SNOS Andrew Guralnick

My name is Seaman Operations Specialist Andrew Guralnick. I grew up in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, a small, suburban town, right outside Boston. Most graduates of Lynnfield High, including myself, go straight to college after high school, so the military is a big step for me, my family, and those who read about me graduating from basic training in the newspaper. I attended Northeastern University, in Boston, for a year, but I felt that college just wasn't for me, so I enlisted in the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has given me the chance to go to places and do and see things that most people my age would never experience in a lifetime.

After finishing basic training in June of 2005, I was sent on orders to Operations Specialist (OS) "A" School in Petaluma, California. In school I was trained on advanced tactical computer systems, global position navigation, electronic charting systems, cryptology and communications. Training Center Petaluma was quite a different setting for me because the base is secluded by farmland and pastures for miles around it. I have never been to an area like this, so it took me some time to get used to it. After graduating from OS school in November 2005, I then reported to Cutter ESCANABA in Boston. The radio room is where I work on board. I work with some of the most classified material the military uses. My shipmates that I work with have really helped me in being a better OS and Coastie, by teaching me more and more about what I do on a daily basis. There is a big responsibility involved in my job, and I know not many people can do what I do, which is why I am very grateful and proud for being able to put on the uniform everyday.

I am about to finish my first patrol on board ESCANABA, and I was able to visit Cartagena, Colombia and the Cayman Islands. When we return to Boston, I plan on taking online college classes, so I can earn my degree in criminal justice. Helping people is something I enjoy doing, which is one of the main reasons why I enlisted in the Coast Guard. One day I would like to become a probation officer to continue helping others. Whether the Coast Guard turns out to be just a four year job or a career for me, I know what I do saves lives and stops drugs from getting onto our streets.

/s/ SNOS Andrew Guralnick

Steve Leghorn

Hi my name is Steve Leghorn but my nickname on the ship is Porkchop. I'm from Newburgh, New York and I used to be a volunteer firefighter there. I also earned the rank of Eagle Scout back in Newburgh which helped me out coming into the military. Before I came into the Coast Guard, I used to work with my uncle doing landscaping and I usually worked 8 hours a day. But now, I work almost 12-16 hours a day so I would give anything to work 8 hours again.

Being out on patrol is a new experience for me since it's my first patrol on the ESCANABA which is out of Boston, Massachusetts. It's tough being away from your family and friends for 2 months, and its tough not being able to drive a car, or go grab a coffee from Dunkin Donuts, but It makes you appreciate the little things in life. Things aren't so bad though because the time cruises by. It feels like we just left yesterday and now we're already 6 1/2 weeks into the patrol. Besides that, I have had a lot of fun so far and I've learned a lot about the ESCANABA, the ocean, and the crew that I'm with. I've especially learned a lot from my chief who is always teaching me about seamanship around the boat.

My jobs on board are pretty repetitive. I clean everyday, I paint almost everyday, and I stand a four hour watch were I drive the ship everyday. The living conditions are tight, but I got used to it really quick. The food isn't bad either, but it's not like going out to Applebees or T.G.I. Fridays. We also do what we can to keep the morale up with things like movie night and casino night because that's really important on board.

We get to go to some really great stops for port calls, especially when we're down South. I haven't told the family were I've been yet, but I know they'll be glad I got to see the countries I've been to. Seeing the world is definitely the Best part of getting underway because when I get back home, I'll be able to say I've been here and there. When we got started going down South, I noticed the water and how it just got bluer and bluer and it really amazed me because the water back up in Boston is brown. It was also different to see how people in other countries live and what they do for food, clothing, work and entertainment.

Being out on patrol for me though has been good for me because my goal in the Coast Guard is to work on Helicopters. Being out on a ship busting my butt now will make me a better aviation technician because I'll appreciate it more when I get to go home at night.

That covers most of what I want to say, but the most important thing to me while being out on the water is to keep my head up, look forward to tomorrow, and look out for my shipmates because we're all in the same boat.

/s/ Steve Leghorn

Jason Pharr

My name is Jason Pharr. I joined the Coast Guard in April of 2000 with the same idea of most of the enlisted guys I knew. That was to do my time and get out and go back to college. I changed my plan shortly after I got on board the Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS, my first unit in the Coast Guard. I was an fireman in the Main Propulsion Division and it wasn't what I wanted to do for the next four years, or even the next 4 months. I decided I wanted to be part of the aviation world of the Coast Guard. While I was in Aviation Electronics Technician "A" School, I found about "HITRON" (Helo Interdiction Tactical Squadron). I knew that's what I wanted to do. After 3 years in Mobile, Alabama and one 6 month trip to Antarctica, I had my orders to HITRON. I was on my way to being an aviation gunner.

After 6 months of training I was a qualified gunner ready to get underway and stop the bad guys. I came on board the USCGC ESCANABA at the end of February. My first impression was good and the more time I spent on the "Nab" the more I knew I was going to enjoy my trip. The boat was so well kept and everyone did so well at their jobs. From the tie down crew to the fuel team, they all knew their job and I am glad to be part of this crew.

My daily routine consists of very little since I don't work on the helicopter. I do maintain the weapons that I use on board the helicopter. When I get up I go to the flight deck and do a daily pre-flight on the helicopter. After that I wait till flight quarters. I like flight time, it takes the time out of my day that I would normally be sitting around in the lounge. Most of my day is spent reading, studying for test or flying. The hardest part about being underway is being away from my wife. I have been married for 3 months now and its hard being away. But my wife knows that I have a job to do and that it takes me away from home sometimes. She is a wonderful woman and does such a great job at home when I am gone. But I am out here, like the rest of the crew, to stop drugs from getting to the streets of the US. I take pride in my job and I believe it is a very important asset in counter narcotics operations.

I only have a few weeks left with the ESCANABA and then I will be back home. Like I said this crew is great and everyone here treats you like one of the crew. I am glad that my first HITRON deployment was on the ESCANABA and hope that I made some friends along the way. Thanks guys.

/s/ Jason Pharr

MK3 Marote

I'm MK3 Marote and I work in the Main Propulsion Division. I joined the Coast Guard just over a year ago. I transitioned from the Navy after 8 years. I'm qualifying on propulsion watch with my day beginning about 0300. I stand double break in propulsion watches, 0400-0800 and 1600-2000. During my watches I spend part of my watch doing my drawings of the engineering piping systems and then learning how the system operates. Then about 0730 I eat breakfast, do my cleanups for watch, and then go to work. Work could be planned maintenance on anything within our department, cleaning the engine room, fixing whatever might have broken, or repairing whatever is passed down for the morning work list. About noon I eat lunch, have a little break, go to flight ops or general emergency drills, then at 1530 back to watch. At 1930 I'm relieved from watch, and shortly after I go to bed. The time away from my daughter is the hardest part of being under way. I enjoy the everyday challenges I face in my job as I'm constantly learning.

/s/ MK3 Japheth Marote

Photos

Seaman Apprentice Brian Heaton stands the bridge helm watch.

FS3 Paul Tornabene cleans the ship's galley after another wonderful meal

Boatswain's Mate Third Class Paul Milliken and Seaman Keith Loiselle relax on the messdeck during a slow period.

Machinist Mate Third Class Jeremy Perkins, Fireman Theodore Eilert and Machinist Mate Second Class Keith Stinson study practical factors in the ships auxiliary shop.

Chief Machinist Mate Theodore Tarini and Damage Controlman First Class Mitchell Pulatie keep busy assisting a distressed sailor in the Southern Caribbean.

Machinist Mate Third Class Stephen Morris discusses his future plans during his individual development plan meeting with Damage Controlman First Class Mitchell Pulatie and Chief Operations Specialist Harold Leboeuf.

Boatswain's Mate Third Class Brandon Perry and Boatswain's Mate Third Class Michael Goszka fix the ship's position on a chart.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Jeff Janaro (left) and Chief Boatswains Mate Matthew Welsh (right) discuss an individual development plan with Seaman Joseph Milner

ESCANABA's small boat is dwarfed by Coast Guard Cutter SPENCER during joint operations in the Southern Caribbean.

Seaman Steven Leghorn stands the lookout with Coast Guard Cutter SPENCER in the background.

Lieutenant Junior Grade David Shuck, Seaman Michael Kuhn, and Commander Michael Sabellico man the bridge with Lieutenant Commander Douglas Schofield and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jeff Janaro in the background.

Coast Guard Cutter SPENCER and Coast Guard Cutter ESCANABA, two Boston-based Cutters work in tandem while on patrol in the Southern Caribbean.

Boatswain's Mate Third Class Brandon Perry, Chief Boatswain's Mate Matthew Welsh, and Machinist Mate Third Class Jeremy Perkins operate the ship's small boat during Cutter smallboat operations.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Marc McDonnell, Boatswain's Mates Brandon Perry and Michael Goszka, and Seaman Brian Heaton stand the bridge watch.

Coast Guard Cutter ESCANABA

Damage Controlman First Class Mitchell Pulatie attempts to fix a gasket on a hand pump for a distressed sailing vessel in the Southern Caribbean.