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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
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