The SEXTANTMarch 2010 A publication for and about the members of Division 10 1SR

In This Issue• Hi Yo Silver, Away!

• Eyes in the Sky: Flotilla 10-02

• Meet Your Shipmate: Mike Chalet, Flotilla 10-02

• My Favorite Bridge – Navigation Services

• Sector NY Command Center Tour

In The Next Issue• DSC: Marine Radio

Comms Goes Digital

• Meet Your Shipmate: Neil Bookspan

• Flotilla Profile

• Guest Editorial: Emergency Preparedness

© 2010 Division 10 1SR USCG Auxiliary

Guest Editorial: Hi Yo Silver, Away! By Ray Atkinson SO-HR, Division 10

Most of us probably recognize the signature call of “The Lone Ranger” who, with his faithful Indian companion “Tonto”, single-handedly righted wrongs in the Old West. While the popular radio and TV character always seemed to prevail by working (nearly) alone, it's a far more difficult task for Auxiliary Human resources officers, at any organizational level, to “get their man

(or woman)” by working just by themselves. When it comes to recruiting new members, HR officers often feel like The Lone Ranger, surrounded by a tribe of angry Indians. With silver bullets exhausted and no where to escape, the tired Lone Ranger turned to “Tonto” and says, “Well, old friend, it looks like this is the end. We shall go down together.|” At this point, “Tonto”, trotting over to the Indian band, turns to the Lone Ranger and replies, “What do you mean 'we'?” When it comes to attracting new members, everyone in the Auxiliary can and should be a recruiter. After all, if you’re doing something you enjoy, why not share the “wealth” with others? Showing your enthusiasm about the Auxiliary is, perhaps, our greatest recruiting tool. People will be very curious about why you’re so dedicated and will want to hear more. Offer encouragement, talk up the missions, training and fellowship the Auxiliary offers and, by all means, invite them to a flotilla meeting. If everyone in the Auxiliary recruited just one new member, membership would be increased by 100%. So, print out some Auxiliary business cards, using the form located at the Auxiliary website, and hand them out to relatives, friends and co-workers. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who will use them for more than bookmarks and note paper.

Remember … the future of the Auxiliary is in all our hands – not just the Lone Human Resources Officers'. Let’s all do our part to keep the Auxiliary healthy and growing. Semper Paratus.

Ray

Eyes in the Sky:Flotilla 10-01 Air Station Lincoln Park

Despite extremes of weather that limited surface operations, the men and women of Flotilla 10-01 continued to patrol the frozen waterways of the Northeast this past winter – not from the decks of icebreakers, but from the cockpits of general aviation aircraft. “Air Station Lincoln Park”, as the flotilla is known, is one of two Division 10 Aux Air flotillas that fly patrols year-round in the First Southern District – from Lake Champlain to Toms River, New York Harbor to Block Island. And, their efforts were particularly important in winter months as temperatures plunged across the Tri-State area. Last year, the flotilla flew over 250 missions, approximately a quarter of which were “ice patrols”. As Flotilla Commander Jim Mancini tells its: “With the majority of home heating oil transported by barge to upstate New York and Connecticut communities, it is particularly important that the Hudson and Connecticut Rivers are kept open for river traffic. Each day, depending on wind and visibility, Aux aviators fly above the rivers, noting and photographing conditions along the route. Their reports help determine where the Coast Guard will deploy ice breaking assets, and their photos are available online to ship and barge owners for their planning.” As important as winter patrols are to upstate communities, Mancini and flotilla aviators look forward to a busy Spring and Summer season. As the weather warms and the number of boaters increases, so does the potential for mishaps on the water. Flying the area's rivers and coastline, Aux Air pilots and observers scan the

Jim Mancini, Commander, Flotilla 10-01, pauses before one of the many "ice patrols" his unit flies each winter to help keep Northeast waterways open for traffic. Photo: Bill Pritchard, Flotilla 10-20.

water for boaters in distress, misplaced ATONs, and water pollution, among other tasks. Each year, the flotilla supports a number of search and rescue efforts, and identifies and photographs oil and gas spills around the region.

Founded in February 2002, the flotilla boasts a diverse group of nearly 50 members and seven air and one surface facility. Members are drawn from all professions and backgrounds, and include former airline and military pilots, policemen, lawyers, doctors and computer professionals, among others. A former airline pilot, Mancini notes that members are not required to have experience in aviation, “just an interest in helping the Coast Guard with their mission of protecting America's waterways.” For Mancini, keeping members “prepared to meet the needs of the gold side”, means ongoing training, both within his flotilla, as well as with other Aux Air and boating units. Each month, a different training topic is explored at flotilla meetings, and mentors assigned to help new members qualify for different ratings, and to guide them through the sometimes confusing world of Auxiliary acronyms, forms and procedures. For Mancini, member involvement is also key, and he looks to ongoing Fellowship activities to help build morale and flotilla cohesiveness. Reaching beyond his flotilla, Mancini welcomes the opportunity to cross-train with other aviation and boating flotillas. For Mancini, “Team Coast Guard” is more than a catch phrase. It means integrating the efforts and skills of all members, and he invites leadership of other flotillas to contact him directly to explore joint activities. Editor's Note: In this and future issues, The Sextant will introduce Division 10 members to flotillas, people and activities they might not be familiar with.

Photos taken by Auxiliary aviators during ice patrols help the Coast Guard plan for the deployment of icebreaking assets to keep Northeast rivers open for traffic. Above, the frozen Hudson River, choked with ice save for a narrow "track", near Albany, NY. Photo: Bill Pritchard, Flotilla 10-20.

Meet Your Shipmate: Mike Chalet, Flotilla 10-02

For Mike Chalet of Flotilla 10-02, January 15, 2009 turned into anything but the routine day he anticipated as a Boat Crew at Station New York. As he drove towards Ft. Wadsworth, his SUV's radio crackled with reports that a US Airways Airbus had crash-landed on the Hudson River, as if to announce that Mike would now be part of a historic moment. As an Auxiliarist-turned Reservist, Mike had recently qualified in open water exercises as a CG Boat Crew and, within minutes of his arrival at Station New York, was suited-up and underway with his active duty counterparts on the station's first 45-foot vessel. As his ship sped towards the Hudson River, Mike learned that shipmates from an earlier shift had

been the first to arrive on the scene of the crash landing and, joined by New York City Police and Fire Department boats and a Staten Island Ferry, had rescued all the passengers and crew on the crippled aircraft. It truly was a “Miracle on the Hudson”, but there was still much more to be done.

Working through the night and into daylight hours, Mike and his shipmates tracked the plane as it drifted down the River to Battery Park, helping secure a perimeter around the aircraft. As divers went into the frigid waters, Mike worked to help break up the ice that formed almost immediately on the river. As efforts began to lift the plane, already slowly sinking in the freezing water, by crane, the aircraft's wings broke off and the fuselage cracked, spilling luggage into the channel. Throughout the night, Mike and his shipmates worked to retrieve the luggage, clear the channel, and assist crews searching for the plane's “black boxes”. For his efforts on that day in January 2009, Mike was recognized by Captain Jack O'Brien of Sector New York at the Division Change of Watch in January. After that, what does a real “hero” do for an encore? A member of the Auxiliary since 2003, Mike has been training with Station New York, hoping to turn his Auxiliary, and now Reserve, status into an active duty career with the Coast Guard. If he is accepted into the USCG, he hopes to serve at one of the branch's more demanding stations – Kodiak, Alaska. A resident of Bloomfield, NJ, Mike has shown a distinct willingness to serve in the Auxiliary. Over the years, he has held a variety of flotilla staff positions in Human Resources, Publications, Communications Services and Marine Safety.

Mike Chalet, Flotilla 10-02 -- A True Hero of the "Miracle on the Hudson". Photo: A. Lorenc

My Favorite Bridge by David Salt, FSO-NS, Flotilla 10-02

Flotilla 10-02 has a very active ATON program. Flotilla 10-02’s area comprises the Hackensack and Passaic rivers as well as Newark Bay and the Hudson River. This area probably has more bridges then anywhere else in the country. My job as the FSO-NS is to check all of the ATONs in the area, which are mostly bridges, and file discrepancy reports on them when there are any problems. With bridges, most of the problems reside with the navigational lights burning out and not being replaced with new lights. Bridges are interesting because each one has its own story behind it. Each bridge has its own design to it and was built during a particular era. On top of that, each bridge was built for a specific purpose. Some bridges are well kept while others are falling apart. After a while, you get to know the bridges very well and each one seems to have its own personality. Unfortunately, many of the bridges here in the 10-02 are not very well kept. Many of them are railroad bridges that are no longer used much or are abandoned. In my travels, I have seen all kinds of problems with bridges and it is not uncommon to see cables and wood planks hanging or leaning into the channel. However, there are some bridges that are very well kept; in fact, so well kept that I almost never have to file a discrepancy on them. One of these bridges is my favorite; it is called locally the Belleville Bridge (officially called the Rutgers Street Highway Bridge in the bridge database). The Belleville Bridge always has its lights on and each light is properly placed. Most bridges I inspect have at least one burned out light and they often have lights that are misplaced.

The Belleville Bridge is also my favorite because for the reason that I can inspect it very easily. With other bridges, I have to find good upstream and down stream locations to view the bridge lights and obstructions that can interfere with vessel movement. Often, there can be an issue of property rights that can limit getting good views. But the Belleville Bridge has a rowing club that is right next door and they are so kind to let us use their dock. Their dock makes for very good bridge inspection in that it sticks out into the water far enough that it gives me good views of the underside of the bridge on the down stream side. On the up- stream side, there is a diner with a parking lot and that allows me to get close to

The Belleville Bridge -- Beloved by Flotilla 10-02

the water to also see the underside of the bridge. There is a walkway on the bridge, too, that allows me to walk on it which gives me additional views of critical areas needed to be inspected. I wish all bridges were as good as the Belleville Bridge. Next issue I will share with you my most hated bridge. David Salt is the FSO-NS of Flotilla 10-02.

Sector New York Command Center Tour

Recently, Auxiliary aviators and boaters from eight New Jersey and Long Island flotillas toured Sector New York's busy Command Center, as part of an ongoing program to help improve operational communications between Auxiliary and Coast Guard. The Center, located at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, directs the activities of all Coast Guard assets – both Auxiliary and active duty vessels and aircraft – in New York Harbor and lower Hudson River. Lt.JG James Benson, Command Duty Officer, briefed the Auxiliarists on the Center's organization and activities, using recent high-profile incidents, such as the “Miracle on the Hudson” rescue effort, to underscore the complexity of the operations the Center coordinates and the many government and law enforcement agencies the Center's CG and civilian staffers interact with. For many Auxiliarists, this was their first opportunity to meet Sector Watchstanders, previously only voices holding patrol guards on marine radios, and to explore how they could better work together with their “gold-side” counterparts.

Plans for future tours of the Command Center, organized by Fred Simmons, Commander, Flotilla 10-20 and Division 10 Aviation-Boating Liaison Officer, will be announced in upcoming issues of The Sextant.

We welcome your comments and suggestions … The Editorial Staff of The Sextant welcomes any and all suggestions and submissions by Division 10 members regarding the content and design of the newsletter. Please direct any inquiries or comments to William “Bill” Pritchard, SO-PB at wpritcharduscgaux@yahoo.com.

A representative view of the Command Center at Ft. Wadsworth, beofre recent renovations. Photo: USCG.