NAV EX 3rd QTR. 2017 NavEx 3rd Qtr 2017 - FINAL Draft | Page 13

NATIONAL EMERGENCY The Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Role Article by COMO Alex Malewski, DNACO-O Over 300 trained volunteers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary from across the U.S. assisted the first responders and victims of the storms Harvey & Irma. Since 1939 the US Coast Guard Auxiliary members have stepped up to help our communities and the Coast Guard assist in life saving, environmental protection, and administrative support. The role of the Auxiliary in the hurricane response is threefold guided by the Coast Guard values: Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. First, by honoring the guidance from the Coast Guard to not self-activate; Auxiliarists should not impulsively drive to any area impacted by these storms and take actions that confuse or obstruct the organization or perhaps become a collateral victim. During the temporary wait time the Auxiliary continues to be Semper Paratus (Always Ready) by training, planning, and analyzing opportunities to assist the Coast Guard and members of impacted communities. Second, Auxiliarists’ duties provide technical expertise, ingenuity and resourcefulness to the decimated areas from Houston to the Florida peninsula and the surrounding areas. And lastly, collecting photos, stories, facts & documenting the tragic event for the benefit of our community and it’s after action feedback. By supporting these three roles, we all will see continued success from our combined efforts. Unit Piedmont Student Receives Silver DAR Outstanding Cadet Medal Story by Sankey Blanton The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring Revolutionary War patriots. Founded in 1890, it has been supporting military organizations for over 125 years. ROTC programs really got going prior to America’s 06 April 1917 entry into World War One and comes from the “Plattsburg Idea.” In 1915, Major General Leonard Wood instituted the Citizen’s Military Training Corps, the first series of training camps to make officers out of civilians. The DAR has been recognizing Outstanding Cadets since then. The U.S. Coast Guard has no ROTC, but in 2007 began the Auxiliary University Program (AUP) to help prepare college graduates for Officer Candidate School (OCS). In the fall of 2012 the Piedmont AUP Unit was established at UNC-CH under the direction of Baskin Cooper. Piedmont AUP graduates have gone on to jobs in the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and Environmental or Maritime Science fields. On April 19th, representatives of the North Carolina Society DAR, Davie Poplar Chapter, presented the Silver DAR Outstanding Cadet Medal to Jamie Marie Ramos. This presentation was the first to an AUP Cadet in North Carolina. Presenting the Award Certificate was Ms. Jane Forbes who was instrumental in bringing the AUP Cadet program to the attention of the DAR. Presenting the Silver Medal was Ms. Jean Lusted, the Regent of the Davie Poplar Chapter. It is just possible that this was the first time this medal has been awarded in any of the 20 AUP Units in the county. No matter, it makes this Tar Heel proud. OR express 13