(l-r) Denny Hicks, Chamber of Commerce ECT, presents Food Service Specialist First Class Brandon Ingram, with a plaque in honoring him as Service Person of the Month.

Food Service Specialist First Class Brandon Ingram was selected as Service Person of the Month for August.  The New London Kiwanis honored Ingram on August 25 during a luncheon at Mitchell College Clark Center, New London.

The Service Person of the Month Program provides community recognition of outstanding active duty enlisted personnel stationed in the Groton-New London area. Coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT in cooperation with all active duty units of military organizations permanently based in the area, the program is actively supported by local service clubs and civic organizations who celebrate the monthly awardees at events sponsored by the clubs or organizations.

Brandon serves as the Quality Assurance Evaluator for dining services at the Coast Guard Academy. He demonstrated exceptional dedication and a consistent high level of leadership as one of only two petty officers chosen to perform the collateral duties of first line mentor of two cadets.  Ingram willingly gave his personal time to mentor these cadets.  And during a suitability for service board, gave testimony as to the progress one had made, eventually leading to his being retained as a Petty Officer.  The performance of Brandon at this hearing led him to be selected to sit on a leadership board.

Brandon, being a forward thinker, recommended that rechargeable emergency lighting be purchased in sufficient quantity to light most of the wardroom, galley and the All Hands Dining Facility should the power ever go out.

After receiving his gifts, Ingram said “None of this would be possible without the support of my wife.  She gives me the courage and motivation to continue to do the things I do.”

Bookmark to:

Betty Davis, Serials Technician, retires from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, January 11. Betty’s retirement marks the completion of 40 years of civilian service with the Federal Government. Congrats Betty!

Bookmark to:

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle will sail from New London on April 30, 2010, to begin a training summer in the Caribbean Sea and along the East Coast.  Eagle will make visits to the following U.S. ports in conjunction with her training mission:

May 7 – 10     San Juan, Puerto Rico
July 2 – 5    Corpus Christi, Texas
July16 – 19    Key West, Fla.
July 23 – 26     Miami, Fla.
July 30 – August 2    Savannah, Ga.
August 6 – 9    Wilmington, N.C.

In addition to U.S. port calls, Eagle will be visiting foreign ports in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, including Cartagena, Colombia and Vera Cruz, Mexico, in May and June.  These port visits will be held in conjunction with the Vela Sud America 2010 celebrations and will include numerous sail-training vessels from around the world.

Eagle is the largest tall-ship flying the Stars and Stripes and the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.  A three-masted barque, Eagle’s foremast and mainmast carry square sails and her mizzenmast carries fore-and-aft sails.

Eagle provides an unparalleled at-sea leadership and professional development experience for future officers of the Coast Guard.  A permanent crew of six officers and 50 enlisted personnel maintain the ship and provide a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for her primary mission of training Coast Guard cadets and officer candidates.

This professional crew guides the trainees through a rigorous underway and in-port training schedule dedicated to learning the skills of navigation, damage control, watchstanding, engineering and deck seamanship.

More information on Eagle and Vela Sud America 2010 can be found at the following websites: http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=2558 and www.histarmar.com.ar/Velas2010/VELAS2010-Index.htm

Bookmark to:

story & photo
by Jessica Warzeniak

“As Coast Guard officers, you will swear to defend our nation against maritime threats be they small-vessel terrorist attacks, the smuggling of dangerous weapons and drugs or the scourge of maritime piracy, which in past months we have seen escalate to troubling new levels,” said Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), during the Coast Guard Academy’s 128th commencement ceremony on May 20. During her keynote speech, DHS Sect. Napolitano, whose department oversees the Coast Guard and its Academy, addressed the 225 cadets, soon to become ensigns. “You are an essential part of the Department of Homeland Security,” she said.

Distinguished graduate, Matthew Evan Eyler, Mystic, spoke to his fellow classmates. “We aren’t defined solely by our performance of duty. We are defined by the effort we put in to do the job right.” He continues, “We have learned to deal with setbacks. We’re here today because we have gotten back up. We will always rise when we have fallen.” Matthew, one of three graduates from our area, was presented his commission papers by his father, Capt. David Elyer (ret.), Navy. Matthew will report to the Cutter Morgenthau, Alameda, CA in June.

In his comments and introduction of the Secretary, Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant, USCG, said, “Family and friends of the Class of 2009, thank you for the Class of 2009!” He continued, “Our children are the message we send to the future we will never see. The Class of 2009 is the message we send to the Coast Guard.”

When addressing the graduates DHS Sect. Napolitano said, “In short, you will face a dynamic, ever-changing threat environment. There has never been a greater demand for the Coast Guard’s services than right now.”

“My commitment to you today is to do everything I can to ensure that the Coast Guard has all the tools and resources it needs to achieve everything the country asks of you.”

“Now that you have reached graduation, it is time to begin the transition to your active-duty service and accept the full responsibilities of a United States military officer,” said DHS Sect. Napolitano. “God bless you. God bless the Coast Guard. Semper Paratus.”

“They have alert minds, sound bodies, and stout hearts,” said Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe, Superintendent, USCG Academy. “I personally attest to their ability.”

Bookmark to:

by Capt. Don Greene

I was sitting in my chair next to a beautiful roaring fireplace on a rainy Sunday afternoon, when I decided to get out a chart and my new Garmin GPS Model 478. I set out a course from Greenport, NY to Stonington Harbor.

See if you can chart the course. You just passed the 1GI flashing green buoy, at Gardiners Point, Long Island. You set a course for the flashing R10 (red bell buoy).

As you reach the eastern end of Fishers Island you notice that the sun has set and it is starting to get dark. You reach over to switch on your running lights and they do not turn on. You switch again. They flash very bright then off. You also notice that the GPS is turned off.

With all the rocks near you, what will you do after you get everyone into PFDS??

In the next printing of the Resident, I will finish plotting the course. If you cannot plot a course into Stonington Harbor, you need to attend our next boating class.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 25-03 will be conducting  a “Weekend Navigator” class.  The classes will be held on Saturday, April 4th and Saturday, April 11th.  The course will be held  from 9 am to 4 pm on both Saturdays at the Odd Fellows Home on Lestertown Road, Groton.

For information and/or registration please contact Bruce Buckley at 860.391.3364 or via email at cgaux.mysticct@yahoo.com. Fee is $75.

Ask Bruce to save you a seat.

Bookmark to: