Greetings to all!
Below is a quick summary of the last 7 months. It's been busy/crazy. Hope all is well back at CM.
Oct-Nov. 2009: Attending Boarding Officer School at the Maritime Law Enforcement
Academy (MLEA) in Charleston, SC. The training was geared towards providing the necessary skills/knowledge to safety and legally conduct boardings while in charge of a boarding team. Boarding teams usually consist of 3-6 people depending on the size of vessel and crew.
December, 2009 : Enjoyed my 1st Christmas in San Diego and got engaged to Sandi Guinane! The plan is to get married mid-August. Not bad for the first Christmas away from home.
Jan, 2010: Submitted my application for flight school, an addition 8 year commitment,
if accepted, on top of the 5 year commitment already incurred by attending the Coast Guard Academy. Prior to submitting my application, I traveled to Air Station Los Angeles and San Diego to gain some experience in the possible helicopter airframes I could eventually fly. Both the Jayhawk (HH-60) and Dolphin (HH-65) are similar helicopters; however the difference in available engine power is day and night.
Jan-Feb, 2010: Temporary stationed on the CGC OCRACOKE, a 110' patrol boat, stationed out of St. Petersburg, FL. Sailed with then for a patrol (approx. 3 weeks) off
the Keys enforcing immigration and drug laws. The Florida Keys are well known
for Cuban migration, for example the Mariel Boatlift a few decades back. We
conducted 1 search and rescue (SAR) case for a sailboat approx 200 miles offshore near the edge of a storm that broke its mast and lost steering while under power due to a faulty engineering design. In the end, around 2 o'clock in the morning we were on station in 8-10 foot seas, transferred 2 crewmen onto the sail boat rigged a tow and towed the sailboat just west of Key West. The sailboat was in route to Haiti as a living platform for doctors, needless to say they were a little delayed.
Mar 4, 2010: I was selected by the Aviation board for flight school in Pensacola.
Flight school consists on 3 main parts-(1) private pilot's license, (2) classroom, and (3) platform specific training. Overall, flight school is roughly a 20 month training. The Coast Guard has two primary airframes: fixed wing (HC-130, CASA, & the Guardian) and rotary wing (HH-60, HH-65, & HH-68). Like most jobs in the military, those who perform the highest have first pick at what they want.
Mar-Apr, 2010: Underway again with the CGC OCRACOKE in the Caribbean. Being temporary assigned to another unit is not common; however, since the CGC CHASE is under going a substantial engineering overhaul we were expected to be moored import for about a year. I would love to stay in San Diego and enjoy the lifestyle, but it would not conducive in terms of professional development and competence. I am fortunate we have been very busy on the CGC OCRACOKE and I have been able to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience which will payoff on my last patrol with CGC CHASE this summer.
In summary, the last 7 months have entail traveling all around the US, first-hand exposure in the many missions of the Coast Guard, and a much better overall appreciation for the hard work the men and women of this service put forth on a daily basis.
Plus, making $60,000 for the 1st year out of college isn't too bad either.
Doug
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Here is a picture of me (yellow) directing a vertical replenishment (VERTREP). VERTREPS are most commonly used to onload/offload cargo by helicopter. This was a training evaluation. On this patrol we conducted over 50 flight hours and 60 take-offs and landings.
We are nearing the end of our patrol very shortly.
We are nearing the end of our patrol very shortly.
Friday, September 18, 2009
This patrol has been busy...earned all the qualifications I needed so far with the exception of Inport and Underway OOD [Officer of the Day]. I took an inport OOD preboard today and got recommend to sit for the board (probably in a few days).
So far I've qualified as Landing Signal Officer (LSO) for day and night (with night vision goggles)--person directing aircraft on/off the flight deck; boarding team member (BTM)--a good stepping stone for Boarding Officer (BO); Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW)--person responsible for charting /recording / recommending courses for the navigation of the ship; Advanced & Basic Damage Control PQS--basically means I'm qualified to use all fire fighting and repair equipment if a fire/flooding/toxic gas leak occurred onboard; and, hopefully, I'll pass my inport OOD board before pulling back in [to San Diego].
It's been fun but busy. Everyone aboard has agreed that this has been the longest short patrol of their careers. It's been work 110% everyday all day. I've had two afternoons off this patrol to relax and do nothing...otherwise there has always been something that needed to get accomplished, written, or prepped for.
So far I've qualified as Landing Signal Officer (LSO) for day and night (with night vision goggles)--person directing aircraft on/off the flight deck; boarding team member (BTM)--a good stepping stone for Boarding Officer (BO); Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW)--person responsible for charting /recording / recommending courses for the navigation of the ship; Advanced & Basic Damage Control PQS--basically means I'm qualified to use all fire fighting and repair equipment if a fire/flooding/toxic gas leak occurred onboard; and, hopefully, I'll pass my inport OOD board before pulling back in [to San Diego].
It's been fun but busy. Everyone aboard has agreed that this has been the longest short patrol of their careers. It's been work 110% everyday all day. I've had two afternoons off this patrol to relax and do nothing...otherwise there has always been something that needed to get accomplished, written, or prepped for.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
...Excerpts from the log of Ensign Douglas A. Eberly, deck officer, U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Chase (WHEC:718), San Diego, CA...September 8, 2009.
It's just past halfway through the patrol. This is a short patrol, 2.5 months, compared to the typical 3 month stints at sea. We've had two port calls so far with another one in a week or so. I cannot say where we went, but I'll say CM students from BERSI have visited the same country. A 378' cutter is a large ship with a large crew. Inherently, by the numbers, during port calls someone will act inappropriately. This occurred at the last port call. Now, nine people will be going to mast for a variety of reasons. The main reasons: drinking too much and acting irresponsible.
Semi-annually, in September and March, junior officers are evaluated. From what I have learned, people who succeed in the Coast Guard are not necessarily the booksmart, know-it-all kind of people. The Coast Guard is a small military organization and benefits the most from people who are personable can communication and work well with everyone ranging from the newly-appointed seaman to the Captain of the ship. My supporting documents for what I have accomplished thus far are due in two days, and I'll see in a month where I stand on my evaluation.
Otherwise, same old routine here in the Eastern Pacific, pursuing drug smugglers, and working closely with the navies of South and Central American countries. ~Doug
It's just past halfway through the patrol. This is a short patrol, 2.5 months, compared to the typical 3 month stints at sea. We've had two port calls so far with another one in a week or so. I cannot say where we went, but I'll say CM students from BERSI have visited the same country. A 378' cutter is a large ship with a large crew. Inherently, by the numbers, during port calls someone will act inappropriately. This occurred at the last port call. Now, nine people will be going to mast for a variety of reasons. The main reasons: drinking too much and acting irresponsible.
Semi-annually, in September and March, junior officers are evaluated. From what I have learned, people who succeed in the Coast Guard are not necessarily the booksmart, know-it-all kind of people. The Coast Guard is a small military organization and benefits the most from people who are personable can communication and work well with everyone ranging from the newly-appointed seaman to the Captain of the ship. My supporting documents for what I have accomplished thus far are due in two days, and I'll see in a month where I stand on my evaluation.
Otherwise, same old routine here in the Eastern Pacific, pursuing drug smugglers, and working closely with the navies of South and Central American countries. ~Doug
...Excerpts from the log of Ensign Douglas A. Eberly, deck officer, U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Chase (WHEC:718), San Diego, CA...September 2, 2009.
Within the last 96 hours:
1. I was a representative at a mast for an investigation I conducted surrounding a member testing positive for illegal drug use. A mast is similar to a court hearing but on a boat with the Commanding officer as the acting authority. That member is now being processed out of the Coast Guard.
2. Directed a helicopter off and on our flight deck 3 times in 2 hours. Flight operations are conducted daily. The objective of flying the helicopter is to locate vessels of interest. The reason we launched the helicopter multiple times is because in order to qualify new personnel on board, like myself, a certain number of evolutions must be completed. The day prior to this, I instructed/led an in-flight refueling of the helicopter.
3. The first day in port, somewhere in the southern pacific, as the Officer of the Day I organized and led the response to a toxic gas leak (refrigerant) within the ship. All hands properly responded, the leak was identified and reconciled, and no personnel were negatively affected.
4. The second day in port, a group of us traveled to an orphanage in a very third world country; bought toys, food, and books and helped out for a couple of hours.
5. Today for my first time ever driving the ship, I was designated by the senior navigator to get the cutter underway. Getting the cutter underway is a slow and multiple faceted evolution especially when the pier in a small congestion fishing port, slightly nerve racking but exhilarating.
More things have occurred over the last 4 days but those are the highlights. Typically, a day underway consists of 2to3 meetings, at least 4 hours of watch on the bridge, a regular workday from 0600-1600, three hours of helicopter flight operations, paperwork, working out, and sleeping and eating. In port, not as much goes on. If you're not on watch, you have the day off and can do what you like. If you are on watch as the Officer of the Day (OOD), you are responsible for the entire ship and every person assigned to the unit. Basically, you are in charge everything (i.e. organizing the response to a toxic gas leak).
Need to get some sleep. Good night to All.
Within the last 96 hours:
1. I was a representative at a mast for an investigation I conducted surrounding a member testing positive for illegal drug use. A mast is similar to a court hearing but on a boat with the Commanding officer as the acting authority. That member is now being processed out of the Coast Guard.
2. Directed a helicopter off and on our flight deck 3 times in 2 hours. Flight operations are conducted daily. The objective of flying the helicopter is to locate vessels of interest. The reason we launched the helicopter multiple times is because in order to qualify new personnel on board, like myself, a certain number of evolutions must be completed. The day prior to this, I instructed/led an in-flight refueling of the helicopter.
3. The first day in port, somewhere in the southern pacific, as the Officer of the Day I organized and led the response to a toxic gas leak (refrigerant) within the ship. All hands properly responded, the leak was identified and reconciled, and no personnel were negatively affected.
4. The second day in port, a group of us traveled to an orphanage in a very third world country; bought toys, food, and books and helped out for a couple of hours.
5. Today for my first time ever driving the ship, I was designated by the senior navigator to get the cutter underway. Getting the cutter underway is a slow and multiple faceted evolution especially when the pier in a small congestion fishing port, slightly nerve racking but exhilarating.
More things have occurred over the last 4 days but those are the highlights. Typically, a day underway consists of 2to3 meetings, at least 4 hours of watch on the bridge, a regular workday from 0600-1600, three hours of helicopter flight operations, paperwork, working out, and sleeping and eating. In port, not as much goes on. If you're not on watch, you have the day off and can do what you like. If you are on watch as the Officer of the Day (OOD), you are responsible for the entire ship and every person assigned to the unit. Basically, you are in charge everything (i.e. organizing the response to a toxic gas leak).
Need to get some sleep. Good night to All.
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