Division Member Training: 13 August 2011 - 3-Year Currency Check Rides

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
13 AUG 2011 is the second and last opportunity of the year to get Surface Operations check-rides at the Division level. These are scheduled ahead of the new budget year and our cold weather season which make check-rides challenging or, in the case of the budget, potentially impossible. Bottom line - if you need a check-ride do it on the 13th!

This video discusses the details of the event and what members need to do ahead of a check-ride:



Video link: http://vimeo.com/27051260

Check list:

1. Determine if you need a checkride    (via your FSO-OP, IS or MT)
2. Ask your FSO-OP to schedule your checkride
3. Ask your FSO-IS for an Appendix F
4. Study your materials
5. Get out and practice

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

Biography of our new District Commander, Rear Admiral Keith Taylor

Shipmates,

On Tuesday Rear Admiral Keith Taylor relieved Rear Admiral Gary Blore as our District Commander. I always find it interesting to read the biographies of our leadership:

Rear Admiral Keith A. Taylor serves as the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As District Commander, he is responsible for U.S. Coast Guard operations covering 4 states, more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125 international border with Canada. Prior to this assignment, Rear Admiral Taylor served as the Assistant Commandant for Resources and Chief Financial Officer, where he was responsible for Coast Guard financial management and resource activities including planning, programming, budgeting and execution of the service’s appropriations. He was promoted to flag rank in March 2008.

Graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1983, Rear Admiral Taylor first served aboard USCGC SPAR (WLB-403) in Portland, Maine, followed by Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida. His first aviation unit was Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he qualified as an HH-3F Aircraft Commander. In 1989 he was assigned to Air Station Sitka, Alaska, and in 1991 he was designated an Aeronautical Engineering Officer. From Alaska, RADM Taylor moved to Air Station Traverse City, Michigan where he “fleeted-up” to Engineering Officer and served as an HH-60J Instructor Pilot.

From 1996 to 2000, Rear Admiral Taylor was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters, first in the Office of Aeronautical Engineering as the depot maintenance program financial manager and CFO Act audit liaison, and for the last half of his tour in the Office of Programs and Budget where he completed financial analysis, program review and budget development for Coast Guard law enforcement, intelligence and international affairs activities. As the Aeronautical Engineering Officer at Air Station Clearwater, Florida, from 2001 to 2003, he supported 12 HH-60J and 6 HC-130H aircraft, and coordinated logistics support for extensive deployed operations. From 2003 to 2006, he commanded Air Station Miami. Under his leadership the Coast Guard’s 3rd oldest air station operated 9 HH-65C and 6 HU-25D aircraft, expertly executing safety and security missions across the Caribbean basin to Central and South America. Prior to his current assignment, Rear Admiral Taylor served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard from 2006 to 2008 where he helped direct service-wide coordination, strategic planning, policy development, financial actions and general management.

A native of Westfield, Massachusetts, Rear Admiral Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a Master of Science in Industrial Administration degree from the Krannert School at Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a Sloan Fellow in 2000/2001. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, two Commendation Medals and the Transportation 9-11 Medal.  

"Almost a perfect day" video

order link - http://www.boatingorders.com/alpedaenst.html

District 13 Change of Command

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
Today I had the honor of representing the Division at the District 13 Change of Command. Rear Admiral Keith Taylor relieved Rear Admiral Gary Blore as our District Commander. The Auxiliary was repeatedly recognized as a key component of District 13's success.

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Rear Adm. Keith A. Taylor(Left), relieves Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore(Right), of command of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District during a ceremony at Pier 36 in Seattle, July 12, 2011. The change-of-command ceremony was presided over by Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan W. Bradshaw

I look forward to working to help implement Rear Admiral Taylor's intent and direction in next few years.

I'd ask that over the next few days you take a moment to read Rear Admiral Blore's biography. It is a testament to the quality of the leaders our service produces.

Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore serves as the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As District Commander, Rear Admiral Blore is responsible for U.S. Coast Guard operations covering 4 states, more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125 mile international border with Canada. Prior to this assignment, Rear Admiral Blore served as the Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer.

Rear Admiral Blore is currently designated as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Ancient Albatross and holds the distinction as the longest serving aviator in the service.

A 1975 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Rear Admiral Blore initially served aboard the medium endurance cutter Venturous. In 1976, he commenced flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and was designated a Coast Guard Aviator. From 1977 until 1982, he served as a helicopter aircraft commander at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn, N.Y., deploying frequently aboard cutters in the Caribbean. During that tour, he participated in the U.S. response to the Cuban Refugee Crisis of 1980. After a subsequent tour as a Program Reviewer and Budget Analyst for the Coast Guard Chief of Staff at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he transitioned to Coast Guard "Guardian" fan-jets in 1988 and served as an aircraft commander at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass. While there, Rear Admiral Blore deployed as executive officer of a 28-member aviation detachment to Manama, Bahrain, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1992, Rear Admiral Blore became the Group Operations Officer and then Deputy Group Commander for Coast Guard Group and Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas. Following that assignment, he was selected to attend the Air War College, in Montgomery, Ala., where he studied national security issues. In 1997, he assumed command of Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., where he directed Coast Guard air and motor lifeboat operations along the Oregon and Washington coast. Following a three-year command tour, Rear Admiral Blore returned to Coast Guard Headquarters in July 2000 for assignment as Chief, Office of Aviation Forces, with programmatic oversight for all 30 of the Coast Guard’s air stations and facilities. From July 2002 to July 2004, Rear Admiral Blore served as the Coast Guard's Chief, Office of Budget and Programs for the Assistant Commandant for Planning, Resources and Procurement. He was responsible for formulation, justification, and programmatic execution of a $7 billion budget, Coast Guard policy review, and coordination of external outreach. Upon promotion to flag rank in September 2004, Rear Admiral Blore served as Special Assistant to the President. In that capacity, he was the Homeland Security Council’s Senior Director for Border and Transportation Security. Rear Admiral Blore is a DHS Level 3 certified Acquisition Program Manager and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, with honors, from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He also has a master's degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University, where he was selected as an International Fellow. His personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, five awards of the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and the Transportation 9-11 Medal, as well as other service and campaign awards.

He has been a outstanding leader and a constant supporter of the Auxiliary. On a personal note he, and his wife Vera, have been my hosts on a number of occasions and have been gracious and friendly shipmates.

Fair winds and following seas to Rear Admiral Blore and Vera.

Very respectfully,
Daren

Recreational Boating Safety materials update

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
I received a shipment of RBS materials from Sector Columbia River today including:

• 2011 Dairy Queen ice cream coupons for children under 16 "caught" wearing life jackets
• New all-weather plastic Operation Paddle Smart posters
• More Operation Paddle Smart stickers

Full details can be found in this video:

Video link: http://vimeo.com/26189137

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

Division Member Training - New Member Workshop

By Jonathan Polimeni

Division will hold its annual new member course. This class is recommended for anyone new or returning auxiliary and current members who help mentor, other members. The course will cover everything from uniforms, forms, policy questions, and much more. If you have questions this is a great time to ask. The class is on Saturday the 9th of July at 08:30. Location is MSU training deck. Uniform of the day is ODU. If you have any questions please contact SO-MT Jonathan Polimeni.

Note: Division trainings are listed in the monthly Daymark newsletter (Member Training report and the calendar on the last page) as well as on the Division calendar page here.

Celebrating the 4th of July with service

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
My thanks to all of you who are standing the watch this weekend. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 4th of July than by serving the Nation.

If you have not had the chance to do so please read the Commandant's Independance Day Message.

An excerpt:

4. YOUR SERVICE, INCLUDING OUR RESERVE, CIVILIAN, AUXILIARY AND RETIREE MEMBERS, IS PRESERVING THE GUARANTEE THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PASSED DOWN TO US 235 YEARS AGO TODAY - OUR UNALIENABLE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THIS IS OUR WAY. THIS IS WHAT WE DO. WE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD.

5. STAND A TAUT WATCH. SEMPER PARATUS. 

6. ADMIRAL BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.

Here are a few of my thoughts as we kick off the holiday weekend:



Video link: http://vimeo.com/25892004

Thank you for your service. Be safe out there and look to the safety of your shipmates,
Daren

2011 Uniform Changes - Focus on Covers

Shipmates,
The recent ALCOAST 291/11 (link) and ALAUX 015/11 (annotated version) introduce a number of changes to our uniform policy in addition to restating existing policy. Rather than address all of these changes at one time I plan a series of videos. The first discusses changes to our covers - our headgear.



Video link: http://vimeo.com/25878007

This graphic summarizes the appropriate covers for our four key uniforms: