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
Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Lazenberry, the supply officer on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, deployed Aug. 21 with the ship to the Arctic Ocean as part of the Coast Guard’s Operation Arctic Shield mission.
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
Petty Officer 2nd Class James Claude, a boatswain’s mate on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, deployed Aug. 21 with the ship to the Arctic Ocean as part of the Coast Guard’s Operation Arctic Shield mission.
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
Seaman Leon Chingcuangco, a seaman on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, deployed Aug. 21 with the ship to the Arctic Ocean as part of the Coast Guard’s Operation Arctic Shield mission.
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
Chief Petty Officer Lonnie Douglas, a corpsman on the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, deployed Aug. 21 with the ship to the Arctic Ocean as part of the Coast Guard’s Operation Arctic Shield mission.
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
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.