Coast Guard holds change of watch ceremony

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-09 (5NR) Sector Delaware Bay, located at USCG Station Indian River, completed its annual change of watch ceremony Dec. 6 at Cripple Creek Golf and Country Club in Dagsboro. The change of watch occurs annually to install newly elected and appointed officers into the flotilla. The master of ceremonies was outgoing Flotilla Commander Michael Maguire, who passed the torch to incoming Commander Michael Moran and Vice Commander George Heesh.

Moran said, “The flotilla, which meets at Indian River Coast Guard Station, is open to anyone wishing to volunteer their time to assist in helping the Coast Guard with educatng the public on boater safety. We are looking to a productive 2024 season promoting boating safety and assisting the Indian River Coast Guard staff."

Heesh said, "Auxiliarists can volunteer and when requested be deployed all over the world, such as the southern border as a fingerprint specialist, or on the cutter Polar Star with port calls to locations such as Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Antarctica, as well as our local area of responsibility here in Sussex County.”

Public Affairs Staff Officer Bill Pettigrew said "The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers the reward of knowing you are helping the Coast Guard and your country; there are many benefits of being an active auxiliarist. The auxiliary offers excellent training in many competencies like vessel examiner, public affairs, culinary, boat crew, communications, information systems and more. Interested volunteers can join the USCG Auxiliary starting at the age of 17 and kick-start their civilian career by adding something excellent on their resume, or if they move into an active Coast Guard career, they will get credit for being an auxiliarist. If you are retired and want to give back by volunteering your time and energy, the auxiliary can be for you."

For more information, email uscga.william.pettigrew@gmail.com or go to cgaux.org.