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My Coast Guard
Commentary | Sept. 23, 2021

Frontline Focus: Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen aircrew rescues swimmer in distress in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and more. 

By Janki Patel, MyCG Writer

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen aircrew rescues swimmer in distress in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. On Sept. 14, the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescued Mabel Ramos, a swimmer in distress in her mid-thirties, after she was pulled out by the current, approximately a mile from shore. “This bystander's quick call for a person in distress was crucial in the success of this mission," said Lt. Lindsey Cockburn, Coast Guard MH-60 aircraft commander for the case. "Local 911 emergency operators and Coast Guard Sector San Juan worked together efficiently, allowing Air Station Borinquen to launch quickly and arrive in time to conduct the rescue.” Learn more.

Coast Guard, partner agencies conduct mass rescue exercise off San Diego coast. Coast Guard personnel, San Diego and Los Angeles county lifeguards, harbor police, emergency response organizations and first responders conducted a mass rescue exercise off the San Diego coast, Sept. 14. The purpose of the exercise was to improve coordination, communication, and response techniques among the participating agencies during a mass rescue event by placing multiple people in the ocean at the same time. The acting participants in the water posed as stranded and distressed divers, recreational boaters, and surfers. "We aim to maximize our preparedness in service to the San Diego community,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Edes, the Sector San Diego emergency management chief. “We achieve this by practicing with our exceptional local partners to improve communications and interoperability." Learn more. 

Coast Guard rescues three as vessel sinks off Long Branch, New Jersey. The Coast Guard rescued three people from the water as their boat began taking on water offshore from Long Branch, New Jersey, Sept. 12. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet along with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, which was diverted from training. A rescue swimmer was lowered from the helicopter and helped all three people climb aboard the Motor Lifeboat. No injuries or medical concerns were reported. Everyone rescued were wearing lifejackets. Learn more

Coast Guard cutter engages in maritime training with Royal Australian Navy. Coast Guard members aboard the Alameda-based Coast Guard Cutter Munro participated in a cooperative three-day at-sea exercise with the Royal Australian Navy in the South China Sea from Sept. 11-13. “These at-sea engagements with our long-standing partners in the Indo-Pacific region provided an excellent joint training opportunity for the crew,” said Munro’s commanding officer, Capt. Blake Novak. “Enhancing cooperation and building trust strengthens our relationship with the Royal Australian Navy while expanding our regional security cooperation initiatives.” National security cutters like Munro feature advanced command and control capabilities, aviation support facilities, stern cutter boat launch, and increased endurance for long-range patrols, enabling the crews to disrupt threats to national security further offshore. The joint training engagement included joint operations, professional exchanges, and multi-unit maneuvering at sea to strengthen interoperability between the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Australian Navy. Learn more

U.S., Canadian crews conduct joint training exercise during Coast Guard Cutter Healy's Northwest Passage transit. On Sept. 6, Cutter Healy’s crew conducted a search-and-rescue exercise and professional exchange with members of the Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Rangers near Resolute Bay in Nunavut, Canada, during Healy’s Northwest Passage transit. The search-and-rescue exercise enhanced interoperability and effectiveness of response capabilities amongst the services. Learn more

Coast Guard continues to support Hurricane Ida recovery efforts. The Coast Guard continues to assess the damage and environmental threats across Southeast Louisiana, post-Hurricane Ida. The Coast Guard is receiving and investigating all reports made to the National Response Center (NRC) and continues to identify and prioritize threats to the environment and navigable waterways through overflights and surface inspections of areas impacted by the storm. The Coast Guard is working closely with the State of Louisiana, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Environmental Quality, to respond to reports of pollution. Learn more