PRESS RELEASE

Date: 11 August 2008

Contact: Jennifer Kelley 
Flotilla Staff Officer - Public Affairs 
jmokpa@qwest.com

Being Always Ready - Semper Paratus!

“Semper Paratus” is the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard. It means “Always Ready.” It is part of the everyday vocabulary of members of the Coast Guard - Active, Reserve, Auxiliary, Civilian and even Cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. The motto serves as a reminder of the Coast Guards' proud tradition of always being ready to respond to protecting, defending and saving the American public.

Semper Paratus is not just a catchy phrase spoken by Coasties. Instead it is an integral part of the Coast Guard’s guardian ethos culture. Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard stated in his “Coast Guard Day” message on August 4, 2008 that “The bravery and devotion to duty exemplified by our Active, Reserve, Civilian and Auxiliary personnel inspire the American public. You are their guardian”

Always being ready to respond as guardians with ability, confidence and competency requires constant training. This is true even for Auxiliary members of the Coast Guard, or “Auxiliarists”, who are all volunteers. On any given day Auxiliarists, just like their Active and Reserve counterparts can be found on our nation’s waterways, rivers and lakes conducting training exercises so that when they are called, they will be ready to respond.

Auxiliarists who serve as boat crew members undergo a comprehensive classroom and on the water training program before becoming boat crew qualified and it doesn’t end there. In order to maintain their crew member status they undergo periodic competency checks.  Below right - George Sipes answers questions from John Reseck, Qualified Examiner in Division 04.

There is even a sort of “Top Gun” of search and rescue or “SAR” competition where Auxiliary SAR teams from the various Coast Guard districts compete. This year  the National Search and Rescue Competition (NSAR) will be held in Cape May, New Jersey on October 3-4, 2008.

Pictured left, above - August 10, 2008 - U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessels in Sequim Bay conducting qualification / training exercises.   As part of the training exercise the crew of each vessel will conduct "man overboard" and simulated SAR, using a precisely calculated search pattern. (Photo by Gay Sipes, USCG AUX)

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the United States Coast Guard. Created by an Act of Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in all missions, except military and direct law enforcement actions.

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