My name is Mark DeBonis and I am a Boatswains mate 1st class (E-6) in the U.S. Coast Guard (Knee deep Navy). I’m currently stationed at Motor Lifeboat Station Umpqua River in Oregon. We are one of the few “Surf Stations” in the United States and we specialize in heavy weather rescue. If you’ve ever seen a Coast Guard boat crashing through the surf, that’s us. I stumbled my way on to MT while working on my Masters Degree in Organizational Management for American Military University and I’ve become a huge fan of the podcast. I ride my bike while listening to them and it helps me during work immensely. Using your advice, I’ve started to work with my Command and my peers on making our staff meetings more effective and the response has been great. This is from a room full of high D’s like me. Keep up the good work.
Mark DeBonis
USCG Surfman #393
7-3-1-2 (Developer)
P.S. I just realized that joined on Christmas! I was "working" that day.
Ahoy!
Welcome, Mark. I've seen footage of a Motor Lifeboat rescue off the Oregon coast, and it was truly amazing.
John
Motor Lifeboats
[quote="jhack"]Welcome, Mark. I've seen footage of a Motor Lifeboat rescue off the Oregon coast, and it was truly amazing.
John[/quote]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSPMykrrfrU
Here's a bit of us training in some small stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnSCqC5enJg
This a usual morning for me.
What did the footage look like? I might know a bit about it.
Ahoy!
Welcome aboard Mark. We will tolerate COOL Navy guys like you.
Glad you're with us. I always want to point to posts like yours when people in business say, oh, that won't work HERE...
Mark
Ahoy!
Coast Guards are Cool by definition in the UK (lot of coastline and a long history with the sea).
Welcome
Chris
Ahoy!
[quote="mahorstman"]Welcome aboard Mark. We will tolerate COOL Navy guys like you.
Glad you're with us. I always want to point to posts like yours when people in business say, oh, that won't work HERE...
Mark[/quote]
Navy? Is that an Army insult? You might as well called me a SOB! :wink:
In my defense, if you mixed a firefighter, an EMS responder and a Police Officer with water (some beer too); you'd have a Coastie. We're still a Military branch yet we are also Federales. Check out US CODE 14 USC 89. Small service, big job as they say. Our Commandant Thadd Allen took over for "Brownie" after the Kartina debacle. He's pretty damn good.
We do have a high proportion of D's and C's in my work experience. We also have a service based culture that's changing. We are great at being REACTIVE but need work at becoming PROACTIVE. I fully understand that I have to adapt to survive, progress and excel in the service that's changing and MT is a great part of it.
Ahoy!
[quote="donnachie"]Coast Guards are Cool by definition in the UK (lot of coastline and a long history with the sea).
Welcome
Chris[/quote]
Thank you, I have the biggest respect for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Coastguard too. When I cross over the pond to see my Cousins in Scotland, I always try to stop by the Station in Troon.
Ahoy!
Welcome aboard Mark! I admire all of you people who put yourselves on the line every day to help others. What a noble calling. You must sleep well at night.
(Would I get in trouble if I said I saw the Costner movie? :) )
Ahoy!
[quote="WillDuke"]Welcome aboard Mark! I admire all of you people who put yourselves on the line every day to help others. What a noble calling. You must sleep well at night.
(Would I get in trouble if I said I saw the Costner movie? :) )[/quote]
Thanks for the praise . There's a reason why we work crappy hours in a terrible environment for average pay, (other than it being a noble calling)....It's adventurous and fun. I personally admire people who go to work and make a difference to others.
Just so you know, our job is just like every other one. I have the same issues and problems as most managers do; So, I don't always sleep as good as I'd like too. So don't admire me too much.
Even though we are different Animals than the Helicopter guys and have a HUGE rivalry with them, I did like the movie. "The Boatniks" reflected more of what I'm used to. :D
I'm looking forward to this forum.
Ahoy!
Dude, you started it! You called yourself knee deep Navy.
As my daughter would say, whatEVER.
LOL
Mark
Ahoy!
I don't remember the video details - my son was watching something like Discovery when I walked in the room and they were showing a rescue. It was the same lifeboat as in your youtube videos, for sure.
John
Ahoy!
Mark,
Welcome and thank you for your service. It's a big job. Great video's too.
Todd