Coast Guard Joy Ride..

S

savignr

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May 10, 2008
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Coast Guard relieves Montauk station commander
October 24, 2009 By BILL BLEYER bill.bleyer@newsday.com
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Photo credit: tcolla.com | A Coast Guard 47-foot rescue boat trains about 8 a.m. on Aug. 23, 2009, in the surf off Montauk Point. The Coast Guard said the driver was unqualified to handle the conditions.
The officer in charge of the Coast Guard's Montauk Station has been relieved of command after he and one of his subordinates took a pair of million-dollar rescue boats into heavy surf even though they were not officially qualified to do so, the agency said.
Chief Petty Officer James Weber, a 21-year-veteran of the Coast Guard and a popular figure in the Montauk community, will lose his position permanently unless he successfully appeals, said Capt. Daniel Ronan, commander of Sector Long Island Sound.
"We relieved him because he put boats and crews in a dangerous situation they weren't trained for," Ronan said.
Coast Guard higher-ups learned of the incident after photographs appeared on the Internet in August of two $1.2-million 47-foot motor lifeboats, one from another station, training off Montauk Point in 10- to 15-foot surf generated by Hurricane Bill. Ronan initiated an investigation and recommended Weber be relieved.
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Not the kind of Day I would go out for a Ride!!
 
So he was once certified to do it, but didn't recertify? Blah blah blah. I can see he broke the rules, but do I think he was out "joy riding"? I think that there is a value to be placed on going out in those kinds of conditions, they are often the ones that create the need for rescue.
 
I am really agree with him I don't think he was doing something crazy at all. they are trained to do stuff like that 20 feet waves for a rescue boat is standard conditions and that boat was made for that.
 
He broke a major rule of engagement. It's like he's cruising against a ghost out there. I don't know if I trust him. I'm just not sure I would want to go on a rescue mission with that guy in charge. His dad was a hell of a good man. I think he deserves a second chance.

Quote from peer: "You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you go out to sea, you're unsafe. I don't like you because you're dangerous."

From Boss: "Coast Guard rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them or you are history. Is that clear? "
 
I'm assuming that if someone was in trouble off Montauk, and he was managing the station, that he would have responded. Seems crazy not to have the station manager qualified to do what he needs to do to help mariners in trouble!
 
Jackie J V said:
I'm assuming that if someone was in trouble off Montauk, and he was managing the station, that he would have responded. Seems crazy not to have the station manager qualified to do what he needs to do to help mariners in trouble!
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Being a military organization, it wouldn't surprise me if there were currencies associated with different qualifications. Pilots have to have 3 takeoffs and landings every 90 days (or whatever it is). Night vision goggle qualification requires so many sorties every so many months too. Due to local noise restrictions, F-15 pilots in Okinawa have to land by 2200. In Summer, it isn't dark by that time, so many pilots lose qual while many others take trips to Korea or other nations and get currency on NVG's there.

Whatever the event, once you go non-current, you have to follow the recurr guidelines. It usually involves a briefing by and instructor and then a certain number of exposures (landings, NVG flights, whatever) with said instructor to get re-qualified. What this Captain seemed to have done is to just dis-regard the qualifications rules and go out when the waves were huge. Not smart.
 
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sfergson727 said:
Is he going to be fishing rubber dog sh*t out of the waters in Korea?
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Yeah, that's the ticket. I was wondering where that stuff that those guys haul all around the world came from. I wonder how that market is doing these days?
 
It is very easy to lose quals when you are in a remote staion like Montauk. Conditions and resources must all be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes you don't even no you lost them. Practice and training is everything. Rules "may" have been broken but I don't know one Montauk fisherman or boater that would not support their effort.
 
FireIsland1 said:
It is very easy to lose quals when you are in a remote staion like Montauk. Conditions and resources must all be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes you don't even no you lost them. Practice and training is everything. Rules "may" have been broken but I don't know one Montauk fisherman or boater that would not support their effort.
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Their boss must not be either, or he is more interested in his own career progression than operational readiness, but once again, I digress.
 
mvoellinger said:
So he was once certified to do it, but didn't recertify? Blah blah blah. I can see he broke the rules, but do I think he was out "joy riding"? I think that there is a value to be placed on going out in those kinds of conditions, they are often the ones that create the need for rescue.
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I agree. Granted, he violated the regulations and should be reprimanded- but I think a slap on the wrist would be more suitable. Obviously, he was capable and competent to handle the sea conditions. This seems to be more of a "paperwork" issue...

"Ronan said Weber had qualified as a "surfman" - allowing him to operate a boat in surf up to 15 feet - at a different unit but had not been recertified since moving to the Montauk station. His current level of certification allowed him to work in seas up to 20 feet but not in surf."

This was a training run- not a "joy ride". The only way to learn how to handle a boat in the "big stuff" is to be out in it- and the conditions that day probably created a unique training opportunity, and Weber decided to take advantage of it.

Relieving the guy of his command is extreme.
 
Sounds political. Maybe he dissed Obama once. I bet he was on the list, but now, he's crossed off (after the IRS audit).
 
I agree with tobnpr, relieving him was uncalled for. I would hope All is above-board with Ronan and this story can be taken at face value. However too often in life things like this can be attributed to "politics", payback, good ' ole boy friendships, etc. It seems to me the fisherman is right, he RELIES on the coast guard to be there when he needs them...and that will usually be in the worst of conditions. I hope Weber gets his job back.
 
Hampton...quoting Top Gun again....:smt043

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_BEJmY911s[/youtube]


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekXxi9IKZSA[/youtube]
 
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