Welcome Aboard The CGC Escanaba
On Patrol Week 4
We join the crew of the Cutter Escanaba underway in the Caribbean Sea on a Counter-Narcotics Patrol!
This week we hear from OS2 Greg Smith, and SNFS Jonathan Castor on life
aboard a cutter on Counter-Narcotics Patrol plus 62 photos.
All photos are official Coast Guard photos by PA2 Lisa M. Hennings.
Who is PA2 Lisa Hennings? Click here.
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The Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba, homeported in Boston, Ma.
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Blogs
OS2 Greg Smith
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Underway life on the ESCANABA is a special thing. I am from small town in southeast Missouri and never really thought about serving my country aboard a ship of any kind. I am really blessed to have the opportunity to serve with such a special group of Coasties.
I have been in the Coast Guard for almost two years now and it has led me from Basic Training in Cape May, NJ, to "A" School in Petaluma, CA, to Electronic Warfare "C" Schools in San Diego, CA and Pensacola, FL, as well as Ionscan school in Key West, FL, and then to my current station in beautiful historic Boston, MA. What is not to love?
I'm an Operational Specialist 2nd Class and I love my job. I work in the Combat Information Center, the primary outlet of Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence. We have an ever changing set of obstacles in front of us. I thrive on the everyday challenges that await me when I wake up. I have been aboard for six months and I have loved every minute.
We have a great operations division and we all work well together, which makes the job even better. My work is very rewarding. I am currently the Electronic Warfare Petty Officer, the Intel Petty Officer, and the Ionscan Operator in CIC. I current work the double 8-12's, which may not seem like a lot, but if you add in helo flight ops to other duties that take place outside of your watch, you have spent 13-15 hours working in CIC everyday.
I won't complain because we are doing what needs to be done to protect the future generations of United States citizens. I have a 3-year-old son and believe it is an honor to protect our country so that he may grow up in a safe environment.
/s/ OS2 Greg Smith, 25, Malden, Missouri
SNFS Castor, Jonathan
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I came into the Coast Guard as a seaman and started off as a deckie. I've been on the ESCANABA for almost two years, and I have to say that being a deckie was tough. I made numerous friends working in the deck department. I also learned a lot of different things, such as; splicing lines, boat checks, steering the helm, and standing watch. After six months rolled by, I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do in the Coast Guard until I started mess cooking.
I mess cooked for four months total when I decided that I wanted to be a Food Service Specialist. While I was a mess cook, I was pulled away from the scullery and put into the duty cook rotation. Even though I was not FS designated, the command believed that I had the potential to do the job. It felt good to be recognized. If you ask everybody on the boat who cooks the best baked ziti, they'll let you know!!!
I decided to strike FS under Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis Hickman. He inspired me and helped me realize what I really wanted to do in the Coast Guard.
Now that I'm Food Service Specialist, my next goal is to become an admiral's cook. The ESCANABA is a great boat, and one of the reasons I struck cook was because I didn't want to leave. Cooking isn't everything and the friendships you make are everlasting.
/s/ SNFS Castor, Jonathan 20, Tampa Bay, FL.
Photos
Crewmembers man the .50 caliber machine gun during a General Quarters (GQ) drill. GQ drills test the crew's proficiency in assessing and remedying various casualties.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul D. Winfield (GM2) mans the gun control room during a General Quarters drill.
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Seaman Edward L. Powell mans his billeted position on the .50 caliber machine gun during a General Quarters drill.
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Petty Officer 1st Class Roaland W. Miller (GM1) and Seaman Sean M. Crocker conduct headspace and timing check on the .50 caliber machine gun prior to a gun exercise.
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Oscar rests on the fo'c'sle after being rescued during a man overboard drill.
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Seaman Sean M. Crocker keeps the lookout on the bridge
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Seaman Steven M. Leghorn stands the lookout watch on the bridge.
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Crewmembers locate Oscar's position during a man overboard drill.
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Fireman Theodore L. Eilert mans the scullery during his month-long mess cook duty.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Sayward (MK2) troubleshoots the fuel oil purifier in the engine room.
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During a general quarters drill, crewmembers "treat" Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron W. Hall (EM2) who incurred an abdominal wound in the engineering workshop.
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From left to right: Lt. Cmdr. Douglas M. Schofield, Lt.j.g. Jeff G. Janaro, Lt. Michael P. Hennessy oversee crewmembers partaking in a gun exercise.
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OTH crew makes last-minute preparations to get underway.
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Escanaba crewmember watches the OTH boat deploy.
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Chief Petty Officer Matthew T. Welsh (BMC) meets with the Rigid Hull Inflatable (RHI) boat crew on the fantail to discuss operation and safety procedures.
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BM2 Michael L. Partridge requests permission from the bridge to come alongside the cutter.
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Fireman Henry T. Cylkowski, boat crewman break-in, practices a man overboard drill on the RHI
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The RHI crew makes their way back to the Escanaba after conducting a man overboard drill. Crew includes: BM1 Class Chad E. Johnson, BM2 Michael L. Partridge, MK2 Keith R. Stinson and SN Edward L. Powell.
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Fireman Daniel P. Smith plays the fallen victim role during a Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) drill held on the mess deck.
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Lt.j.g. Jeff Janaro, member of Escanaba's "Deepwater Project" band, uses downtime to practice playing his acoustic guitar. Photo illustration by PA2 Lisa M. Hennings
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Escanaba's "Deepwater Project" band practices in the log office. Members from left to right: MKC Gerald Bowen, Lt.j.g. Matthew B. Smith, Lt.j.g. Jeff Janaro, MK1 Justin D. Price.
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Topside view of Escanaba's 76mm during gun exercise.
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The deck department washes away gun powder residue from the fo'c'sle after a 76mm gun exercise.
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Oscar shakes Lt.j.g. Jeff Janaro's hand after a harrowing rescue effort saved his life.
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Ens. Christine M. Kurczewski, landing signal officer, straps on her helmet in preparation of a Mh-68A's flight.
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Petty Officer 1st Class Roaland W. Miller (GM1) holds a 35-pound 76mm round.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas P. Mullen talks to Combat Information Center, which monitors air and surface contacts prior to the start of a .50 caliber machine gun exercise.
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Seaman Sean M. Crocker puts on fire retardant flash gear during a General Quarters drill.
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Seaman Sean M. Crocker conducts a headspace and timing check on the .50 caliber machine gun.
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Petty Officer 1st Class Jim M. Gustafson (YN1), in battle dress, dons a sound-powered phone during a General Quarters drill.
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Crewmembers work together to rescue Oscar.
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Oscar is rescued at last!
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Seaman Oscar T. Dummy awaits his rescue after falling overboard while working on the small boat without a spotter.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Sayward and Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Morris disassemble and inspect the fuel oil purifier for worn parts.
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The OTH boat and her crew are lowered from the hip of the Escanaba to the water.
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Seaman Apprentice Nathan C. Leger, boat lowering detail crewmember, reaches for the hook on the crane davit to attach to the RHI. The davit lifts the RHI in and out of the water.
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Petty Officer 1st Class Chad E. Johnson (BM1) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Keith R. Stinson (MK2) brace the RHI sling as the RHI is lowered to the water.
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BM2 Michael L. Partridge, coxswain break-in, waits for the rest of the crew to board the RHI.
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Ens. Christine M. Kurczewski, Landing Signals Officer, helps lower the flight nets in preparation of the Stingray's return to Escanaba.
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Ens. Christine M. Kurczewski, landing signal officer, orders the fantail be cleared of all personnel in anticipation of the Mh-68A's return to the flight deck.
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Fireman Jonathan J. Simon, boat crewman break-in, waits for his shipmates to board the RHI.
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Fireman Henry T. Cylkowski clears the galley of all contaminants during a Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) drill.
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Fireman Henry T. Cylkowski carries Fireman Jonathan J. Simon out of the "contaminated" galley during a Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) drill.
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Seaman Dayron Lopez carries Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason G. Snider (BM3) away from a contaminated space during a Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) drill.
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Seaman Bradley A. Rode plays the fallen victim role during a Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) drill held on the mess deck.
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Post-fired 76mm shell casings rest on the deck of the fo'c'sle. Each 76mm round weighs approximately 35 pounds.
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Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy C. Perkins (MK3) gathers 76mm shells from the fo'c'sle after a gun exercise.
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76mm shells stand knee-high on Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas P. Mullen (GM2).
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BM3 Paul Milliken and GM2 Tom Mullen wash down the fo'c'sle deck after a 76mm gun exercise.
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Seaman Apprentice Joseph R. Millner cleans off the deck of the fo'c'sle after a 76mm gun exercise.
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Escanaba's deck department
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Escanaba's operations department
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