencies on scene, our U.S. Coast Guard continues its hallmark legacy of domestic and international response to those in need. I am proud of our modernized support community and operational partners for leaning forward in the wake of this disaster. Your efforts are saving lives.

Semper Paratus!

J.P. Currier, VADM
Chief of Staff

Alive After Seven Days in Rubble - Miracles Do Happen in Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:09:00 +0000

Guest Post from CDR Martha LaGuardia-Kotite, Press Secretary for the Commandant:

Men and women from the U.S. Coast Guard coordinated with the media, partner agencies and the urban search and rescue team in Port-au-Prince, Haiti who pulled a 69-year old woman from under the rubble. She had survived after seven days underneath a collapsed building near the Presidential Palace. Her condition has reportedly improved from critical to stable. Here's the rest of the story of how the Coast Guard helicopter aircrew located the survivor and medically evacuated her to a hospital Tuesday evening:

After Anderson Cooper, of CNN's AC360 and his broadcast team reported the remarkable story of her survival, viewers questioned: How would she get the follow on medical care?

Officials for the Massachusetts based Center for the Rural Development of Milot who had learned of the rescue, contacted the Coast Guard asking for help. LCDR Mike Fisher, Executive Officer of the CGC Tahoma, got the email request from Mr. Tim Traynor who was in the Milot, Haiti hospital:

Mike,
Please let us know if you can make this miracle happen. We are standing by at Hopital Sacre Coeur waiting for this woman to be delivered. God speed!
Tim

LCDR Fisher and his crew went to work. Coordination of efforts to make the medical evacuation possible meant pulling in people who were able to communicate her location back from their own far away locations in Atlanta, New York, Massachusetts and the Miami based Coast Guard District 7 Command Center to the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma just offshore Haiti. The cutter, with a Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter aircrew, could fly the night time rescue. The aircrew consisted of LCDR Bill Strickland, LTJG William Andrews, AMT2 Dustin Harger, AMT1 Jeremy Tuttle, AET3 Christopher Russell and AMT3 Eric Burns from Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville, Florida.

How they located the woman amid the destroyed buildings was a navigational feat in and of itself. It took using all forms of technology, talent and devoted people to pull it off. "They literally guided us in to the Palace under Night Vision Goggles using flashlights and a truck with the cutter relaying email messages via Ch 21 from a bystander on the ground," said LCDR Bill Strickland, pilot and mission commander of the helicopter. "We got her and she's doing OK considering she was buried for seven days...I guess miracles happen."

"We used texting, Skype, telephones and I think one or two carrier pigeons," teased Tim Traynor who works at the Haitian hospital in Milot. "The woman was rescued because of the USCG's commitment to never let a life pass without a heroic attempt. The Haitian people will survive and grow into a nation that is refounded in the example of compassion set by the men (and women) of the Tahoma. I am moved by your commitment and it will steel me for the difficult days to come. Thank you and all those involved in this desperate but noble effort."

"The Coast Guard has been rescuing people for over 220 years. In Haiti we have to use new ways to do it with our all of our international and United States agency partners," said Captain James McPherson, USCG, who helped with the rescue coordination from Haiti. Click on CNN American Morning to see the interview.

Haitian Relief Efforts - Force Laydown

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:02:00 +0000

Guardians,
As a follow on to the ALL HANDS email (/EarthquakeResponse.pdf) we released yesterday, here is an update of the Coast Guard assets involved in the Haitian relief efforts. As of 20 January, these assets were supporting the Homeland Security Task Force - South East (HSTF-SE) which is being led by RADM Branham. Not all of these assets are in the immediate vicinity of Haiti but they are supporting the broader federal government effort to provide humanitarian assistance to those impacted by this terrible tragedy.

AIRSTA Clearwater (their units provided the first overhead damage assessments and MEDEVACs)
AIRSTA Miami
OPBAT
AIRSTA Elizabeth City
HITRON Jacksonville
ATC Mobile
AIRSTA Detroit
AIRSTA Sacramento
AIRSTA Barbers Point
CGC TAHOMA
CGC FORWARD
CGC MOHAWK
CGC VALIANT
CGC OAK
CGC LEGARE
CGC ALERT
CGC THETIS
CGC BEAR
CGC DEPENDABLE
CGC VIGOROUS
CGC HAMILTON

There are thousands of active duty and civilian support personnel working very hard behind the scenes to ensure these operational assets have the resources they need to execute the mission. We are also activating Coast Guard reservists from several different units. Further, I know many units are backfilling for those assets deployed to the HSTF-SE and the Auxiliary is contributing in their local areas as well. This has been a total team effort and I am incredibly proud of our Guardians.

Your actions have been noted by every level of the federal government including Lieutenant General Ken Keen, the Commander of Joint Task Force Haiti.

As of early 20 January, our Coast Guard team has evacuated 737 American citizens, medically evacuated 77 injured personnel, and delivered 558 first responders. All of these numbers are expected to increase. For more information and photos of our Guardians in action, please visit http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/.

This Is Why We Signed Up to Serve in the U.S. Coast Guard

noreply@blogger.com (iCommandant) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:16:00 +0000

Guardians,
I welcome expressions of how your service to help the children, men and women of Haiti has made a difference in your life. Here's an email from Ensign Christopher Pince, published by a newspaper today.

ADM A

The Concord [NH] Monitor
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

'This is why we signed up'
Concord 'Coastie' joins relief effort in Haiti

By CHRISTOPHER PINCE
For the Monitor

Ensign Christopher Pince, 22, of Concord is aboard
the Tahoma, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter based in
Portsmouth that has been dispatched to Haiti to assist
earthquake victims. Pince e-mailed this letter to his
fiancee Saturday, who forwarded it to family members.
His parents, David and Meg Pince, offered to share
it with the Monitor:

Shortly after I e-mailed you this morning, I was told I
was going to be on one of the boarding teams going
over this morning. I quickly changed into my blue
coveralls and boots and headed down to board the
small boat that would take us over. I was the second
wave of Coasties to go over. We left at about 9 a.m.

As I headed over, I noticed (that) the trash I told you
about that littered the harbor water began to get much
heavier. Soon

you couldn't even see water, it was just trash and
debris. We were dropped off at the Haitian Coast
Guard Base . . . or what was left of it. It really was
just a couple ruined buildings and a dock. There were
several trashed boats laying on what was left of a
small beach. But what was left of the base was in
ruins.

We disembarked from the small boat and started
walking down a small road. The road had different
levels to it, like it was split in random places. Some
higher, some lower. Trees were uprooted, rocks
and boulders were all over the place. As you looked
around all you could see were uprooted trees and
deserted huts, most of which were completely in ruins.
I passed several huge stone buildings that were
destroyed and looked like they were about to fall
over at the slightest breeze. We had marked these
off with yellow caution tape to alert people not to go
near them.

We continued walking down the road and began to
notice Haitian people just sitting by the side of the
road. Some of them had makeshift bandages, others
just were sitting there. Some talked, others just
looked forlorn and stared at the ground. Even those
who talked were solemn and downtrodden. There
was no laughter, no smiles, no children's voices -
just silence.

As we got closer to the building that we had set up
as our makeshift clinic, the silence was broken by
the sounds of people, but it wasn't the normal sounds
you hear from people . . . they were screams,
wailing, crying, and desperate calls for what had to
be help. I knew I was going to be walking into a
destroyed third world country, but nothing could have
prepared me for what I saw at the clinic.

Here's the rest of the email as published in The Concord (NH) Monitor:
Pleas for help