FORT A.P. HILL, Va. – To borrow from the U.S. Army recruiting campaign, there’s dedication, then there’s Coast Guard dedication. The 130 to 140 members of the U.S. Coast Guard contingent of Joint Task Force – National Scout Jamboree, here, are all paying their own way to the jamboree.
“They are here at their own expense in support of showcasing the various missions and activities, and the quality of the people who serve in the various components of the Coast Guard,” said Cmdr. Jeff Westling, in charge of the Coast Guard element of the Armed Forces Adventure Area.
The ‘Coasties’ here include active duty, reserve, auxiliary, retirees and civilians according to Westling.
An All-post, or Coast Guard-wide notice, went out asking for volunteer support of JTF-NSJ for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. Applications were accepted and reviewed to match up the requirements and needs with the talent available.
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico took its toll on the list of volunteers but the Coasties responded.
“One of our challenges was that roughly 35 members who had volunteered were called to duty in the Gulf and some have just returned from the Gulf with some first-hand experience,” said Westling. “One of our chief warrant officers had been one of the watchstanders at the National Incident Center in support of Adm. Allen. We’re showcasing some of those activities in our Maritime Environmental Protection section.”
The theme of why they were willing to pay their own way was fairly common among the Coasties.
“I really support what the Boy Scouts do,” said Toby Peterson, a Coast Guard civilian business manager from Chesapeake, Va. “This is a great operation, and a challenge to see what we can do and how we can perform.”
“I have been to the last two jamborees and I wanted to come back because I enjoy working with the boys,” said Machinery Technician Chief Turner Reaves, from Albuquerque, N.M. “Each time it gets better and better,” he added. “More stuff for the boys to do. More adventure. It grows bigger every time.”
Lt. Cmdr. Walter Chubrick agreed with Marine Science Technician 1st Class Dean Johnston, “I wanted to give back to an organization that’s given me so much. It’s actually helped me with my career to where I am now.”
Additionally, according to Westling, 48 percent of the Coasties here are Eagle Scouts, and 78 percent have some Scouting experience.
“There’s a lot of common ground between the core values of Scouting and the core values of the Coast Guard,” said Westling, who also is an Eagle Scout. “Coast Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty are embedded throughout the Scouting program and the values that they teach.”
Capt. Len Ritter, the Task Force Commander for the Coast Guard at the National Scout Jamboree, agreed.
“The core values of the U.S. Coast Guard and the core values of the Boy Scouts of America, they are very closely aligned, even looking at the mottos of the Boy Scouts and the Coast Guard, ‘Be Prepared’ and ‘Semper Paratus,’ or Always Ready,” said Ritter, also an Eagle Scout. “The Boy Scouts look at the Coast Guard because we have the same ideals they’ve been doing since they were young men.”
The youngest member of JTF-NSJ Task Force Coast Guard, active duty Seaman Tom Mcarthur, 21, is an Eagle Scout from Atlanta.
“I took a lot from the Scouting program,” he said. “My parents and other members of my troop helped me a ton to get my Eagle Scout and you have to give back to the program to make it what it is.”
The oldest member, Capt. (retired) Frederick Carney, a retired Coast Guard Reserve officer, will turn 94 in September. Carney, who joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary six years ago, earned his Eagle Scout in 1934. He commanded two U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific in World War II. He has attended every National Scout Jamboree since 1950 except two. Carney is from Memphis, Tenn.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary supports the Coast Guard and has approximately 30,000 members. Across the country they donate more than 2 million volunteer hours per year.
When asked why he volunteered for the Jamboree, Auxiliary Coastie Mark Walker said, “Because it supports the mission of the United States Coast Guard, and I believe in the Scouting program.” Walker, an Eagle Scout with 21 years in the Auxiliary, added, “Scouting and the Coast Guard are two missions that are parallel. The mission of Scouting is to help young men become better citizens and better people as they grow up. The Coast Guard is helping people with humanitarian and law enforcement missions. The Coast Guard Auxiliary supports the mission of the Coast Guard.”
The dedication to the mission of the JTF to support the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, and to the Coast Guard itself, held by all members of the Coast Guard contingent was summarized by Westling. “Because all of us on a personal level love the mission of the Coast Guard, we believe in the Coast Guard, we want to show the best of what the Coast Guard has to offer to as many people who want to hear our story.”
| Date Taken: |
07.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
07.30.2010 18:38 |
| Story ID: |
53722 |
| Location: |
FORT A.P. HILL, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: |
453 |
| Downloads: |
267 |
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