Shipmate of the Week – CDR Rob Smith
Cmdr. Robert L. Smith was inducted into the BGCA National Hall of Fame as part of their national BGCA conference in Orlando, Fla. Smith is only the second Coast Guardsman to receive this honor. He joined more than 150 other former BGCA members who have been recognized as leaders in their fields, including Denzel Washington, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Jordan and Coast Guard Capt. Daniel Travers.
Making waves on the ice
With the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs heating up we bring you the story of the World War II-era Coast Guard Cutters, described by hockey historian Stan Fischler as “a team of brawling and boisterous sailors who knew how to win.”
Vice President Biden addresses the Class of 2013
Today, Vice President Joe Biden welcomed the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Class of 2013 as the Coast Guard’s newest officers, saluting their service and emphasizing the important role they play in meeting the nation’s many maritime needs.
Fly-fishing for a cause
Fly fishing can work wonders for those rehabbing injuries of the body and mind. It takes patience and skill to master. It also takes repetition and commitment, not unlike rehab exercises. Cmdrs. James Kammel and Cliff Neve volunteered at the 7th annual “2 Fly” competition in partnership with Project Healing Waters, a non-profit organization bringing wounded and disabled veterans together for therapeutic fly-fishing. “2 Fly” is literally a two-flies-only fishing competition where the most prolific angler takes the crown.
Flying with Her Majesty’s Royal Navy
The Coast Guard deploys worldwide in service to our nation. Working with partner nations not only strengthens our ranks but also promotes camaraderie between forces of different countries. Lt. Sean Jehu has been deployed to the United Kingdom to learn from, and fly with, the British Royal Navy for this exact reason.
Shipmate of the Week – BMC Benjamin Snider
Station Umpqua River is home to a crew of dedicated Coast Guardsmen, sentinels to the abundance of recreational and commercial fisherman in the region. The station is remote, isolated and bears witness to some of the worst water there is. It’s also home to Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Snider, an extraordinarily skilled surfman.
Representing the Coast Guard at the Warrior Games
The Warrior Games bring together more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as from international armed forces. The event includes competitions in archery, cycling, seated volleyball, shooting, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball. The goal of the Warrior Games isn’t necessarily to identify the most skilled athletes, but rather to demonstrate the incredible potential of wounded warriors through competitive sports.
Cycling for service
With more than 20 million veterans living in America today, Coast Guard members across the nation join together to honor their service. Whether attending a memorial service for a veteran who has passed or visiting local veterans’ hospitals to show gratitude, supporting veterans is a principal all servicemembers hold dear. While there are many ways to show support, one group of Coast Guardsmen took their support on the road – the road to Gettysburg, Pa.
Shipmate of the Week – AUX Paul Deafenbaugh
It’s just 24 notes; not a full composition or even a song. It’s merely a bugle call. But this bugle call does more than move mountains; it moves souls.
This 24-note bugle call, known as taps, is part of military funeral honors for those who have faithfully defended our country in war and peace. In this ceremonial paying of respects, perhaps no one else in the Coast Guard best understands taps’ power than Auxliarist Paul Deafenbaugh, the bugler for the U. S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard.
Got questions? These operations specialists have answers.
We asked our Facebook fans if they could ask an operations specialist anything, what would it be? And with more than 200 questions asked, it was clear you were all eager to hear more about the men and women who make up the operations specialist rate. We picked the top five most “liked” questions and asked two operations specialists to help answer them: Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Young and Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Daves.
