Local Residents Receive Coast Guard Auxiliary Awards

On Thursday, July 21, 2022 two members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Woods Hole Flotilla were recognized for their outstanding services to the U.S. Coast Guard at an awards ceremony that took place at the U.S. Coast Guard's Sector Southeastern New England's headquarters in Woods Hole, MA.

Auxiliarist Barry O'Neil was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Commendation Medal for "meritorious service in the performance of duty while serving in numerous leadership positions... spanning over forty years.." It noted the Auxiliarist O'Neil has devoted over 5,400 hours in direct support to Auxiliary missions, of which over 3,200 hours were in Coast Guard operational support.

Auxiliarist Ken Debrowski was awarded the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement Medal for "Superior performance of duty while serving at Sector Southeastern New England.." In his volunteer role as a Communications Unit Controller (aka Radio Watchstander), he has logged over 1,700 hours, executed over 220 multi-mission incidents resulting in 32 lives saved, 244 assisted, and over six million dollars in property saved.

The U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian, uniformed, volunteer component of the U.S Coast Guard. It was created by an Act of Congress on June 23, 1939 and was first known as the Coast Guard Reserve, with the purpose to promote boating safety and to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard. As a result of World War II, Congress created the military reserve in February 1941 and the volunteer Reserve was renamed the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Today approximately 25,000 volunteers support the recreational boating public through offering safe boating courses, courtesy vessel safety checks and a variety of public affairs missions. In addition, members of the "Auxiliary" can earn qualifications in almost all Coast Guard missions with the exception of military roles and direct law enforcement. Some examples of the qualifications members earn are: recreational vessel examiner, marine safety specialist, public affairs specialist, Auxiliary boat crew or coxswain, Coast Guard radio watchstanders, culinary specialists, aids to navigation verifier and air crew (pilot or observer). There are many more areas for members to earn qualifications and participate in a wide variety of administrative roles.

Volunteering with the Auxiliary is a great way to serve your local community, as well as the nation. Members build skills, support the local boating community and the Coast Guard, while they develop life long relationships with other members.

To learn more about the Auxiliary go to https://join.cgaux.org/

Visit the Woods Hole Flotilla's website www.woodsholecgaux.org

Follow the Woods Hole Flotilla Facebook www.facebook.com/whcgaux