Finding balance

Shipmates,
I've recently been in the grip of a project at work that has required greater than normal focus and a departure from the family <-> work <-> Auxiliary balance I like to maintain. I accept that my responsibilities will, from time to time, upset my preferred balance -- particularly if I am challenging myself. Times like these do remind me of an unhealthy period in my life when I lived out of balance on an ongoing basis. This was not due to the fact that I was doing too much of any one part of the puzzle that is a life, rather I was inattentive to

Happy 235th Birthday Marines

Shipmates,
Today, November 10, 2010, marks the 235th anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps. Take a moment today to reach out and wish a Marine a happy Corps birthday. I'm sure at least a few of you are Marines, parents of Marines, or children of Marines in active service or who have served in the past. Thank you for your service and the service of your loved ones.

I encourage you to watch the message the Marine Corps leadership, Commandant Gen. James F. Amos & Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent, prepared which highlights the service of Marines in the Korean War and those serving today around the world  on our behalf.

http://www.marines.mil/usmc/Pages/2010MarineCorpsBirthdayBall.aspx




Our Commandant's message to the Marines can be read here:

http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcoast/547-10_alcoast.txt

Happy Birthday Marines!

Rose Festival in 70 seconds, a photo essay

Shipmates,
Yesterday I saw a great little video which was based on every photo from a vacation. It did a great job of portraying the trip. This approach also conveyed a great sense of what being a photographer is about and the large number of frames most of us need to take to get a few keepers. During Rose Festival this year I took over 500 photos, which is actually fewer than some past years, and this video shows each of those shots in a very compressed format. If you have a high speed connection please change to HD for the best viewing experience.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_tXZzfjsao

Vancouver Veteran's Day Parade 2010

Shipmates,
Here is a video showing our participation in the Vancouver Veteran's Day Parade. Enjoy and I hope to see you there next year!



Be sure to play in HD. If the video does not show please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8HMlu1j_Q0

Thank you to SO-PA John Hilbrands for organizing the Coast Guard participation.

Member Training/Communications - TCO Academy January 2011

Posted on behalf of SO-CM Jon James

Division 7 members are invited to participate in the first Telecommunications Operators (TCO) School taught by members from Division 7 and Active Duty members from Sector Columbia River and Station Portland. These classes will help you though the Personal Qualification Standard (PQS) and eventually an ability to stand before a board of members to qualify as a TCO. I also would like members who hold the AUXCOM to participate in this school. I find there is a lot of useful information in this PQS that is either missing from, or outdated, in the prior AUXCOM material. This will help you further your qualification as a radio operator. The classes will be held on the Training Deck at MSU Portland on the following dates.

• Tuesday, 04 January from 1900 to 2100
• Tuesday, 11 January from 1900 to 2100
• Saturday, 15 JANUARY FROM 0830 TO 1300 (this is division member training because its beneficial to all operations members)
• Tuesday, 18 January from 1900 to 2100
• Qualification Board TBD.

Here is a list of manuals you will reference throughout your PQS. I apologize but the class cannot provide you with hard copies of the PQS or manuals. We will however provide you with a copy of all materials on a CD when requested.

(a) Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual, COMDTINST M16798.3 (series) Link
(b) Boat Crew Seamanship Manual, COMDTINST M16114.5 (series); Chapter 11 Link
(c) Auxiliary Aviation Training Manual, COMDTINST M16798.5 (series); Chapter 6 Link
(d) Telecommunications Manual (TCM) COMDTINST M2000.3 (series)
(e) Radiotelephone Handbook, COMDTINST M2300.7 (series)
(f) U.S. Coast Guard Addendum to the United States National Search and Rescue Supplement, COMDTINST M16130.2 (series) Link
(g) Communications Watchstander Qualification Guide, COMDTINST M16120.7 (series)
(h) AUXCOM – U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Communications Course
(i) Appendices A-G to the Auxiliary Telecommunications PQS
(j) Chart No.1, NOAA Nautical Chart Symbols and Abbreviations
(k) NOAA or Corps of Engineers charts of the local area.
(l) United States Coast Pilot, Vol. 1-9, as applicable to the local area
(m) Light List, Vol. 1-7, COMDTINST M16502 (series) , as applicable to the local area
(n) NOAA Tide Tables, as applicable to the local area
(o) Telephone Directory, as applicable to the local area

Please do not let this long list discourage you from joining the class. You will only be referencing portions of these manuals.

Here is the breakdown of each class’s subjects.

Day 01 Tuesday 04 January 1900 to 2100 

• Introduction to the TCO Academy. 
• ATQ-01-01-TCO: OPERATE THE UNITS RADIO.
• ATQ-03-03-TCO: IDENTIFY CONTACT NUMBERS FOR AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE AOR.

Day 02 Tuesday 11 January 1900 to 2100

• ATQ-01-02-TCO: DEMONSTRATE BASIC RADIO PROCEDURE.
• ATQ-01-03-TCO: BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SKILLS.
• ATQ-02-02-TCO: STATE VHF-FM MARINE BAND DISTRESS & RADIO FREQUENCIES. 
• ATQ-02-03-TCO: IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN STANDARD RADIO URGENCY CALLS AND SIGNALS.

Day 03 Saturday 15 January 0830 to 1500 

• ATQ-02-01-TCO: CONTROLLING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE MARINER. 
• ATQ-04-01-TCO: RESPOND TO A NON-DISTRESS VESSEL INCIDENT.
• ATQ-04-02-TCO: RESPOND TO A DISTRESS VESSEL INCIDENT.
• ATQ-05-01-TCO: PROVIDE APPROPRIATE NAVIGATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC.
• ATQ-05-02-TCO: PASS APPROPRIATE BASIC WEATHER INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
• ATQ-06-01-TCO: DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF OPS NORMAL AND POSITION REPORTS. 
• ATQ-06-02-TCO: DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF LOST COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES. 
• LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 1130 TO 1230
• ATQ-06-04-TS: DEMONSTRATE CORRECT PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPATEING IN A DIRECTED NET. 
• ATQ-07-01-TS: EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF NET CONTROL STATION IN A DIRECTED NET.
• ATQ-07-02-TS: DEMONSTRATE CORRECT PROCEDURES IN MANAGING A DIRECTED NET.
• PASS DOWN PROCEDURE: Not in TCO but needs to be addressed. 

Day 04 Tuesday 18 January 1900 to 2100

• ATQ-03-01-TCO: IDENTIFY INFORMATION ON A NAUTICAL CHART
• ATQ-03-02-TCO: IDENTIFY AND LOCATE INFORMATION FROM COAST PILOT, LIGHT LIST, AND TIDE TABLES.
• ATQ-06-03-TCO: EXPLAIN THE NEED FOR AND PROCESS OF FILING A FLOAT PLAN.

Please email if you with any questions and if you plan on attending the school. I will post updates on the division blog and ask that FC’s to email this to members who do not use the blog.

Thanks,
SO-CM Jonathan James

Member Training/Communications - TCO Academ

Posted on behalf of SO-CM Jon James

Division 7 members are invited to participate in the first Telecommunications Operators (TCO) School taught by members from division 7 and active duty members from Sector Columbia River and Station Portland. These classes will help you though the Personal Qualification Standard (PQS) and eventually an ability to stand before a board of members to qualify as a TCO. I also would like members who hold the AUXCOM to participate in this school. I find there is a lot of useful information in this PQS that is either outdated or not in the AUXCOM material. This will help you further your qualification as a radio operator. The classes will be held on the Training Deck at MSU Portland on the following dates.

• Tuesday, 04 January from 1900 to 2100
• Tuesday, 11 January from 1900 to 2100
• Saturday, 15 JANUARY FROM 0830 TO 1300 (this is division member training because its beneficial to all operations members)
• Tuesday, 18 January from 1900 to 2100
• Qualification Board TBD.

Here is a list of manuals you will need to reference throughout your PQS. I apologize but the class cannot provide you with hard copies of the PQS or manuals. We will however provide you with a copy of all materials on a CD when requested.

(a) Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual, COMDTINST M16798.3 (series)
(b) Boat Crew Seamanship Manual, COMDTINST M16114.5 (series); Chapter 11
(c) Auxiliary Aviation Training Manual, COMDTINST M16798.5 (series); Chapter 6
(d) Telecommunications Manual (TCM) COMDTINST M2000.3 (series)
(e) Radiotelephone Handbook, COMDTINST M2300.7 (series)
(f) U.S. Coast Guard Addendum to the United States National Search and Rescue Supplement, COMDTINST M16130.2 (series)
(g) Communications Watchstander Qualification Guide, COMDTINST M16120.7 (series)
(h) AUXCOM – U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Communications Course
(i) Appendices A-G to the Auxiliary Telecommunications PQS
(j) Chart No.1, NOAA Nautical Chart Symbols and Abbreviations
(k) NOAA or Corps of Engineers charts of the local area.
(l) United States Coast Pilot, Vol. 1-9, as applicable to the local area
(m) Light List, Vol. 1-7, COMDTINST M16502 (series) , as applicable to the local area
(n) NOAA Tide Tables, as applicable to the local area
(o) Telephone Directory, as applicable to the local area


Please do not let this long list discourage you from joining the class. You will only be referencing portions of these manuals.

Here is the breakdown of each class’s subjects.

Day 01 Tuesday 04 January 1900 to 2100 

• Introduction to the TCO Academy. 
• ATQ-01-01-TCO: OPERATE THE UNITS RADIO.
• ATQ-03-03-TCO: IDENTIFY CONTACT NUMBERS FOR AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE AOR.

Day 02 Tuesday 11 January 1900 to 2100

• ATQ-01-02-TCO: DEMONSTRATE BASIC RADIO PROCEDURE.
• ATQ-01-03-TCO: BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SKILLS.
• ATQ-02-02-TCO: STATE VHF-FM MARINE BAND DISTRESS & RADIO FREQUENCIES. 
• ATQ-02-03-TCO: IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN STANDARD RADIO URGENCY CALLS AND SIGNALS.

Day 03 Saturday 15 January 0830 to 1500 

• ATQ-02-01-TCO: CONTROLLING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE MARINER. 
• ATQ-04-01-TCO: RESPOND TO A NON-DISTRESS VESSEL INCIDENT.
• ATQ-04-02-TCO: RESPOND TO A DISTRESS VESSEL INCIDENT.
• ATQ-05-01-TCO: PROVIDE APPROPRIATE NAVIGATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC.
• ATQ-05-02-TCO: PASS APPROPRIATE BASIC WEATHER INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
• ATQ-06-01-TCO: DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF OPS NORMAL AND POSITION REPORTS. 
• ATQ-06-02-TCO: DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF LOST COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES. 
• LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 1130 TO 1230
• ATQ-06-04-TS: DEMONSTRATE CORRECT PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPATEING IN A DIRECTED NET. 
• ATQ-07-01-TS: EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF NET CONTROL STATION IN A DIRECTED NET.
• ATQ-07-02-TS: DEMONSTRATE CORRECT PROCEDURES IN MANAGING A DIRECTED NET.
• PASS DOWN PROCEDURE: Not in TCO but needs to be addressed. 

Day 04 Tuesday 18 January 1900 to 2100

• ATQ-03-01-TCO: IDENTIFY INFORMATION ON A NAUTICAL CHART
• ATQ-03-02-TCO: IDENTIFY AND LOCATE INFORMATION FROM COAST PILOT, LIGHT LIST, AND TIDE TABLES.
• ATQ-06-03-TCO: EXPLAIN THE NEED FOR AND PROCESS OF FILING A FLOAT PLAN.

Please email if you with any questions and if you plan on attending the school. I will post updates on the division blog and ask that FC’s to email this to members who do not use the blog.

Thanks,
SO-CM Jonathan James

Operation Safe Summer 2010 Year End Report

Shipmates,

I would like to add my thanks for your outstanding efforts in the Recreational Boating Safety over the summer, throughout the year, and look forward to successes in the future. The RBS mission is job #1. While we may never know the exact safety outcomes from a particular VE, program visit, class, PA event, or on-the-water safety conversation please know these interactions make a difference and save lives.

Every member can participate in RBS at almost any time your schedule permits. Many RBS qualifications are quick, if not easy, to achieve and a great way for new members to get started and make a difference right away. While initial qualification is readily achievable each of these missions has the wonderful challenge of taking many years to master and there is always something new to learn.

Again, thank you for your efforts.

Be safe out there and look to the safety of your shipmates,

Daren

R 021505Z NOV 10

FM CCGDTHIRTEEN SEATTLE WA//DP//

TO COMCOGARD SECTOR PUGET SOUND WA
COGARD MSU PORTLAND OR
COMCOGARDGRU NORTH BEND OR
COMCOGARD SECTOR COLUMBIA RIVER OR

BT

UNCLAS //N16750//

SUBJ: OPERATION SAFE SUMMER 2010 END REPORT

A. OPERATION SAFE SUMMER 2010, CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS DTD 5 MAY 2010
B. D13INST 16750, STRATEGY FOR THE REDUCTION OF RECREATIONAL BOATING
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES IN THE THIRTEENTH DISTRICT, 2009 TO 2

1. PER REF A, OPERATION SAFE SUMMER IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FIELD
UNITS AND COMMANDS WITH A TOOL TO FOCUS AND MEASURE RBS EFFECTIVENESS
FOR BOTH ACTIVE DUTY AND AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES. THE FIVE PRIMARY
GOALS: ADVANCE BOATER EDUCATION, NAVIGATION RULES COMPLIANCE,
BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, LIFEJACKET WEAR, AND OPERATOR COMPLIANCE
ARE ALL SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENTS AND
FATALITIES IN D13. WITH AN AVERAGE OF 52 RECREATIONAL BOATING
FATALITIES DISTRICT WIDE, WE AND OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS HAVE
A MONUMENTAL TASK AHEAD. OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE THROUGH
EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

2. ALTHOUGH WE FELL SHORT IN SEVERAL AREAS, THE EFFORT TOWARDS
MEETING D13s PERFORMANCE GOALS WAS A SUCCESS. RECREATIONAL VESSEL
EXAMINATION TARGETS WERE SET WITH AN OVERALL DISTRICT GOAL FOR 2010
OF 4,100 EXAMINATIONS. FINAL NUMBERS FOR THE END OF THIS PERIOD
INDICATED THAT 4,628 VESSEL EXAMINATIONS WERE COMPLETED WHICH IS 112
PERCENT OF OUR GOAL. THIS IS A 13 PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE 4,004
EXAMINATIONS CONDUCTED IN 2009.

3. AUXILIARY FORCES WORKED DILIGENTLY TO REACH OUT TO BOATERS ACROSS
THE DISTRICT AND CONDUCTED OVER 900 VESSEL SAFETY CHECK EXAMINATIONS
TO ASSIST BOATERS IN COMPLYING WITH CARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS.
AUXILIARISTS ALSO VOLUNTEERED OVER 1,000 HOURS IN ATTENDING PARADES,
OPEN HOUSES AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND CLASSES FOR ALL
AGES, IN ADDITON TO CONDUCTING OVER 4,000 HOURS OF RBS PATROLS DURING
THIS PERIOD.

4. RECREATIONAL BOATING IS STILL THE HIGHEST RISK BOATING ACTIVITY IN
THE DISTRICT, AND THERE IS STILL MUCH MORE TO DO. GUIDANCE FOR
OPERATION SAFE SUMMER 2011 WILL BE COMING SOON, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL
TO REVIEW OUR GOALS IN THE DISTRICT RECREATIONAL BOATING STRATEGY
(SEE REF B). MY RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY SPECIALIST, MR. DAN
SHIPMAN, WILL BE VISITING EACH SECTOR AND UNIT IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS
TO REVIEW YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND TO ASSIST YOU IN IDENTIFYING NEW
OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH OUT TO RECREATIONAL BOATERS WITH AN OVERALL
GOAL TO REDUCE RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES IN THE
REGION.

5. I WANT TO COMMEND ALL HANDS ON THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE OPERATION
SAFE SUMMER 2010 AN OVERALL SUCCESS AND YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE
RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFE AND ENJOYABLE.

6. CAPT BORNEMANN, CHIEF, PREVENTION DIVISION, SENDS.

BT

NNNN