The official blog of the U.S. Coast Guard
To keep the system moving safely and smoothly, Coast Guard members in Alaska have the unique opportunity of maintaining navigational aids to ensure the consistent flow of goods throughout Alaska’s marine highway. Despite limiting factors, Aids to Navigation Team Kodiak crew members work diligently to ensure the navigational aids are maintained, re-built and serviced.
Military families sacrifice a lot for their nation such as deployments, missing out on milestones and relocation. Military Family Month was created to celebrate the service and sacrifice of the patriots and families who make up America’s military. For one Coast Guard family, staying involved in the community and being active outdoors has helped Petty Officer 1st Class Casey Lawrence and her family stay resilient and loving the Alaskan lifestyle.
It’s a story that sounds as if it were pulled right from the movies. High winds, rough seas, a rescue helicopter low on fuel and a crew determined to save a life. But the danger was real for the Kodiak, Alaska-based Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew on a mission to save the life of a cargo vessel crewman. In the end the crew gets the man to safety and the pilot earned a prestigious award for his efforts.
The health service technicians and personnel that make up the Coast Guard Rockmore-King Medical Clinic on Alaska’s Kodiak Island were named the 2015 Health Clinic Facility of the Year for their professionalism and patient care while dealing with the unique challenges of operating in a rural, geographically isolated community, along with the comprehensive care they provided to all Coast Guard assets patrolling the North Pacific and Bering Sea. The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding performance and contribution by a Coast Guard health care facility.
For the past 225 years the Coast Guard has safeguarded our nation’s maritime interests, providing a 24/7 presence along America’s rivers, ports, coastline and on the high seas. But while the Coast Guard’s presence and impact is regional, national and international, our operations are often out of sight.
Military leadership is often perceived as those who hold a high rank, part of a command staff, who foster the development of their junior members to one day become leaders themselves. But as with Coast Guardsmen like Petty Officer 2nd Class Noel Cordero, a junior member aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, a good leader can come from any rank.
“I worked in middle schools before joining the Coast Guard and know just how important and influential volunteers are in an educational environment, especially active-duty military members. Seeing student’s eyes light up when they first see a Coast Guard member make an appearance to step in to help out with school events is heartwarming as well as gratifying.” – OS3 Kristina Manson
Friday’s week in the life of the Coast Guard 2014 features a new response boat small in St. Petersburg, Florida, working in tight spaces at Station Seattle, gun inspections in Portsmouth, Va., local partnership training in Kodiak, Alaska and underway preparation on the Cutter Mako in Cape May, N.J.
Wednesday’s week in the life of the Coast Guard 2014 features light work on the Chesapeake Bay, keeping helicopters clean in Kodiak, Alaska, a summer station patrol near Rhode Island, making sure they’re feed at Station Cape Disappointment and getting a dewatering pump to a boat in need far way.
U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that a jury of 6 women and 6 men, found James Michael Wells guilty of the murders of Petty Officer 1st Class James Hopkins and retired Chief Petty Officer Richard Belisle on April 12, 2012. Both Hopkins and Belisle were murdered at U.S. Coast Guard Communications Station Kodiak.