No subject

country=E2=80=99s most iconic landmarks to multi-agency national =
security and law enforcement missions, a =E2=80=9Ctypical day=E2=80=9D =
at Station Washington is anything but typical.=20

The multi-mission station operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Even though Washington is a seasonal boating area, the commanding =
officer of the station, Lt. Celina Ladyga, says the crew stays busy all =
year with operations and special national security events like the =
presidential inauguration and State of the Union address.=20

=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s really quite a wide breadth of Coast Guard =
missions that we do here,=E2=80=9D said Ladyga.

Station Washington was established after Sept. 11, she said, and its =
primary responsibility is homeland security. She said there was no =
federal maritime presence in the National Capital Region prior to Sept. =
11. =20

=E2=80=9CWe do a heavy amount of protection of maritime critical =
infrastructure, but we also do all of the traditional Coast Guard =
missions, such as search and rescue, and public boater =
outreach,=E2=80=9D she said.

Station members were active in National Safe Boating Week in May, =
meeting with local boaters and reminding them of the important tips for =
staying safe on the water, including always wearing a life vest, filing =
a float plan and having emergency communication devices. =20

During one weekend, Station Washington crews conducted patrols for =
Operation Dry Water, a national crackdown on boaters operating vessels =
under the influence.=20

National Safe Boating Week and Operation Dry Water are both multi-agency =
efforts aimed at keeping the American public safe on the water.

Ladyga said maintaining and growing relationships with local, state and =
federal partners is important, especially when jurisdictions overlap and =
cases can be complex. =20

=E2=80=9CThe multi-agency connection and partnerships are very critical =
in this area,=E2=80=9D she said. =E2=80=9CUltimately everybody has the =
same goal =E2=80=93 to ensure the safety and security of the American =
public.=E2=80=9D=20

Ladyga also has advice for boaters who are heading out enjoying the =
Potomac River and other waterways around our nation=E2=80=99s capital.=20

=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s important for us to take the time to enjoy the =
waterway, but we need to do it safely,=E2=80=9D she said.=20

She said boaters need to have the proper safety equipment, should also =
keep an eye out for anything suspicious and have the necessary contact =
information for authorities should they observe anything unusual.=20

=E2=80=9CKnowing who to call and how to make that report is a critical =
piece because it=E2=80=99s really all of our responsibility to ensure =
the safety and security of the waterway,=E2=80=9D said Ladyga.

On the Potomac River, Coast Guardsmen can be seen conducting patrols =
near the Lincoln Memorial, enforcing a security zone during =
Washington=E2=80=99s Fourth of July fireworks, boarding vessels, =
interacting with boaters and maintaining a safety zone.

Chief Petty Officer Jasen Hollopeter runs the station=E2=80=99s =
day-to-day operations, including scheduling harbor patrols and security =
and safety zones to keep the public safe.

Conveniently located in Washington, the station is a popular stop for =
leaders from other military branches or members of Congress who want to =
see Coast Guard operations firsthand, said Hollopeter.=20

=E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s the unique thing about where we are,=E2=80=9D he =
said. =E2=80=9CYou have all these other branches of service and members =
of Congress who may not be familiar with Coast Guard operations, so we =
are their first impression of the Coast Guard.=E2=80=9D

Being in Washington also gives crewmembers unique opportunities as well, =
such as Petty Officer 1st Class Benjamin Atkins, who is the petty =
officer in charge of training for the station who experienced a unique =
opportunity while re-enlisting.

=E2=80=9CI just re-enlisted at the National Archives. I was able to =
re-enlist right in front of the U.S. Constitution,=E2=80=9D he said =
proudly, noting that nowhere else would he of had such a magnificent =
opportunity. =E2=80=9CIt was great.=E2=80=9D =20

At Station Washington for about a year, Seaman Alexander Smith works on =
pretty much everything as a non-rate =E2=80=93 from general maintenance, =
fielding phone calls, working on his qualifications to getting underway.

=E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ve enjoyed my time at Station Washington. I love =
it,=E2=80=9D said Smith.

Smith, who is performing on-the-job training to be a boatswain mate, =
doesn=E2=80=99t plan on stopping once he makes petty officer third =
class.

=E2=80=9CI think it would be nice to hear =E2=80=98Master Chief =
Smith,=E2=80=99=E2=80=9D he said with a smile. =E2=80=9CThat would be =
pretty cool.=E2=80=9D

But for now, Smith and the rest of the crew vigilantly standing watch, =
protecting the American people and living the Coast Guard core values in =
the nation=E2=80=99s capital.=20

Semper Paratus, Station Washington!

###