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This is the what all of the attendees wait for, the General Assembly, and the opening ceremony left nothing to be desired. A flash of colors filled the aisles as the District Commodores entered the assembly hall carrying their respective District Flags.
A Coast Guard Color Guard followed and with all of the flags posted in their proper location, the podium area was awash with brilliant color.
Auxiliarist Darleen Husband sang the National Anthem with verve and gusto and the National Commodore Gene Seibert declared “The 2006 National Conference is now convened, Mr. Redford (Secretary) would you please call the roll.” Of course all of the Commodores were present and a Quorum was officially declared. NACO Seibert announced the theme of this year’s conference as “Staying the Course.”
Commodores and other Auxiliarists of note who crossed over the bar since the last conference were named and remembered in solemn ceremony. A good friend of the Auxiliary, Robert Petitpas of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary was remembered. NACO Seibert recited a poem in their honor and memory. In it he likened their passing to a ship seeking refuge in a safer harbor.
Captain Robert Platt (USCG, retired), the National Commodore’s Executive Assistant introduced the dignitaries and visiting guests of honor. Special mention was made of the ladies who supported their husbands during the past two years, led by the Auxiliary’s First Lady, Maria Seibert.
The first business of the morning was the election of the new National Bridge for 2007-08. Ballots were passed out by the tellers, the Past National Commodores. The first offices were elected without a hitch. The election for ARCO Pacific brought with it some drama. The first ballot did not contain a majority so the lowest vote getter of the three candidates was removed from the ballot. This left just two persons seeking the office. The ballots were passed out, collected and counted by the tellers. A tie was declared!
This was shades of the elections of 2002 when there were three consecutive ties for; you guessed it, ARCO Pacific. We did not have to go that route because there was a victor in this third ballot.
The election results as follows (See the NACON election results reported in detail elsewhere in this issue of SITREP):
National Commodore-elect – COMO Steve Budar
National Vice Commodore-elect – COMO Nicholas Kerigan
National ARCO (East)-elect COMO Peter Fernandez
National ARCO (West)-elect COMO James Vass
National ARCO Pacific-elect Lois Conrado
Dallas City Councilman, Mr. Gary Griffith, welcomed the Auxiliary to the City of Dallas and read a proclamation signed by the city’s Mayor.
Commodore James Vass of the host District 8-CR also welcome his fellow Auxiliarists to the city and offered the services of his staff in any capacity as required.
Following his introduction, Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead, Commander of the 8th Coast Guard District welcomed the Auxiliary to Dallas. He also offered the services of his staff, wherever required.
The National Commodore’s report to the board followed. (His remarks follow below).
Ms. Ruth Wood, President of the Boat/US Foundation then announced the 2006 National Flotilla of the Year. It was Flotilla 73, District 13. Commodore Fred Bell accepted the award in their name.
Following the morning break the first speaker of the morning was introduced. Rear Admiral Craig Bone. The Rear Admiral serves as the Assistant Commandant for Response; as such he is our “big boss” at Headquarters. (RADM Bone’s remarks follow below).
Rear Admiral David Pekoske, the Assistant Commandant for Prevention followed RADM Bone. (RADM Pekoske’s remarks follow below).
Rear Admiral Jody Breckenridge, the Commanding Officer of the 11th Coast Guard District was introduced. (RADM Breckenridge’s remarks follow below).
Two new awards were announced. First, the Coast Guard has established to recognize members of the Auxiliary. The leadership and training community of the Coast Guard has established an inspirational award for an individual who has been a leadership role model.
The second award, named in honor of Past National Commodore Charles S. Greanoff, would honor a flotilla commander who has been an exemplary leadership role model. The award will be officially named “The Charles S. Greanoff Inspirational Leadership Award.”
A Memorandum of Understanding with the Boat Owners Association of the United States (Boat/US) was signed by NACO Gene Seibert and Ms. Ruth Wood. (See the separate article in SITREP’s coverage of NACON).
Guest speakers from other organizations, domestic and foreign were introduced and each offered their remarks to the assembly. NACO Seibert thanked each for their participation in the conference and presented each with a token gift.
The presentation of awards filled the balance of the afternoon. (Please see the separate “Awards” section in SITREP’s coverage of NACON).
FRI Morning Session: RDML Craig Bone, Assistant Command for Prevention
RDML Bone welcomed members of the international and industry communities, as well as representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and our fellow armed services.
“As Assistant Commandant for Prevention, I would like to thank National Auxiliary Commodore Gene Seibert, his leadership team, and the entire Coast Guard Auxiliary for their tremendous efforts in supporting Team Coast Guard and in particular their efforts focused on the missions of prevention during their tenure,” said Bone.
Bone continued, “In 1913 Joseph Malins published the poem ‘A Fence or an Ambulance’ in the North Carolina State Board of Health Bulletin. The poem describes a town deciding how to address increasing injuries to its residents from falling off a treacherous cliff they needed to pass. The town decided to invest in an ambulance to come to the aid of the injured rather than to prevent the townspeople from falling from the cliff with a fence. His words are as relevant today as they were almost a century ago: ‘To rescue the fallen is good, But still best to prevent other people from falling.’
“And that is what the Auxiliary has been doing in their irreplaceable role for the Coast Guard, the men and women who work in the Prevention Directorate, and the nation.”
RDML Bone went on to discuss some of the important roles that the Auxiliary plays in the prevention area. He was particularly impressed with the Auxiliary’s efforts in Unispected Commercial Vessel Safety Programs.
Bone said, “My staff (G-PCV, G-PCV-3) and the Aux Division Chief (Commercial Vessel Examination) focused efforts on providing guidelines for Area/ District and Sector supervisors and Auxiliarists involved in the Uninspected Commercial Vessel Program. These efforts resulted in guidance for the standardized training, qualification, management, and procurement of funds for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Examiner and Dockwalking programs.”
“This has resulted in an average of over 1,100 fishing vessel exams and outreach efforts for the past 5 years conducted by the Auxiliary,” Bone continued. “And our measurements show a consistent decline in Fishing Vessel deaths…lives saved directly by increased visibility and attention given to this dangerous work. The Auxiliary is also conducting other uninspected vessel prevention exams. Since 2002 the Auxiliary has averaged over 600 uninspected passenger vessels – or 6-pack – exams. These are the charter boats that take small groups out fishing or on small tours in restricted waters.”
“And they are taking on an increasing number of uninspected towing vessel exams,” said Bone. “This is yet another dangerous maritime work area that is the focus of a rulemaking to improve safety.”
“This is a tremendous workload and one that continues building a fence to prevent accidents from occurring. While measuring what didn’t happen is difficult, corrections to critical lifesaving and firefighting gear on any of these vessels examined may have been directly related to saving a life and reducing risks to Coast Guard rescue crews as demonstrated by our improving measures,” said Bone.
RDML Bone also applauded the Auxiliary’s efforts to assist the Regional Exam Centers with the additional workload as a result of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. “The Auxiliary again answered the call to duty by making themselves available to support our Regional Exam Centers during a major transition time as we move to centralize the merchant mariner licensing and documentation in West Virginia.”
“At this time of maximum turmoil and disruption (REC NOLA closed and moving early and the transition beginning), the Auxiliary has been there for the Coast Guard to provide the additional support needed to the very foundation of prevention activities – ensuring the competency of those who drive, manage, and crew the vessels plying our waters.”
Bone continued, “District REC Coordinators were appointed and contacted respective RECs to establish their needs regarding support from local Auxiliary units. Auxilarists are providing their support to regional exam centers at remote locations as well as becoming members of Traveling Examination Teams. To support this effort, the Auxiliary has provided over 800 missions so far this year and that number continues to grow.”
“The next few years will be critical as the centralization moves to fruition and we look forward to the Auxiliary’s continued outstanding support throughout this transition and into the future of better and more focused customer service for the mariners of our country,” said Bone.
RDML Bone then went on to praise the Auxiliary’s efforts in the area of recreational boating safety. “The Vessel Safety Check (VSC) program continues to be a strong educational resource for the recreational boater. So far over 60,000 VSCs have been conducted throughout the country this year alone.”
“During a vessel safety check, boaters have an opportunity to learn about public education classes,” Bone said. “They can receive updates on significant programs such as ‘Rescue 21’, and can learn about the latest advances in personal survival equipment.”
Bone continued by saying” The Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program continues to provide a key link for the Coast Guard to marine dealers and other commercial outlets. Auxiliarists are reaching out to additional outlets frequented by boaters. With over 50,000 visits per year, boating safety information and public education classes are made available to the recreational boater, as well as commercial interests, enhancing the scope and impact of this highly successful program.”
Last and certainly not least Bone added,” public education classes are conducted in the thousands with nearly 70,000 graduates just this year.”
“Again, how do you measure saving lives by what didn’t happen, asked Bone. “Which one of those 70,000 graduates changed their operation or repaired their vessel that saved their life. Our measures of recreational boating deaths that have occurred indicate a decline and are an assurance that the prevention fence continues to be built, but needs constant attention.”
Our public affairs efforts were also praised by RDML Bone. “Another key element of prevention is letting people know information before they find themselves in trouble or to improve communication within the boating community. Here the Auxiliary leads by example, setting the standard for effective communications with the boating public. Providing tens of thousands of hours of time to the public affairs mission and reaching an audience of millions demonstrates the effectiveness and dedication to keeping the boating public informed. ”
“The Coast Guard Auxiliary continues to find new ways to find success in its enormous Public Affairs mission,” said Bone. “The American Waterways division of the Marine Safety Department, in partnership with CGAUX National Marketing and CG funding, prepared and released a centerfold display, along with information about American Waterways Watch, in the July 2006 issue of Boating World Magazine. Additionally the Auxiliary gained national recognition for its support of the Discover Boating Tour, which was sponsored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.”
RDML Bone congratulated the Auxiliary for the award it received by the National Water Safety Congress earlier this year.
“The last key prevention mission area I will speak about today is that of Waterways management which includes the Aids to Navigation mission. At the headquarters level we have merged the various pieces of this mission into one Directorate to provide a holistic focus,” Bone said.
“The Auxiliary is well represented in supporting the waterways management mission in the field of ATONs,” Bone continued. “Averaging over 2000 aids serviced each year and thousands of hours of time, the Auxiliary again is at the foundation of the prevention mission in assisting the navigation of all mariners.”
“Ensuring that the aids are working for the mariners on our waters reduces the potential for collisions and groundings, while maintaining vital commercial waterways to our nation’s economy remain open and ensuring our economic security, said Bone. “Our measures for these waterway mishaps again show a downward trend as the fence of prevention is built even stronger.”
Bone wrapped up his remarks on prevention activities by saying “The prevention mission isn’t glamorous and it rarely gathers the headlines that are given to those that perform the daring and heroic rescues when things turn bad. But, prevention – or building a fence ( in the areas of CFVS, RBS, UPV, REC, ATON prevention missions)- is precisely where the first line of defense is in protecting and saving lives and ensuring our nation’s economic security. Our nation must have the ambulance and the drivers, and EMTs must be well trained and equipped, but without the fence to prevent the majority of potential accidents the ambulance would soon be overwhelmed.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Gene Siebert and his leadership team for his steady hand and support of the prevention missions as National Commodore, Bone said. “And to all of the great Auxiliary team, thank you for your dedicated support to the America, the Coast Guard, and the prevention mission. Semper Paratus!”
RADM Jody Breckenridge
RADM Jody Breckenridge began her remarks by recalling that it has been 4-5 years since attending a NACON, and she wanted to come and renew some friendships this year. She stated that she had a couple of very specific reasons for coming.
“First, you are an integral part of our workforce. As I look at strategic planning in my district, I want to ensure that the Auxiliary is included every step of the way, as we look at the capabilities you can bring to bear to the challenges and missions that we have to accomplish.”
Secondly, she also wanted to come to the national conference to see what challenges that you are facing, and to see what she can do to facilitate leveraging our capabilities.
One area she sees a need for improvement is training. “When you step forward and offer new capabilities for us, or when we ask you to do something new, we have to ensure that we provide you the proper training. We can’t ask you to do something without making the proper investment, to allow you to do the professional job that you always want to do and consistently do. We need to ensure that we set things up, just as we do for our reservists, and make the proper investment in training.”
“I always look forward to going to a session points,” said Breckenridge. She stated she did a lot of personnel work in her career, and recently attended an event at the Leadership Development Center. Whenever you attend one of these events, she said “You always come out of there with two basic reactions: (1) you come away feeling good about our service, and (2) you always come out rejuvenated. There is such a sense of energy, I always leave asking ‘What do I need to do to do more?’”
“Whenever I visit a group of Auxiliarists,” Breckenridge said, “ I always come away with those same two feelings.”
RDML Breckenridge commented that “Our service is in good hands looking at this audience.”
“Thanks to COMO Siebert, and congratulations to the new bridge, Breckenridge said. “ I especially want to than all of those who’ve stepped forward to assume leadership positions. That is a very difficult thing to do, and I want to commend you for your contributions.”
Lastly, RADM Breckenridge discussed the Coast Guards branding project that she was a part of. “I am very proud of the CG branding of the Shield of Freedom, having guided that particular process.” She was involved in that process along with a number of Auxiliarists, and went on to say that “It truly transcends all the components of our workforce and all the missions that we do.”
“As I look at the shield - which protects things – that is exactly what we do. I look at what composes that shield, and what composed that shield is you – our workforce. The resiliency and strength of that shield resides in you. It’s a very resilient and strong shield that we have.”
She concluded her remarks by saying “I thank you all for what you do each and every day. We could not provide the services to the American public, nor perform at the level of excellence that we do, without your contributions. We should all stand tall and stand proud for what we do. Please take pride in what you do.”
RDML Joel Whitehead
RDML Whitehead welcomed everyone to the 8th District, on behalf of its nearly 8,200 active, reserve, civilian and Auxiliarists to the 2006 National Conference.
This year’s NACON will usher in new leadership for the USCGAUX said RDML Whitehead, who wanted to take a look at the accomplishments of outgoing NACO gene Seibert.
“Since being elected NACO in November 2004,” said Whitehead. “COMO Seibert recognized the potential negative impact of the PSI program might have on the overall numbers of the organization’s membership. And he wasted no time he immediately focused the Auxiliary’s leadership on the importance of recruiting and retention. He also worked closely with the Coast Guard leadership to streamline the paperwork requirements for new and existing members.”
“Putting his years of business experience and skills to work, COMO Seibert was responsible for the development and implementation of the Auxiliary’s business plan, providing a key document that all Auxiliary leaders could follow in describing their organizational purpose, spirit and performance.”
Whitehead continued, “In recognizing the ever expanding demands and mission loads asked of the Auxiliary, COMO Seibert recognized the effects of an organization being spread thin by the many mission opportunities emerging from the Coast Guard, and their potential to compete with the core missions of the Auxiliary. So in order to keep a proper balance, he took steps to communicate the need to return to the core missions of recreational boating safety and public education. His actions helped bolster Auxiliary exposure to the boating public, which had a positive impact on boating safety and improved recruiting opportunities for the Auxiliary.”
RDML Whitehead also congratulated COMO Seibert on being selected as the first Auxiliarist to serve on the Coast Guard’s Leadership Counsel, giving him access to the Commandant and other top level decision makers in the Coast Guard.
“COMO Seibert was also instrumental in an important project that had a profound and direct impact on the members of the 8th District and District 7 – which was the establishment of Operation Life Ring,” said Whitehead. He continued to describe how COMO Seibert, along with the CHDIRAUX, led a ten person team and toured the devastated region, personally meeting with Auxilairsts, where he heard personal stories of survival and courage.
“Over $ 125000 was raised by Operation Life Ring, and given to Coast Guard families and Auxiliarists impacted by the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes. I want to personally thank you on behalf of the members of the 8th Coast Region,” said Whitehead. He also thanked the other districts for their generous donations which made Operation Life Ring a success.
Although the organization is a little smaller as a result of the PSI process, Whitehead commented to Seibert, “I think it is also stronger, more focused, and due to your efforts, it is clearly living up to your salient watchwords, of ready, responsive and resolute. Thank you for your dedicated service.”
Whitehead continued his remarks by commenting on COMO Seiberts’s watchwords. “Those words, ‘ready, responsive and resolute’ were echoed at NACON 2005. when the 7th and 8th Districts were dealing with the effects of hurricane Katrina. Auxiliarists were ready, and responded to the call during last year’s hurricane season, which brought 11 tropical storms and 15 of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. History through LANTAREA’s region and specifically the D8 AOR.”
“Members of the Auxiliary provided vital assistance in nearly every mission area of the Coast Guard. On very short notice, members staffed incident command posts, conducted countless support and logistics flights, giving commanders with some of the first views of the storm’s devastation. They assisted in life saving rescues and delivered life saving food and water.”
“While many others outside the impact area were ready to assist when called upon to do so, you were also responsive. Your efforts not only aided the general public, but directly assisted members of Team Coast Guard, by providing vital logistics support to isolated active duty members, augmenting command staffs, delivering critically needed food water and RVs for Coast Guard members operating in isolated areas made primitive by the storm. You also assisted by boosting morale, by holding cook-outs, coordinating community support and a involvement in a number of other areas ways too numerous to mention.”
“And finally you were resolute, said Whitehead.. “As an example, the 8th District Auxiliary component is one of the largest in the Coast Guard, totaling over 4,500 members. Last year was one of the most personally impacted by the 2005 hurricane season, especially those in the D8CR Throughout District 8, members of the Auxiliary can be found at nearly every single station, filling the role of nearly every billet, including OOD, duty engineers, and watchstanding.”
“Though not directly involved in law enforcement missions, our Auxiliary members are constantly conducting surveillance flights and patrols through the AOR to prevent illegal activity from penetrating our shores, and improving maritime domain awareness in some of the most critical ports in the country.” Whitehead praised the Auxiliarists in D8 for their contributions in so many areas in spite of the hardship many of them faced.
Whitehead applauded the impressive statistics amassed thus far in 2006 by D8 Auxiliarists, one of the largest geographical regions of the country. “Everyday our Auxiliary members are there not only to promote and enhance recreational boating safety and boating education to the general public, but they also supplement our active duty and reserve components in our day to day missions.”
“Taking the lessons from hurricanes Rita and Katrina, our Auxiliary members have aggressively worked on improving their contingency planning internally and in coordination with the Sector commands and the District Contingency Planning Staff.” In short, Whitehead feels that the 8th District is better prepared for future events.
RDML Whitehead concluded his remarks by saying, “The 8th District is honored to host this year’s national conference, and I look forward to making new friends and catching up with old friends from the past.”