Reservist

ISS2 2015

Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security

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Reserve Crews Help with "Greatest Show on H 2 O" Members of Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale's Reserve team stepped in to help out their active duty counterparts by covering a long night of patrols during the city's 43rd Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. The boat parade, labeled the "Greatest Show on H 2 O," presents boat crews with countless hazards as it features hundreds of private boats, giant showboats and corporate mega yachts brilliantly decorated to entertain spectators along the 12-mile journey down the Intracoastal Waterway. "It is a really compact area, and we are there to make sure people are being safe," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Dan Jouve. "The sheer number of people and the volume of alcohol being consumed increase the possibility of boat crashes or people falling overboard." Winterfest not only presents boating hazards, but there are also thousands of people viewing the parade atop the bridges, from their waterfront homes or by sitting on the seawall. "I was in the lead boat and our job was to make sure the channel was clear," said Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Myron Desa. "The other boats were spread out to maintain a presence, and to respond to an emergency wherever it happened along the route." Reserve crewmembers play a vital role in augmenting their colleagues by helping with several seminal events that take place in the tropical locale, including Winterfest, Fort Lauderdale's Air and Sea Show and Fleet Week. "Anything we can do to help out the active duty crews," said Masterchief Petty Officer Charley Wade who provided 16 Reserve crewmembers to help cover the event. "The scope of the event is very large and we help by being here and taking some of the burden off of them." "Special events like the Winterfest Boat Parade are perfect examples of why our Boat Forces Reserve members are pivotal to the station's success," added Lt. Mark Ketchum, Station Fort Lauderdale's Commanding Officer. "Our operational tempo remains high year round, and the ability to provide reserve boat crew capacity for surge operations is a game changer. They know the area very well, are certified to operate our boats, and integrate seamlessly with our active duty crews and interagency partners. We couldn't do it without them." — Story by PA1 Jennifer Johnson, 7th District Public Affairs A snippet of sights and sounds from the 43rd Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, dec.13, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Issue 2 • 2015 � RESERVIST 15

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