Coast Guard training off West Seattle keeps skills sharp
Coast Guard training off West Seattle keeps skills sharp
Recent uptick in rescue calls means they are needed more than ever
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and boat were off the shores of West Seattle on Sunday conducting training exercises.
Photo by Kimberly Robinson
Sun, 05/17/2020
You may have seen a U.S. Coast Guard boat and helicopter in close proximity off West Seattle on Sunday. The chopper was lowering and raising a basket to and from the deck of the boat in what is called a Five Hoist training exercise. Involved was 29' Response Boat Small and an MH-65D Dolphin helicopter.
The pilot of the helicopter who is based out of Port Angeles was Commander Scott Jackson who will be promoted very shortly to Captain. His air crew, Coast Guard Station Seattle, and many of his co-workers who reside in West Seattle were documenting the training in commemoration of this milestone achievement for a career military officer. A fact he learned during the training.
Recording the training at Lowman Beach was Captain Linda Sturgis, who said, "I'm a proud West Seattle resident."
Especially in this pandemic environment, human/life safety is their business more than ever. With more people seeking recreational opportunities the Coast Guard has seen an uptick in the number of calls they get requiring human rescues.
It's not widely known but the Coast Guard actually has 11 official missions:
What a great surprise by my team and my great boss! I've got the best job in the World!