Guam celebrates Coast Guard Day

Coast Guard Day is today and is celebrated every year on August 4 since its founding in 1790. KUAM News reached out to Coast Guard Forces Micronesia, Sector Guam and Station Apra Harbor to learn the missions of the branch of military service and how their members save lives and protect the environment on land and sea.

Coast Guard Day is the day when the United States Coast Guard was founded and celebrates and honors the courageous work of its service members. Capt. Nick Simmons is the commander, USCG Forces Micronesia, Sector Guam, and said, "There are five main hats that we talk about wearing in the Coast Guard - it includes search and rescue, captain of the port so managing the Port of Apra Harbor, officer in charge of marine inspections, so vessel inspections, marine environmental response - really the main primary missions of the Coast Guard."

There are eleven missions of the Coast Guard and ten are done on Guam.

The area of responsibility for the USCG on Guam is nearly 1.9 million square miles, which includes the waters off Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. It is the responsibility of the USCG fast response cutters to provide search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, drug interdiction, and waterways safety and security in these areas. 

Lieutenant Freddy Hofschneider is the commanding officer of the Oliver Henry, one of three here on Guam.  He explained, "I think having these platforms here now we are really extending our capabilities not only across Guam and the CNMI, but also FSM and Palau, but we're reaching out further in Oceania to really strengthen our partnerships with a lot of those nations  out here.  Also, making sure  that we're able to respond to anything that's out there to include search and rescue cases all throughout Micronesia."

The Coast Guard has a reserve component; local members who also take part in maritime safety, security, national defense and the protection of natural resources. These members are “Semper Paratus” or “always ready” when called to deploy to other regions in response to natural disasters, humanitarian aid, or terrorism.

Captain Josie Heron is the senior reserve officer for District 14 of the Coast Guard.  "It is really amazing and I'm so impressed, first with Guam...also with the coast guard family that's here. 100 percent of our reservists are locals from Guam and they bring the community in as well as share it with the rest of the coast guard members here. It really truly is incredible."

The Coast Guard Reserve Force is not only a great career path, but it's an opportunity to give back and serve our country.  Senior Chief Kevin Reilly said, "The Reserve Force here on Guam is truly diverse, comprised of local professionals in public and private sector areas such as firefighting, law enforcement, public utilities, and communications," he said. "We bring this expertise to the active duty component and complement them on a wide range of Coast Guard missions."

"As the active duty and reserve component missions increase, the Coast Guard continues to seek out motivated individuals to fill available billets in areas like marine science, maritime enforcement, and operations specialists. We also have openings in administrative and logistics departments such as yeoman and storekeeper ratings. In addition to benefits, the Coast Guard offers numerous educational and personal opportunities that benefit our members."

Biba, Coast Guard Day Guam!