Auxiliary vessel Knoktanga operated by Mr. Rodney Short, DCP-25, is boarded by the Coast Guard Cadets in the Thames River just off the Coast Guard Academy.

On a Friday in October, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary were invited to take part in a terrorist threat exercise at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA). Simulated, potential threats to the safety and security of the nation's seaports were unleashed at the Coast Guard Academy with Auxiliary vessels and personnel posing as terrorists.

“The Auxiliary members played the bad guys trying to breach the security zone,” said Pat Newman, manager for the exercise and manager of the CGA’s Maritime Transportation System Initiative, “their role was instrumental in demonstrating the complexity of the maritime environment. They brought life to the event allowing students to gain experience in the Coast Guard’s use of force and law enforcement policies.”

Coast Guard Cadets, Officer Candidates and government and international relations student majors from Connecticut College took part in the scenarios set in Block Island Sound and New London. These scenarios were designed to test their readiness in the event of an actual Weapons of Mass Destruction threat.

“This was the first time the Auxiliary has been invited to participate in such an exercise,” said Past District 1SR Commodore William V. Huling, who served as a judge for the event. “We were asked to provide the mock terrorist vessels and it was decided last minute that the participants would wear civilian clothes to add a sense of reality.”

Auxiliary vessel Seadog operated by Mr. Todd Shaefer, is intercepted by Cadets whiling attempting to breach security zone.

Auxiliary members wore civilian clothes and were given specific roles for the event. One vessel, the Knoktanga with Rodney Short, Division 25 Captain as coxswain, was assigned breach the security zone, slip into the dock and simulate blowing it up.

“The crafty crew members devised a plan to call for assistance indicating their vessel was disabled,” said COMO Huling, “the Coast Guard crew then towed them to the dock where they planted their simulated devise thereby meeting their objective.” The Knoktanga was crewed by Division 25 members Peter Taylor, Alan Grate, and Gisele Short.

A second team was required to gain access to the Public Affairs Office. “We claimed to have setup a meeting through an official at headquarters in Washington, D.C.,” said Todd Shaefer, who served as coxswain on Auxiliary vessel Seadog.

“We even gave them a phony telephone number which they could not confirm.” The crew was however eventually allowed to go ashore and they completed their assigned mission. “It was a great way to end the operational season,” said Shaefer. Seadog’s crew also included Bill Hine, Roger Hesketh, and Bill Gurdsen

“When you consider the rationale of having interagency participation, the Auxiliary just makes sense,” says Mr. Newman. Auxiliary members provide vessels as well as a view of the waterway that is consistent with the maritime domain awareness program. They are an integral player on the local, regional, and national scene.”

Once ashore Rodney Short, DCP-25 works out details with his team to surreptitiously simulate planting explosive device while Cadets keep an eye on the crew.

Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, New London Fire and Police Departments, Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, NOAA, Connecticut National Guard, Connecticut Office of Emergency Management, Greenline Systems (International Logistics), and General Dynamics Electric Boat (Plant Security Manager) participated along with the Coast Guard Auxiliary members in the training exercise.

The exercise was a great success and both sides gained valuable experience. “We look forward to participating in this type of exercise in the future.” said Commodore Huling. Commodore Huling serves as the Auxiliary’s liaison to the Academy and arranged for the participation on the part of Division 25 members.

PO Shawn Eggert, PA-1, USCG, contributed to this story
Geoffrey Conklin, Operations Staff Officer, Division 25, D1-SR, provided the photographs

Auxiliary members from the vessel Seadog come ashore at the Pine Hall fuel dock to carry out their assigned mission at the Academy Public Affairs Office.