A Good Explanation of Rescue 21 and Its Value in Emergency Comms

Here is a really good explanation of the Rescue 21 system. There are operational shortfalls for those of us in the Coast Guard family, but that doesn't take away from the great value of the system in terms of emergency calls - as shown by the information in the article.

Maritime 9-1-1 | Defense Media Network

Lack of boating skills can be deadly - St. Petersburg Times

Congratulations to Flotilla 15-8 for helping another boater get home safely. Their Public Education program should get credit for a life saved.

Please check out this op-ed piece by their Public Affairs Officer.

Lack of boating skills can be deadly - St. Petersburg Times

Coast Guard, partners in the Florida Keys respond to fuel sheen in Key Largo

Here is an example of the value of Coast Guard Auxiliary Initial Pollution Investigators. They have training that is sufficient for them to identify the situations that need additional attention from the MSO or MSD (such as this one) and those that do not.

See the below link for the CG press release describing the event.

Coast Guard, partners in the Florida Keys respond to fuel sheen in Key Largo

Coast Guard investigates hoax distress calls near Hobe Sound, Fla.

This is too close to home to ignore. It's in the AOR of my home Flotilla (FL59, D7). Let's get this guy! Take the link below to see the Coast Guard news release.

Coast Guard investigates hoax distress calls near Hobe Sound, Fla.

Coast Guard assisting in downed aircraft case near Bahamas

Coast Guard assisting in downed aircraft case near Bahamas

Loss of 57-Year Auxiliarist

Monday we lost a friend and Auxiliary shipmate - Robert Rose. Diane and I had the privilege of being with him for his last hour or so as he took his leave of this world.

Bob was 90 years old... an age that few reach in any condition. He was feisty up until the end - and clear-headed as well until just the last few weeks. What a life he led... photojournalist to 4 Presidents (Truman through Johnson) and thus a world traveler, a boater, an Auxiliarist, and a lover of history and its documentation. Bob was an Auxiliarist longer than I've been alive, having enrolled in July 1953. He was extremely active in the organization and its leadership until about the last 4 years of his life - especially the last 2, after the house fire that claimed his wife of 65 years, Alma, a 25-year Auxiliarist herself.

Upon hearing the news, USCG CAPT(ret) Bill Griswald (a former Chief Director of Auxiliary) wrote, "Bob was the ultimate Auxiliarist." High praise indeed from someone who should know... and who is an incredible Auxiliarist himself. I aspire to someday reach the level of accomplishment in the Auxiliary of either of those two men - but that's a long way off yet.

Fair winds and following seas, my good friend Bob. We will miss you.

Team Mercury

Back from the Coast Guard Innovation Expo. We had an incredible opportunity to share with the Coast Guard's senior leadership about our team and what it can do. We also had the folks from CG Video stop by and record a short video about our Team.

The link is:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1041114

Now it's time to get ready for the Change of Watch season.