F12-07 FSO-PA Monthly Report April 2013

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
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> UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
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> FIRST COAST GUARD DISTRICT (SR)
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> DIVISION 12
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> April 9th, 2013
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> Anne Marie Kelly FSO-PA, Monthly Report
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> On March 16th 2013, I attended the various Aviation Program Workshops at the USCG Aux Awards Conference in Groton, CT.
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> FC Ron Kaplan, was instrumental in coordinating and conducting the Swim Test, which was held the day before at the USCG Academy in New London. Additional 12-07 members offering assistance were Frank Hippel, Safety Swimmer, Steve Kallinikos with Check in and Martin Stallings, Administrative.
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> On Saturday evening after the conference, I attended the Commodore's Banquet held in the Mystic Marriott Ballroom. The program began with a welcome & introductions by Wesley L Doody; followed by an interesting speech by Rear Admiral Daniel Able, Commander, First Coast Guard District, Boston, MA. Also present from Div12 were David Porter, District Captain SECNY-South & ADSO-AVQ,, Steve Trupkin, DSO-AV, Peter Talamo, SO-MT-AV, and Hope Wright ADSO-PA.
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> Earlier in the day at the luncheon, F12-07 was once again the recipient of the Division 12 Flotilla of the Year Award, which makes that the third year in a row.
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> Allison Rockfeld received the New Auxiliarist of the Year for Division 12 Award and then our own FC Ron Kaplan, ADSO-AVT, won the Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement Award for Superior Performance of Duties - while serving as the Aux Air Training Assistant DSO for the 1SR from January 2012 to December 2013.
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> Among other things:
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> "...he demonstrated outstanding leadership and administrative skill
> - created a positive learning environment for all 240 crew members assigned to Southern Region's AuxAir organization, increasing the safety and effectiveness of air operations
> - dedicated countless hours of his own personal time traveling throughout southern New England to present standardized aviation training, improving safety training standards
> - prepared and orchestrated:
> - an Aux Air Crew program at the annual Aux Training Conf in Mystic, CT
> - an Ice Patrol & Summer Safety Workshops
> - two water survival classes
> - using technological foresight, obtained the SAR PRO IPAD software used for in-flight SAR planning and collaborated with the developer to adapt the program for AuxAir missions.
> - presented this new capability to Aux Aircrews, providing them with the necessary information for a seamless transition, which greatly enhanced the aircrew's ability to execute search patterns and effectively increased search area coverage and response capabilities for the First Coast Guard District.
> - maintained an outstanding reputation as a qualified First Pilot, where he carried out numerous patrols in support of Coast Guard operations.
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> Mr Kaplan's diligence, perseverance, and devotion to duty are most heartedly commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
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> The Operational Distinguishing Device is authorized."
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> Congratulations to all of you!
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> April 6th, 2013 - B2 Training Air Station Cape Cod (ASCC)
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> B2 training consisted of four teams in four separate aircrafts in ASCC AOR. Participating Flotillas included members jointly flying from F12-07, F1-6 & F10-20. Representing F12-07 were FC Ron Kaplan, Steve Trupkin, Peter Lombardo & Ed Coleman. Each crew took out an Air Station Cape Cod USCG Pilot who observed how each team calculated and flew their respective SAR missions. A debriefing followed at the airbase. In addition to becoming more familiar, learning from each other & enhanced COMMS, It's always beneficial for the Gold Side to see first hand what AuxAir does and how well we do it.
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> Boat Crew & Coxswain Training continues at Ft. Totten under the instruction of Ted Praeger if anyone wants to attend they are welcome on Monday nights.
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> April 20th, 2013 there will be an Ops Workshop at Station NY and everyone is welcome to attend.
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> April 23rd through April 25th, 2013 Intl Flight Test Safety Workshop, N.O.L.A.
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> Our own James G. Plackis, 12-07 FSO, will be a Guest Speaker at the International Flight Test Safety Workshop that is being sponsored jointly by the F.A.A.and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), from April 23rd through April 25th, 2013, in New Orleans, LA. (He is a Lifetime Member of the Society).
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> He will be opening the first Session at 09:15 AM on Wednesday, April 24th, presenting his topic entitled: "Memorable Moments from 38 Years of Test Piloting for the F.A.A.". The talk will cover numerous occurrences, some that were fatal, and others that were humorous (such as having to conduct highly instrumented noise tests on the silent 1-35 Sailplane, in order to satisfy the E.P.A.'s requirements, before F.A.A. Type Certificate approval could be
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