US coast guard in Cuba exercise

BBC ^ | Thursday, March 8, 2007

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The US coast guard is staging a huge exercise in Florida in preparation for a possible mass exodus from Cuba in the event of the death of Fidel Castro.

More than 300 agents and 85 law enforcement agencies are taking part in the two-day Operation Vigilant Sentry.

Actors are playing imaginary Cuban migrants in mock interceptions.

The operation has taken on a renewed urgency since President Castro fell ill and handed temporary power to his brother Raul last July.

President Castro recently spoke in a live broadcast with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, but has not been seen in public since last year.

Coast Guard Rear Adm David Kunkel said: "It's a mass migration plan in general. It doesn't have to be from Cuba.

"However we do recognise that Cuba is certainly an area where we must be prepared."

In the early 1980s, tens of thousands of people left Cuba after receiving permission from the government.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I was a USCG EMT. I was stationed on a buoy tender out of boston most of my time in, but I started out with a half year up at the small boat station in Gloucester.

I was in from 85-89, and was surprised to nevr get pulled out to go to D7.

I had friends on the 110's as they wer coming in. They agreed, they were junk, but better than the very old 82's and 95's they were replacing. Yeah, 10 year life is what i remember hearing.

[CWOJackson]

I never could decide whether I wanted to make it a career or not so after 30 and a half years I decided to look for different employment...then got (voluntarily) recalled.

I started out on a buoy tender, one of the old 180's. You know what life is like on them...boring, tedious and boring...did I mention boring? Unfortunately I was the #1 rescue swimmer and sure enough we went on a SAR run towards the end of my tour. I had to go over the side and pull three people in. Right away I forgot the tedium and was hooked.

I've time on 82', 95's and 110's. Of them all I think the 82' was by far the best. In the long run I think it would have been cheaper to keep them on...and safer for the crews.

Which class (EMT) did you go through?

[jmc813]

Never had the pleasure. It wasn't a regular manned station at the time.

That's too bad as Emerald Isle is a wonderful little town. Great balance between touristy and secluded.

We used to vacation right down the street from there every summer (the condos we stayed at were on Coast Guard Rd.) and on several occasions my father would bring my brother and I to the CG station. You didn't even need to schedule anything. We would just show up and the Coasties there would give us a full tour of the facilities and let us play around on the computers. Those visits gave me an early respect for the people in the Guard.

[Howlin]

Isn't that the truth? It's just not like that anymore; I can remember going there when you had to either drive through Atlantic Beach, or take the ferry over.

You wouldn't believe it now; HUGE bridge, tons of stuff, Wings, etc.

Our quiet little end of the island is gone; I use to love walking out the west end at low tide, picking up shells; you could practically walk over to Bird Island.

[CWOJackson]

I think for the most part anymore you have to go to some very off-the-beaten-path locations to find places like that. You'd like the CG stations on the ocean side of the Olympic Peninsula. Beautiful small towns with the post card CG stations. The only difference is the towns are the center of Indian reservations and the land our stations are on are leased for a $1 a year.

The local (Indian) residents can be a little standoffish...unless you're in the CG. If you're a Coastie you're an honorary member of the tribe.