The US Coast Guard Auxiliary facility at the Cocohatchee River Marina in North Naples, Fla., seen from the water. (Photo: USCG Auxiliary)
Today is the 28th day of the Trump government shutdown.
Jan. 18, 2019, by David Silverberg
The Trump government shutdown has hit Southwest Florida’s US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 96, based on the Cocohatchee River and Wiggins Pass in North Naples.
The Auxiliary is a volunteer arm of the Coast Guard that assists it in meeting its many missions. Typical Auxiliary activities include boating safety training, patrolling, classroom instruction, community outreach and search and rescue. Nationally, it has 26,000 members who serve in 835 local units.
In the immediate aftermath of the shutdown, all Auxiliary activities were suspended and members were not allowed to take any actions that required members to leave home or expend any Coast Guard funds, according to Hatchcover, the official publication of Flotilla 96.
Normal Auxiliary activities like vessel examinations, partner visitations, safe boating classes and community relations appearances were put on hold.
However, on Jan. 11 Vice Admiral Daniel Abel, the Coast Guard’s deputy commandant for operations, authorized Auxiliary volunteer activities such as meetings at the flotilla, district or division levels, recreational boating safety outreach, and public education, to “proceed in accordance with the Auxiliary Manual as long as there is no obligation of Coast Guard funds.”
As a result, Auxiliary members are working to make up for lost time and preparing for full operations once the shutdown ends and meetings and classes can resume, according to George Lehner, the Flotilla’s public affairs officer.
“Unfortunately, discretionary operational activities are not yet permitted, as they require funding from the Coast Guard,” Commander John Tyson, the flotilla staff officer for operations, told members on Jan. 13. “It looks like we will be off the water (unless the Station [at Fort Myers Beach] calls us out) until a continuing resolution funding the Department of Homeland Security has been approved.”
Liberty lives in light
© 2019 by David Silverberg