Twenty members of SINHG were in for a treat on March 20th with a beautiful day to tour the U.S. Coast Guard Station Charleston, at 196 Tradd St. We started the day by meeting our host, LTJG Aaron Teboda, to learn more about the organization.
The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five armed forces of the United States and the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security. Since 1790, the Coast Guard has safeguarded our Nation’s maritime interests and environment around the world. The Coast Guard is an adaptable, responsive military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, capable assets, geographic diversity and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence along our rivers, in the ports, littoral regions and on the high seas. Coast Guard presence and impact is local, regional, national and international. These attributes make the Coast Guard a unique instrument of maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship.
The group split in half and while LTJG Teboda walked some through the indoor and outdoor areas including Sector Engineering, the Aids to Navigation Team (ANT), and the Sector Buoy Yard, the other half took a ride on the 45’ response boat around the peninsula to Charleston Harbor. Following this the groups combined again to board and tour the Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant, the 87’ response boat assigned to care for the Charleston area from Murrells Inlet to the Savannah River. This ship is staffed with up to twelve personnel to allow it out at sea for up to a week on various types of missions. The group was impressed with the technology aboard the craft to locate and identify objects in any weather or lighting condition. At the conclusion of the tour, our group was given time for a little “retail therapy” at the Base Exchange.
After a morning spent with the men and woman at Station Charleston, we can really appreciate how they live their motto: Semper Paratus (Always ready). With more than sixty people on the waitlist and a glowing review by the participants of this trip, you can be sure SINHG will be offering this outing again soon! Be sure to look for it when the Fall 2017 Trips are announced and get your trips submitted early!
Website (to link to, if applicable): www.SINHG.org
-Submitted by Nancy J Brown