Flotilla 5-11 was just recently started, and most of the pages on this site are still filled with dummy text, so don't take them seriously. The Detachment Commander's welcome message to our first crop of new members, however, is serious, so here's a reprint of it:
From: Detachment Commander
To: Participants in New Member Training, 26 August and 30 August
You have completed the first step in the enrollment process for the United States Coast Guard Auxilliary, one of the largest volunteer organizations in the nation. As such you will have the opportunity to serve beside the men and women of the Coast Guard as they engage in critical missions of environmental protection, search and rescue, public education and homeland security. In some missions, most notably public education, you will be entrusted to lead the way. In others, such as search and rescue, you will serve side by side.
Your service is critical. For one, the regulars of the Coast Guard number only about 35,000 people. The Auxiliary is almost as large, and in some parts of the nation such as parts of the Western Rivers we are the Coast Guard. Here in Sector New York there is an Auxiliarist behind every regular, and this means more than you can imagine. We stand watches, process paperwork, operate radios, perform patrols, inspect lifeboats, teach courses act as firearms instructors and even cook in the mess. As new members you can gain skills and training to aspire to perform any and all missions of the Coast Guard other than direct law enforcement and military functions and any and all duty you can pull will be more than appreciated. You decide how much and how often you can serve. It is up to you.
Your paperwork is awaiting the next step, which is the formal creation of a new flotilla. This should take place in the near future. Once that happens it should be a short time before you recieve your official identification card and employee ID number. Once that happens you will be characterized as Initially Qualified, or IQ. This will allow you to receive training, purchase uniforms and shop at exchanges. You will also be what is known in nautical terms as a plank owner, or the first crew of a new vessel. It is a rare honor. It means you will have a critical role in defining our mission and role.
As your first commander I will be communicating with you soon on our activites for the new flotilla as well as our mission. First and foremost will be to get as many of you as possible past initial qualifications to the point where you can have additional training opportunities, become a better boater and can participate in operations. Us longer serving members also want to get you mentored to the point where you can teach classes, inspect vessels, operate equipment and run for office. We will also be counting on you to help define what the needs of the community are and how we can meet them. Your status as a plank owner makes this especially important.
Remember, we are a volunteer organization with elected officers, so one of you will be replacing me within two years, perhaps less, so your feedback and development will be essential to our success. You too will not only set the course of where we will go and what we will do but will also define us as an organization. I look ahead to getting to know all of you better and learning what you expect of us.
John J. Gallagher
USCG 1SR 5-10
Detachment Commander
Electronic mail: jgallagher@bmcc.cuny.edu
Radio Call Sign: KC2PGO
For the latest news about the detachment's activities, check out the Flotilla 5-10 home page, the Flotilla 5-10 Unofficial Blog, and the Division 5 Blog.
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