Winter is Gone, Time For Training

Auxilarist Marty Robey (left) and Trevor Henderson practice throwing a line to a person in distress during boat crew training.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by Doug Jansen)

Now that our harsh winter is in the past, members of the flotilla are continuing their training to prepare them for qualification as boat crew members. New boat crew trainees were given an orientation to our Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels. Hands on skills such as knot tying and throw bag deployment was also taught.

Boat crew students included Bill Eggers, Trevor Henderson, Marty Robey, Chris Shade and Ralph Tomlinson.

During boat crew training Auxilarist Ralph Tomlinson ties a fender to the boat during boat crew training.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by Doug Jansen)

Auxilarist Trevor Henderson learns how to tie a fender to the Lady Grace during boat crew training.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by Doug Jansen)

Coast Guard Auxiliary Works With Corps of Engineers To Keep The Public Safe

As flood waters continue to rise the Army Corps of Engineers has asked the Coast Guard Auxiliary to help them with public safety support around Saylorville Lake. Starting Monday, Coast Guard Auxilarists will support Army Corps of Engineers staff to help make the public aware of the dangers of the high water around the lake and to advise them to stay out for their own safety.

Due to the high water event, Saylorville Lake's public areas will be closed due to the dangers that the high water will create. Coast Guard Auxilarists will be stationed around the lake to help encourage the public to stay away due to the dangers that they may not be aware of.

Like many flooding events the rapidly rising waters, strong current and substantial ice still on the lake pose a significant danger to the public. For information on the current conditions at Saylorville Lake go to: http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/new/layout.cfm

Deployed Auxilarists to North Dakota Working Hard

As Coast Guard flood relief operations continue in North Dakota our deployed Auxilarists are working hard.

Roland Newton is in Fargo with the Coast Guard Auxiliary communications team. They are providing communications for the air assets along with strategic High Frequency (HF) radio communications back to Sector Upper Mississippi.

Gene Kellogg spent today working alongside the Coast Guard in the North Dakota State Emergency Operations Center. He is working alongside active duty Coast Guard personnel from all over the country who are working to prosecute the requests as they come in. He is helping to facilitate the surface operations and air operations.

Ralph Tomlinson is in Fargo working alongside the Coast Guard air operations personnel who are overseeing the Coast Guard helicopters in the area.

All three will return to duty tomorrow for continued operations. Good luck to everyone in North Dakota!

Flotilla Members Deploy to North Dakota for Flood Relief Mission

Thursday 3 members of Flotilla 4 deployed to North Dakota to help support the Coast Guard flood response. Gene Kellogg of Cedar Rapids, Roland Newton of Ames and Ralph Tomlinson of Humboldt are currently in North Dakota at different locations.

Auxilarists Ralph Tomlinson and Gene Kellogg will help augment Coast Guard operations personnel to coordinate responses to requests from local and state agencies to help with the response to the flooding along the Red River.

Auxilarist Roland Newton will work with Coast Guard personnel to help aid in communications between Coast Guard assets deployed throughout North Dakota. These individuals were called upon because of their experience in helping to provide a similar function during the Iowa floods of 2008.

Last year, several members of Flotilla 4 were deployed to North Dakota and Minnesota to support Coast Guard flood relief operations along the Red River.

Auxilarist Roland Newton works communications during an event in Des Moines in August. He is one of 3 flotilla members who have been dispatched to North Dakota to assist with flood relief.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)

January / February Edition of Above Board

The new edition of Above Board is available at AboveBoardJanuaryFebruary2010.pdf

This month's newsletter has articles about the Advanced Coastal Navigation Course, Ralph Tomlinson completing Coast Guard instructor training, DART training and Suzanne Tomlinson and Rob Green being named to the National staff. Thank you to all of our contributors who made this month's edition possible. The submission deadline for Above Board is the first Friday of each month. Photos, narratives and information is always appreciated.

Tomlinson Completes Course in California

Auxiliarist Ralph Tomlinson recently completed the Coast Guard Instructor Development Course at TRACON Petaluma.

Mr. Tomlinson was a member of the class which consisted of 4 Auxiliarists, 13 active duty Coast Guard members and one Coast Guard civilian employee. This was the premier course for instructors in the Coast Guard. Attendees are expected to become instructors for active duty, reserve, and civilian Coast Guard member training.

“I am looking forward to continue teaching ICS 210, 300, and 400 courses,” said Mr. Tomlinson “I will also be involved in the Team Coordination Training courses this spring.”

After completing the other requirements, Tomlinson will be able to become a Team Coordination Training facilitators, the first in Flotilla 4.




Auxilarist Ralph Tomlinson
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Suzanne Tomlinson)

Flotilla Members Named to National Staff Positions

Flotilla 4 member, Suzanne Tomlinson has been appointed as the National Branch Chief of Boating Safety Communications (BC-BSC). This position is part of the Recreational Boating Safety Affairs Department. Mrs. Tomlinson is a teacher in the Humboldt Community School District and has been part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since 2008.

“I am pleased with the confidence that the National Staff has shown in appointing me to this position,” said Mrs. Tomlinson. “It will take some time to completely learn the ins and outs of this job and I am eager to get started.”

The RBS Affairs Department, under the program guidance of the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety and the direction of the Auxiliary Directorate of Recreational Boating Safety, provides assistance to Coast Guard units, Auxiliary National Departments and Auxiliary District organizations in their efforts to promote and support recreational boating safety programs. RBS Affairs provides both informational and fiscal resource services to the Auxiliary membership. In addition, the RBS Affairs provides liaison with State Boating Law Administrators and other recreational boating safety organizations, i.e., State, Federal and the public sector.

Flotilla 4 member, Rob Green has been appointed as the Graphics Branch Chief of the National Staff. “This position will definitely enhance my capability to coordinate and execute Coast Guard Auxiliary design projects,” said Mr. Green.

Rob is a former Coast Guard officer and a lifelong artist. After graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1998 he spent six years on active duty as Operations Officer of USCGC SEDGE (WLB-402) in Homer, Alaska; as Admin Staff for the Assistant Commandant for Operations (G-O) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC; and finally as Executive Officer of USCGC HICKORY (WLB-212) in Homer, Alaska.