The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 13, Division 4 held a change of watch and training meeting at USCG Sector Port Angeles on Dec. 14.

More than 40 Auxiliarists, active duty guests and Cmdr. Michael S. Jackson, commanding officer of Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, were on hand as Jackson and Tiney D. Singler, commodore-elect of the District 13 Auxiliary, administered the oath to new officers.

Commodore Singler, shared with the audience his ideas, vision and plans for 2020, as well as his philosophy on leadership and recruiting and retention of Auxiliarists.

The incoming Division 4 commander and event moderator, Dick Halsaver of Sequim, also raised his hand for the oath. Division 4 includes flotillas in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties.

Halsaver shared his visions and ideas to move Auxiliary volunteers into a greater number of positions that provide the greatest assistance to the active duty Coast Guard while enhancing the civilian volunteers’ Auxiliary experience.

Tom Bliss, the incoming Division 4 Vice Commander from Gig Harbor, also was sworn in and shared some ideas on training and record-keeping.

Commander Jackson discussed the positive team relationship existing between active duty personnel and volunteers in the Auxiliary. The Commander then addressed current activities, missions, and developments at the Port Angeles Station and detailed the fascinating history of U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Angeles.

Executive Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active, Lieutenant Commander Jayme Dubinsky, spoke about the history, abilities, and key maritime security missions of the Cutter Active.

Kent Brown, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, provided insight into the use of information gained in a recent “Gap Analysis” regarding USCG personnel and skill shortfalls that the USCG Auxiliary might train to fill.

Alan Smith of Sequim, a Coast Guard Auxiliary food service specialist recently certified to cook onboard USCG vessels and at shore installations, described a three-year process he went through to gain the credential. Smith was recognized for his accomplishment and dedication to Team Coast Guard.

After the ceremonies and mission training, attendees were given a tour of the air station hangar followed by a live demonstration in helicopter rescue techniques. The helicopter rescue crew demonstrated use of a rescue basket hoist with a trail line to deliver it safely to a moving or static target during land or water rescues.

Auxiliarists and guests were given tours of the working 45-foot USCG search and rescue boats maintained at Station Port Angeles as well as an 87-foot cutter Wahoo.

Crew members from each vessel explained the capabilities and missions of their reboats and answered questions.

Created by Congress in 1939, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, civilian volunteer branch with more than 34,000 members nationwide active in a range of missions including public education, training, safety patrols and search and rescue. For more information, visit www.cgaux.org.

Cmdr. M. Scott Jackson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, administers the oath of office to Coast Guard Auxiliary staff officers for 2020 from District 13, Division 4 during a meeting at the air station on Saturday, Dec. 14. Richard Halsaver of Sequim will be division commander and Thomas Bliss of Gig Harbor becomes division vice commander. From left, Jackson, Auxiliary members Dean Alexander, Brian Anderson, James Armstrong, Randall Zempel and Robert Hancock. Photo by Auxiliarist Drew Herman

Members at the 2019 USCG Auxiliary District 13, Division 4 listen in as incoming USCG District 13 Commodore Tiney Singler addresses attendees. Sequim’s Dick Halsaver, incoming Auxiliary division commander, watches from the podium. Photo by Auxiliarist James McLaughlin

Cmdr. Scott Jackson (in leather flight jacket on the left), commanding officer of Sector Port Angeles, joins members and guests of the 2019 USCG Auxiliary District 13 Division 4 meeting held at USCG Station Port Angeles on Dec. 14. Photo by Auxiliarist James McLaughlin