RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
We certainly started off the new year with a bang! Partial government shutdown, cancelling the combined D-Train with D1NR, establishing Regional Based Training, and scrambling to find and put together a District Awards Luncheon. All of this happened within a short few weeks. You, the dedicated members of One Southern rose to the challenge.
You, the dedicated members of One Southern rose to the challenge. From your outstanding support of our active duty family, working directly with the Chief Petty Officer Association (CPOA) chapters located within our District, to providing boots on the ground in helping with food banks and distribution. Many of you used your own resources to see that some had places to go, food and meals to eat, and any other assistance you thought necessary to see them through the unacceptable period of not being paid. Your efforts alone were so readily apparent to all. You topped the list of all who helped. As a Coast Guard retiree and CPOA member, a heartfelt Thank You to each and every one of you.
The Awards Luncheon is rapidly approaching, and as I write this it is only three days away. The Awards Team has worked hard and long hours to accomplish the many very difficult tasks of writing and having approved the many award citations, purchasing the awards and having everything done correctly, finding an appropriate venue, creating e-invitations and sending them out, establishing a program and protocol for something we’ve never done before, and putting all the pieces together. They have performed miraculously and have completed all assigned tasks. We look forward to a great event!
The Regional Based Training (RBT) consists of four training sessions specific to our Sector areas, Long Island North and South, and New York North and South. They are being designed and coordinated by the four DCAPT’s for each area. They are not intended to replace the many classes and lectures given at D-Train, but instead will focus primarily on Sector specific issues, highlighting each Sector’s unique operational priorities and practices. Together with Ops, VE/PV workshops and Intro to Risk Management, among others, we hope to provide interesting, valuable and classes on things that affect our everyday workings as Auxiliarists and as an integrated force multiplier for the Coast Guard. The response so far has been enthusiastic and determined. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of the DCAPT’s and the members who have jumped into the mix to help organize and instruct.
Thank you!
In the words of the great Winston Churchill, “Success is not final, Failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts!”
Respectfully,
Bill Bowen
Bill Bowen
District Commodore
First Southern District
Bill Bowen
COMMODORE,
First District Southern Region
District Commodore's Message