WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Reserve Enlisted Aviation Workforce. 

In a 10 June message released by Rear Adm. Todd C. Wiemers, assistant commandant for Capabilities (CG-7) and assistant commandant for Reserve (CG-R), the Coast Guard formally established the program, which is “designed to create an aviation surge and mobilization capability, retain aviation technical expertise, and develop a career path for aviation personnel in the Reserve Component.” 

Enlisted personnel eligible for the program are those in the three aviation ratings: Avionics Electrical Technician, Aviation Maintenance Technician, and Aviation Survival Technician. 

“The workforce’s primary objective is to develop a ground-based aviation maintenance and aviation life-support equipment maintenance capability,” the message said.  All Reserve Aviation personnel must have earned a Basic 
Aircrew designation and must have separated from Active Duty within the last two years. 
     

MIAMI — Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo’s crew repatriated 82 Cubans to Cuba, Tuesday, following eight interdictions south of the Florida Keys, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a June 8 release. 

A Station Islamorada law enforcement team launched at approximately 11 a.m., May 30, after a good Samaritan reported seeing three people on a blue, 16-foot vessel. All three were transferred to the station’s boat and reported in good health. One person was brought to shore for additional screening. 

A Coast Guard Cutter Valiant law enforcement team launched at approximately 3:30 a.m., June 3, and interdicted a blue, 20-foot vessel with 31 people aboard. They were transferred to the cutter and reported in good health.  

A Station Marathon law enforcement team launched at approximately 1:30 p.m., June 3, after a good Samaritan reported seeing a yellow and white 14-foot vessel with three people aboard. All three were transferred to the station’s boat and reported in good health. 

A Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore law enforcement team launched at approximately 4:30 a.m., June 4, and interdicted a vessel with seven people aboard. The people were transferred to the cutter and reported in good health. 

A Coast Guard Cutter Valiant law enforcement team launched at approximately 6:30 a.m., June 4, and interdicted a vessel with 23 people aboard that was taking on water. The people were transferred to the cutter and reported in good health. One person was brought to shore for further investigation. 

A Coast Guard Cutter Valiant law enforcement team launched at approximately 9:30 a.m., June 4, and interdicted a vessel with 10 people aboard. They were transferred to the cutter and reported in good health. 

At approximately the same time June 4, a Station Key West law enforcement team launched for a 15-foot vessel with four people aboard. They were transferred to the station’s boat and reported in good health. 

A Station Marathon law enforcement team launched at approximately 1:30 p.m., June 4, after a good Samaritan reported seeing a white and brown vessel with three people aboard. All three were transferred to the station’s boat and reported in good health. 

“The repatriation of these migrants highlight the unity of effort required with many of our key partners as we work together to intercept these unsafe migration attempts into the United States,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Neiman, Coast Guard Seventh District public affairs officer. “These voyages are often on very unseaworthy vessels and the dangers of these trips can be deadly.” 

Since Oct. 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 399 Cubans compared to: 

5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016 
1,468 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2017 
259 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2018 
313 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2019 
49 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2020 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. 

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Legend-class national security USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) and crew returned to Charleston, South Carolina, June 4, following a historic 97-day deployment to Europe working with U.S. Navy 6th Fleet, allies and partners, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in a release. 

“By operating with 6th Fleet, we expand the Coast Guard’s global reach and advance our Nation’s Tri-Service Maritime Strategy,” said Capt. Timothy Cronin, commanding officer of USCGC Hamilton. “This deployment also reinforced our commitment to freedom of navigation in international waters while building capacity and partnerships with nations that have shared interests and threats in the maritime domain.” 

After departing North Charleston, South Carolina, Feb. 28, the crew of Hamilton stopped in Puerto Rico and then headed toward Rota, Spain, with two Sentinel-class fast response cutters, USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC 1141) and USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) in the trans-Atlantic leg of the fast response cutters’ 9,000-mile voyage to homeport in Bahrain and service at Patrol Forces Southwest Asia. 

After escorting the cutters and departing Spain, Hamilton then visited Italy, Georgia, Ukraine, and Malta. The crew conducted various operational exercises with the maritime components of each country and forces from Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. 

“The U.S. Coast Guard’s bilateral engagements with partner services play a critical role in our overall diplomatic engagement with those states,” said Philip T. Reeker, acting assistant secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State. “They complement our on-shore diplomacy in building enduring partnerships that focus on joint approaches to common problems. They also reinforce our global effort to uphold the rules-based international order.” 

Hamilton entered the Mediterranean Sea April 15 and the Black Sea April 27 to support NATO Allies and partners. Hamilton was the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea since 2008. The last U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Black Sea was USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716), which sailed to the Black Sea twice, once in 2008 and 1995. 

Since leaving the Black Sea on May 14, Hamilton’s crew visited Valletta, Malta, and conducted engagements at sea with the armed forces of Malta. They also made a brief logistics stop in Rota, Spain, on May 23. Hamilton transited out of the Mediterranean Sea, concluding the crew’s recent operations in 6th Fleet’s area of responsibility, May 24. 

“The relationships we build are fundamental for establishing maritime safety and security worldwide,” said Lt. Cmdr. Taylor Kellogg, operations officer of USCGC Hamilton. “Working together with our NATO allies and partners, we advance the rule of law on the sea, ensuring free and open access to the maritime domain.” 

The U.S. Coast Guard, as demonstrated by this deployment, is a welcome presence and critical contributor to maintaining maritime safety, security, and stability in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Hard-earned and long-lasting partnerships in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean give the Coast Guard unique access to vital partners. These efforts build unique partnerships thanks to a broad suite of specialized maritime capabilities, competencies, and authorities. The U.S. Coast Guard multi-mission mandate as a law enforcement agency, a regulatory agency, and a military branch makes the Service’s comparative advantage unique and unparalleled. 

“All nations benefit from free and open access to the maritime domain,” said Vice Adm. Steven Poulin, commander U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. “We seek to foster a united, global effort to safeguard this access. Allies and partners are integral to protecting our shared interests, preserving our competitive multilateral advantage, and upholding the rules-based international order. Hamilton’s tremendous efforts strengthen our alliances and partnerships by developing interchangeable capabilities, combined operations, theater security cooperation, and capacity-building measures. Together we defend sovereignty from malign influence and coercion.” 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Northrop Grumman Corp. has been awarded a newly expanded role as systems integrator for C5ISR and control systems on the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), by Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), the prime contractor for the OPC program, the company said in a June 8 release. 

In a newly expanded role as C5ISR systems integrator, Northrop Grumman is responsible for integrating all cyber hardened C5ISR systems, including command and control, communications, navigation and the shipboard computer networking systems. 

“With C5ISR and control system test and integration underway, the ESG-Northrop Grumman team hasn’t missed a beat,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems and integration, Northrop Grumman. “The effort and resiliency shown by our teammates at Eastern Shipbuilding Group has been outstanding.” 

Northrop Grumman’s responsibilities for the OPC platform include the integrated bridge, navigation, command and control, computing network, data distribution, machinery control, and propulsion control systems, cyber/information assurance, testing and integration work. 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The USCGC Resolute (WMEC 620) and crew returned home to St. Petersburg Tuesday, after a 41-day Central Caribbean patrol, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a June 2 release. 

The Resolute crew patrolled the coast of Haiti in support of Operation Southeast Watch. The team focused efforts on known transit zones and served as a presence to discourage hazardous migration voyages. 

Watchstanders received an urgent radio call from a cargo vessel on May 13, reporting it collided with a wooden sailboat approximately two miles from Isla de la Tortue. The small boat sank, leaving two people in the water. The Resolute and its small boat crews, along with an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew forward-deployed in Great Inagua, conducted search patterns. The small boat crew located the men in the water clinging to foam fishing buoys. After a medical check, both survivors were determined to be in good health and were returned safely to port. 

On May 28, the Resolute crew interdicted two Cuban migrants on a makeshift raft, 15 miles south of Key West. 

During the routine patrol, May 27, the bridge team spotted multiple Cuban migrants in the water, about 16 miles south of Key West. The team alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders. Response efforts resulted in eight people rescued, and two people recovered deceased. An extensive search operation began for 10 people reportedly still missing. Search and rescue efforts continued for two days before the search suspended. 

On May 27, the Resolute crew interdicted two suspected smugglers and 25 Cuban migrants, 60 miles south of Key West. 

Among multiple events, the Resolute crew completed emergency drills and training. The Damage Control Olympics is a unique and active way to train crewmembers on proper damage control procedures. At the same time, the Navigation Seamanship Olympics achieve the same goal of creating an interactive learning environment but focus on rescue and assistance and small boat operations. These training evolutions enhance technical skills while building camaraderie and ensuring technical proficiencies are maintained. 

The Resolute, a 210-foot Reliance-class cutter with a crew of 72, was commissioned on Dec. 8, 1966.  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Coast Guard is requesting $13.1 billion for fiscal 2022, according to the service’s budget documents, just $38 million more than enacted in the 2021 budget. 

The cutter procurement portion of the Coast Guard budget includes $1 billion for cutter construction and long-lead materials. The procurement includes: 

• $170.0 million for program management for construction of Polar Security Cutter (PSC) hulls #1 and #2 and for long-lead materials for PSC #3
• $597.0 million for construction of Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) #4, detailed design for the re-compete contract for the OPC, and long-lead materials for OPC #5  
• $67.0 million for the detail and design and construction of the Waterways Commerce Cutter 
• $87.8 million for sustainment of numerous in-service cutters  
• $78.0 million for post-delivery activities for National Security Cutters #10 and #11 
• $20 million for program management of the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program 
• $15 million for the multi-year service-life extension of the USCGC Polar Star, the services only operational heavy icebreaker. 

The Coast Guard also requested $221.8 million for aircraft procurement and modification:  

• $102.8 million to continue life extension of the MH-60T helicopter fleet to serve into the 2030s and initial funding to expand the size of the fleet beyond 48 aircraft (through conversion of ex-Navy H-60 airframes)   
• $66.5 million for continued missionization of C-27J medium-endurance surveillance aircraft into HC-27J versions 
• $20.0 million for long-lead materials for HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft in preparation of the transition of Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, from the legacy HC-130H versions 
• $32 million for modernization and sustainment of the MH-65 helicopters to extend their service life into the 2030s 
• $0.5 million to continue funding installation of small unmanned aerial system capability into the National Security Cutters. 

The Operations and Maintenance portion of the budget includes $92.5 million, which includes funding for: 

• Crew and shore side support for the homeporting of the 10th NSC in Charleston, South Carolina 
• Crews and support for six FRCs for Manama, Bahrain; St. Petersburg, Florida; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Boston, Massachusetts 
• Crew, support, and facilities for OPCs at San Pedro, California 
• Crew and support for three HC-130J aircraft at Air Station Barbers Point 
• Support for a new C-27 long-range command-and-control aircraft in Washington, D.C. 
• Support for a new air station in Ventura County, California 
• Support for home-porting a medium-endurance cutter at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia 
• Support for the transition of Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana, from the MH-65 to the MH-60T helicopter 
• Crew and support for the 49th MH-60T helicopter 
• A third Cyber Protection Team. 

The 2022 budget also plans for retiring five HC-130H aircraft (four at Barbers Pint and one in depot maintenance); decommissioning five 110-foot Island-class patrol boats; and decommissioning five 87-foot Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boats. 

The 10 patrol boats are being replaced by FRCs. 

MIAMI — The Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore crew repatriated 46 Cuban migrants to Cuba, Monday, from four interdictions, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a May 31 release. 

In the first interdiction, the Cutter Kathleen Moore’s crew located a migrant vessel and notified Sector Key West watchstanders, May 21, approximately 45 miles north of Bahia Honda, Cuba.  

In the second interdiction, the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute’s crew spotted and rescued migrants from the water, May 21, approximately 16 miles south of Key West. Cutter Resolute’s crew transferred the migrants to Cutter Kathleen Moore. 

In the third interdiction, a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew spotted a rustic vessel and notified Sector Key West watchstanders, May 21, approximately 23 miles south of Key West. The Cutter Resolute arrived on scene and embarked the migrants with no medical concerns reported. Cutter Resolute’s crew transferred the migrants to Cutter Kathleen Moore. 

In the fourth interdiction, Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders received a report from a good Samaritan of a rustic vessel, May 21, approximately 69 miles south of the Marquesas. Cutter Kathleen Moore arrived on scene and safely embarked the migrants. 

“The Florida Straits can be very dangerous,” said Capt. Adam Chamie, commander of Sector Key West. “The weather can change quickly. Even if the water is warm, the sea can be unforgiving, particularly in unseaworthy rafts. Please don’t take to the sea.” 

Since Oct. 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 323 Cubans, compared to: 

5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016 

1,468 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2017 

259 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2018 

313 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2019 

49 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2020.

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19.   

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) returned to their homeport May 27 in Port Angeles after a 58-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said in a May 28 release. 
 
The 55-year-old cutter and crew patrolled international waters off the coasts of Central America and Mexico in support of the Coast Guard and partner agencies’ maritime illicit drug interdiction missions. 
 
The Active intercepted two vessels suspected of smuggling illicit narcotics. Active’s crew seized approximately 5,650 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $106.8 million from the combined interdictions. One of the two smuggling vessels, which are designed to evade detection, was a low-profile vessel. Low-profile vessels ride low in the water and are often painted blue to camouflage with the ocean, which make them more difficult to track. The contraband and suspects were transferred to the custody of federal law enforcement agencies for prosecution. 
 
Active’s crew offloaded approximately 11,500 pounds of seized cocaine in San Diego on May 19, representing four suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions made by crews aboard the Active, the Coast Guard Cutters Steadfast (WMEC 623) and Tahoma (WMEC 908). 
 
The cutter also conducted two search-and-rescue missions during their deployment. Active’s crew rescued four fishermen from a stranded fishing vessel and towed the disabled vessel until another Coast Guard cutter completed the search-and-rescue case. The second case Active responded to was a distress call for a jet skier injured in the water. Active’s health services technician provided first aid to the person and stabilized the injured jet skier for further transfer by Coast Guard Station San Diego to waiting emergency medical services personnel.  
 
Active was accompanied by an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco and personnel from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) from Jacksonville, Florida. The helicopter and HITRON aircrews are capable of utilizing airborne use of force including disabling fire on the engines of non-compliant vessels suspected of carrying contraband. Additionally, Active’s crew was supplemented by four Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team (PAC-TACLET) members from San Diego. PAC-TACLET’s specialization in law enforcement and knowledge of the Law of the Sea enhanced Active’s ability to identify, interdict, and process suspected drug smugglers. 
 
“This patrol was another superb example of teamwork across the interagency,” said Cmdr. James M. O’Mara IV, Active’s commanding officer. “Beyond our lifelines, interagency and partner nations shared information to develop cases, while U.S. Navy, Customs and Coast Guard aircraft detected targets of interest. Active’s crew leaned forward, operated aggressively and executed their missions with distinction.” 
 
This patrol marked O’Mara’s last patrol as commanding officer of the Active. Assuming command in January of 2019, O’Mara sailed over 55,000 miles throughout his nearly two and a half year tenure as Active’s commanding officer. O’Mara was relieved by Cmdr. Brian J. Tesson on May 24 during a change of command ceremony aboard the cutter in the San Francisco Bay while transiting home. O’Mara will be reporting to Pacific Area Cutter Forces in June. Tesson reports to the Active from the Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Oakland where he served as the executive office. 
 
Commissioned in 1966, Active is a 210-foot Reliance-class medium-endurance cutter homeported in Port Angeles and routinely deploys in support of counter-drug, migrant interdiction, fisheries, and search-and-rescue and homeland security missions. 

SAN DIEGO — Northrop Grumman’s autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) Broad Area Maritime Surveillance-Demonstrator (BAMS-D) system surpassed 40,000 flight hours during a routine mission in the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of operations April 13, the company said in a May 27 release.

“This milestone in the BAMS-D program demonstrates Northrop Grumman’s commitment to delivering critical capabilities to our customers that provide an advantage to U.S. and coalition partners in theater,” said Doug Shaffer, vice president and program manager, Triton programs, Northrop Grumman. “BAMS-D providing operational support well beyond its intended demonstration period highlights the unrivaled strategic value of autonomous maritime HALE while the Navy integrates the MQ-4C Triton into its vital maritime patrol mission.”

BAMS-D entered operational service for the U.S. Navy in 2009. Originally intended to be a six-month demonstration deployment, BAMS-D has supported U.S. Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in USCENTCOM for more than 12 years.

“BAMS-D sustainment is truly a Northrop Grumman cross-enterprise effort and is a testament to our unwavering commitment to mission readiness,” continued Shaffer.

“This is a significant milestone for any aircraft, but especially remarkable for an originally planned six-month demonstration system,” said Capt. James P. Johnston, commander, Task Force 57. “The persistence and dependability of the BAMS-D system and the resilience of the personnel who operate the platform here in 5th Fleet, are essential in sustaining maritime security and freedom of navigation throughout the region.”

While BAMS-D remains in operational service, its replacement, the MQ-4C Triton, completed its first year of an early operating capability deployment in the U.S. Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. The Triton system is currently progressing toward a multi-intelligence configuration and will ultimately support five operational orbits for the Navy with 68 operational aircraft. Australia is set to receive their first Triton in 2023 as part of a cooperative development program that will enable intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Australia.

Northrop Grumman’s family of autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance systems perform critical wide-area ISR collection. Today, autonomous HALE systems operate across the globe, with 24-plus hour endurance, collecting essential ISR data over land and sea to enable rapid, informed decision-making. In the future, these systems will connect the joint force, implementing advanced autonomy and AI and machine learning while delivering indispensable capabilities with fewer people to provide information at the speed of relevance.

MIAMI — The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump crew repatriated 21 Cubans to Cuba May 24 at approximately 10 a.m. after they were interdicted off Key West’s coast, the Coast Guard 7^th District said in a May 25 release. 

A good Samaritan alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders to a raft with 11 people aboard at approximately 8 a.m., May 22, off Alligator Reef Light.  

Station Islamorada law enforcement officers reported one of the Cubans deceased. The deceased’s son reported the raft had capsized at the start of their voyage resulting in loss of their food, water, medication and his father passed away during the voyage.  

In the second interdiction, a good Samaritan alerted Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders, May 25, to a 16-foot raft with 11 people aboard off Marathon.  

The good Samaritan provided life jackets, food, and water to the Cubans and due to 10-12 foot seas and stayed with them until Coast Guard Cutter William Trump arrived on scene. 

“The dangers of traveling through the Florida Straits cannot be overstated,” said Chief Warrant Officer Matt James, commanding officer, Station Islamorada. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the man who died as a result of losing critical medicine for a reported pre-existing condition during the capsizing.” 

Since Oct. 1, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 250 Cubans compared to: 

• 5,396 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2016 
• 1,468 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2017 
• 259 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2018 
• 313 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2019 
• 49 Cuban migrants in Fiscal Year 2020 

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crew members were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19.