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Hi, Ctlpdad! Welcome to the Canteen!
Wanna buy a burka?
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Posted on 08/03/2003 10:51:44 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
The grandson did this religiously and lived to be age of 110. He left 4 children, 20 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren
. . . And a 50-foot hole where the crematorium used to be.
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Hi, Ctlpdad! Welcome to the Canteen!
Wanna buy a burka?
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NIGHTTIME RAID — A soldier with the 3rd Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) , mans a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon providing support during a nighttime raid on Aug. 1, 2003 at a location where a suspected former Iraqi Army General has been taking refuge to hide from coalition forces in Mosul, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Wastler
Soldiers with the 20th Special Forces Group work with soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army (ANA) to search for suspected Taliban members and weapon caches at a school in the Gardez Province during Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks, U.S. Army
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army (ANA), gather for prayer before conducting searches for suspected Taliban and weapons caches in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. This marks the first major combat operation held by the ANA in which they worked alongside the 20th Special Forces Group. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
A Typical Day in the Coast Guard Auxiliary
By Wayne Spivak, ADSO-CS 1SR
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Ever wondered what an average day was like for the Coast Guard Auxiliary? On any average day, somewhere in the United States, an Auxiliarist will help educate 929 people on issues surrounding Recreational Boating Safety & Marine Environmental Protection.
Likewise, America's Volunteer Lifesavers will save $729,000 worth of property while assisting 56 People in Trouble on Water. Another 615 Vessel Safety Checks will be performed as well as over 150 support missions for the United States Coast Guard.
And most important of all, one or two recreational boaters, whose death was certain - somewhere on the waters of the U.S. - had his or her life saved by a Coast Guard Auxiliarist!
And to top it all off, they, enjoyed what they were doing! They like volunteers all over the nation reaped the rewards that only come when you unselfishly give to others so they can better themselves.
But, so far we've only used statistics to demonstrate that typical day. Let's put a human face on some of these Auxiliarists.
On Patrol
During a typical patrol, members of the Auxiliary, using both a power boat and a Personal Water Craft (PWC) played parts in two Search and Rescue (SAR) cases, involving a total of two vessels and providing assistance to three persons.
In one such SAR mission, members of Flotilla 13-06 of Freeport, New York, consisting of USCGAux Coxswain's Hal Gold, Jim Dunn alternating with Coxswain Jessica Ksaizek (on the PWC) and Crew member Pete Seidel were proceeding east along Reynolds Channel in their respective vessels.
As the units were within ½ mile of the LIRR Bridge, the crew noticed a rider-less PWC adrift in the channel. On further inspection, they also found a person in the water (PIW). Utilizing the unique ability of PWC's to maneuver; Coxswain Gold dispatched Coxswain Ksaizek on the PWC to find out if the PIW needed assistance.
Jessica Ksaizek (on the PWC) informed Coxswain Gold that the PIW was injured and needed help. The injured rider was a 23 year old man who was complaining of severe pain in left hip, knee and leg, and severe head pain from blow to his head during his accident.
After transferring the injured man to the Auxiliary power boat (called a Facility), he was rushed to Long Beach Hospital, with local law enforcement providing an escort to clear the way.
Not every patrol involves this type of event, but even the dullest and most uneventful patrol in itself provides benefits to the boating public.
Vessel Safety Checks
It's Labor Day Weekend and coincidently Vessel Safety Check Weekend. Several members of the Freeport Flotilla number 13-06, 1st Southern District of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are manning a VSC checkpoint at the public marina in Wantagh, New York. It's a clear, somewhat chilly day, but the traffic into the waters of the Great South Bay is moderate. Flotilla Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations (FSO-VE) Phil Caroleo and his team are busy performing VSC's.
All type of water craft has been trailered to this ramp. From 26 foot single engine cruisers to fishing boats, PWC's and even a few kayaks. As each new boat is brought to the ramp, an Auxiliarist approaches the skipper and asks if they want a VSC. This start's the process of both educating the boaters, not only on what he or she forgot to check, but also additional safety items and the need for further boater education to the mix.
That day 30% of the boaters flunked the VSC. This means that they were missing some type of required equipment or had some other major deficiency. Some of them just have inaccessible PFD's or had them still in the plastic bags. Easily rectified!
Other boats had navigation lights not working, expired Visual Distress Signals (flares) or none at all. While still others found out, thankfully sooner than later, that they had other problems, like valve's left in the open position, or seacock's left out. Many of the individuals took a quick run to the local marine store, just to buy those items that would bring them into compliance!
In the Classroom
Approximately twenty-five boaters have gathered at a local West Marine store in Island Park, New York to take Navigating with GPS, a three hour course on how a GPS works, and how to integrate this tool with your navigation knowledge.
Flotilla Staff Officer for Public Education (FSO-PE) Pete Siedel is the lead instructor this evening. Utilizing a Power Point presentation, large paper charts and several assistant instructors, these Auxiliarists begin educating the class that using a GPS is not just a 'click and shoot' technology.
Many members of the class have weak navigation and charting backgrounds, and are unaware that the GPS as a navigation tool will only work well if you have previously calculated your course. They were unaware or never thought out the logical process that if you put in two waypoints, the GPS will calculate the shortest distance between the points, a straight line.
That is fine and dandy, but if there happens to be a land mass between these two points, the GPS won't know, and will nottake that into account. Failure to use basic navigation techniques would lead the unsuspecting boater into a grounding condition, and possibly a dangerous hard grounding condition.
Three hours after the beginning of this course, all the students have gained a greater insight into the use of their GPS's, and navigation. Several of the students have said they will sign up for the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Advanced Coastal Navigation course.
At the Boat Show
One aspect of boater education is to provide information about Environmental Protection issues. One such issue is Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS). The Coast Guard is charged with monitoring such species and their introduction and migration in this country. Monitoring also includes the identification and exclusion of these animals.
The most well known of the ANS animals is the Zebra Mussels. These pests can cause all sorts of havoc. From clogging intake pipes used by power plants to usurping indigenous wildlife, it is the mission of the Coast Guard to protect our environment. The Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard in this endeavor by providing the boating public with information. It is to this end that District Staff Officer for Marine Safety & Environmental Protection (DSO-MS/EP) Diane Castrogiovanni spends much of her time, both at boat shows, and in front of the public.
When we man public information booths at local, regional and national boat shows, we provide the public with the information they need to help stem the tide of ANS animals.
Americas Volunteer Lifesavers
38,000 men and women spend hundreds of thousands of hours making boating and environment safer. These were some highlights of just a few of them. How does that old cliché go? "There are a million stories in the naked city…"
Take the time and talk to a member of Team Coast Guard. There are lots of interesting aspects that make becoming a member of the team a unique experience.
How can you help?
You can contact your local Coast Guard Station or Unit for the phone number of the local Coast Guard Recruiter (for Active and Reserves duty) or the phone number of the local Flotilla (for the Auxiliary). Better yet, why not visit us on the web at http://www.uscg.mil (Coast Guard) or http://www.cgaux.org (Auxiliary).
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army, prepare to set up overwatch on top of a school being searched for suspected Taliban and weapon caches in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army, search for suspected Taliban and weapon caches in schools and other compounds in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
A soldier of the 20th Special Forces Group prepares to detonate fuses to rocket propelled grenades found in a compound in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
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