United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, 1st Southern District, Division 22, Eatons Neck, NY

A Partnership Grows Stronger

Press Release for Immediate placement

Contact Bruce Cohen Vice Flotilla Commander Flotilla 1SR-22-02 USCG Auxiliary Northport, NY 631 261-8641

US Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel are being phased into three areas at USCG Station Eatons Neck: the galley, watch standing and station maintenance. Taking on more responsibility than in the past, the volunteers of the local division are ramping up to perform more of the duties of the regular crew.

As part of a new initiative which integrates the auxiliary members into the regular Coast Guard crew, a team of 10+ volunteers is being trained for action in the galley. Training is being given in the areas of food handling and preparation, and Coast Guard procedures. The goal of the team is to assume more of the galley tasks.

“The benefit to the auxiliary is the opportunity to directly fulfill its mission of supporting the Coast Guard and to do a job which is both fun and rewarding,” says Ron Doda, Auxiliary Officer in charge of the galley effort. Doda also pointed out that his team is made up of “highly committed individuals with varying amounts of cooking experience. The key is commitment and the willingness to learn.”

Other integration initiatives are taking place among the watch standers and station maintenance personnel. Tony Schwally, Auxiliary Officer coordinating the total integration effort stated, “The goal of integration is to provide a seamless blending of station and Auxiliary personnel in the three duty areas being addressed.”

Chief Warrant Officer Zack Cummings, Commander of the Eatons Neck Station sums it up: “The Coast Guard Auxiliary integration has been a great success. The Auxiliary volunteers are a great asset to the Coast Guard and the Crew of Station Eatons Neck. With their support my active duty crew can better accomplish the Coast Guards missions of Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security.”

Auxiliary Division Captain Anthony Wuestman explains the rationale behind the integration initiatives and the strategy for the future.

“Before 9/11 and immediately after, our Division 22 supported the Eatons Neck Coast Guard Station by augmenting their forces with our volunteers. It worked so well that we had as many as 65 auxiliarists reporting to the Station to engage in various exercises dealing with everything from fire control, communications, search and rescue, security, medical assistance, to aid in food preparation and distribution. That was great at that time however as we progressed and CWO Zachary Cummings came on board as Station Commander we looked over what was accomplished and decided what worked fine after 9/11 could be improved not so much through occasional series of exercises but through total integration of both Regulars and Auxiliarists. Our major concern was Watchstanders in the Communication area. Where we had only one qualified watchstander we now have, at last count more than 7. In the Galley department we had none Note: comparison is THAN, timing is spelled THEN.assigned on a regular basis now the current team numbers 10 and more possibly in the process. The next area will be to increase the number of auxiliarists in the Maintenance department to further aid the Regulars in their quest to maintain an efficient installation”

The Station Eatons Neck division of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, chartered locally more than 65 years ago, has units from Port Jefferson to Oyster Bay. More then 200 members volunteer their time, experience and vessels in efforts ranging from Search and Rescue to Aids to Navigation. The men and women of the local Auxiliary Division teach boating safety classes and conduct hundreds of vessel safety examinations every year. Knowledge of safe practices on the waterways as well as having safe and proper equipment onboard, reduces accidents and save lives.

Watch for announcements of classes near you. For Vessel Examinations please contact Ms. Shelley Johnson 631-223-6484 or Bruce Cohen 631-261-8641

New members are always welcome. All citizens over 17 years of age are eligible to join. Please call MS. Terry Kinch, the Division Staff Officer-Personnel Services, at 631-271-2503 for more information.

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