Posted by PA3 Grant DeVuyst, Monday, September 10, 2012
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JUNEAU, Alaska – The Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf crossed into the Arctic Ocean in support of Arctic Shield approximately three weeks ago, Aug. 23, making it the first time a national security cutter has patrolled this remote region.“We are excited to introduce the NSC’s exceptional endurance, operational, and command and control capabilities to the Arctic,” said Capt. Thomas Crabbs, the commanding officer of the Bertholf. “We are witnessing first-hand the increased research, private enterprise and recreational maritime pressure on the opening Arctic.”
As the nation’s lead federal agency for ensuring maritime safety, security and stewardship in the Arctic, the Coast Guard is responsible for conducting its statutory missions in the Arctic to ensure it remains a safe, secure and environmentally sustainable region. To meet this requirement the Coast Guard 17th District, began operation Arctic Shield and focused on outreach, operations and capability assessments.
In August the crew hosted the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Robert Papp, and Alaska State Senator, Lisa Murkowski.
“Showcasing our NSC in its working environment to appointed and elected officials was critical to helping them understand why the Coast Guard needs these highly efficient and well equipped assets in our fleet to protect and support our nation’s interests,” said Ostebo.
Cutters like Bertholf routinely conduct operations from South America to the Bering Sea where their unmatched combination of range, speed, and ability to operate in extreme weather provides the mission flexibility necessary to conduct counter-narcotics, homeland security, and alien migrant interdiction operations, domestic fisheries protection, search and rescue, and other Coast Guard missions at great distances from shore keeping threats far from the U.S. mainland. Now the Bertholf is expanding that presence and responsibility to the Arctic Ocean.
For more information about Arctic Shield, please click here http://www.uscg.mil/d17/Arctic%20Shield%202012.asp
Crew profiles published by US DOD Sept. 10 2012
Atlanta native patrols north of Arctic Circle
Posted by PA3 Grant DeVuyst, Monday, September 10, 2012
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| Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Lazenberry, monitors the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf in the Arctic Ocean, Aug. 22, 2012. The Bertholf is underway in the Arctic as part of the Coast Guard’s Operation Arctic Shield mission. In U.S. waters the Coast Guard has a responsibility to conduct its 11 statutory missions. During Arctic Shield the Coast Guard will focus on the following statutory missions: Ports, waterways and coastal security; search and rescue; aids to navigation; living marine resources; marine safety; defense readiness; marine environmental protection; ice operations and law enforcement. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy TamargoU.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Tamargo. |
Lazenberry is responsible for ordering and purchasing supplies for the ship and is a landing signal officer during helicopter operations.
Knoxville, Tenn., native travels to Arctic on national security cutter
Posted by PA3 Grant DeVuyst, Monday, September 10, 2012
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| Petty Officer 2nd Class James Claude corrects charts on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf in the Arctic Ocean, Aug. 27, 2012. Using charts enables a ship to stay current on changing ocean environments and allows the ship to steer clear of navigational hazzards. The Bertholf is on patrol in the Arctic as part of the Coast Guard’s operation Artic Shield mission. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Tamargo. |
Claude is responsible for maintaining accurate charts for navigation and is also part of the helicopter tiedown team aboard the ship.
Honolulu native patrols Arctic Ocean
Posted by PA3 Grant DeVuyst, Monday, September 10, 2012
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| Seaman Leon Chingcuangco of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf is part of the helicopter tiedown crew on the cutter that is responsible for securing the aircraft to the flight deck as well as preparing it for launch over the Arctic Ocean, Sept. 1, 2012. Bertholf is currently sailing with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Los Angeles. Both units are taking part in the Arctic Shield 2012 mission that will allow the Coast Guard to access its capabilities in the Arctic region. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Tamargo. |
Chingcuangco is a member of the deck division aboard Bertholf and is a line handler in every mooring evolution and almost all small boat launching and recovery operations. On the bridge, he stands watch as the Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch ensuring the decks are secure as well as performing lookout and helmsman duties. He also secures helicopters on deck as part of the helicopter tiedown team. He also works on a never ending project for his division; fighting rust and metal degradation by grinding, sanding and painting almost all of their surfaces.
His collateral duties include teaching Sunday Protestant services as one of the ship’s lay leaders as well as sitting as a member of our Leadership and Diversity Advisory Council.
Springfield, Ore., native runs Arctic Ocean clinic
Posted by PA3 Grant DeVuyst, Monday, September 10, 2012
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| Chief Lonnie Douglas, the corpsman on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, stands duty in the ship’s sick bay as the ship is underway in the Arctic Ocean as part of the Operation Arctic Shield mission, Aug. 26, 2012. The corpsman is responsible for the overall health of the crew and is able to prescibe approved medications as well as administer first aid. They also provide aid during critical personnel casualties. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Tamargo. |
Douglas is responsible for the wellness of the crew and is available to treat acute injuries as well as triage and provide advanced first aid.
Rutland, Mass., native deploys to Arctic on CGC Bertholf
Posted by PA3 Grant DeVuyst, Monday, September 10, 2012
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| Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel R. Jones, a damage controlman on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, is deployed with the Bertholf crew in the Arctic Ocean as part of Coast Guard Operation Arctic Shield, Aug. 29, 2012. Jones is responsible for firefighting, the on-scene leader during flight operations, and is part of the damage response team on the cutter. The Coast Guard is the nation’s lead ferderal agency for ensuring maritime safety, security and stewardship and will be the leader in the advancement of U.S. national interests in the Arctic maritime domain. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Tamargo. |
Jones is responsible for damage control on the ship including firefighting, flooding, plugging and patching pipes, as well as being an inport and underway engineer of the watch and the on-scene leader for the damage control team during helicopter operations.
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Operation Arctic Shield 2012 will give the Coast Guard and Bertholf an opportunity to test capabilities to ensure the right resources are available to conduct maritime safety and security operations in the region.
In U.S. waters, the Coast Guard has a responsibility to conduct its 11 statutory missions. During Operation Arctic Shield it will focus on: ports, waterways and coastal security; search and rescue; aids to navigation; living marine resources; marine safety; defense readiness; marine environmental protection; ice operations and law enforcement.
The Coast Guard is the nation’s lead federal agency for ensuring maritime safety, security and stewardship and will be a leader in the advancement of U.S. national interests in the Arctic maritime domain.
It is dedicated to ensuring the protection of the Arctic maritime environment and of all those who depend upon it.
The Coast Guard has a long and proud history of working in Alaska dating back to the Revenue Cutter Service as late as 1915. Alaska Native partners are a vital part of Operation Arctic Shield and the Coast Guard values their knowledge and expertise to reach common goals.