MARITIME WATCHSTANDER

by Stu Smith

Not many people know the relationship between the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. To help provide some insight into this relationship I have selected the Watchstander position to discuss. The Command Center is located at the United States Coast Guard Station Destin Florida, with a commanding view of Choctawhatchee Bay, just to the west of the East Pass.  

    USCG Station Destin Entrance

The Coast Guard is recognized by mariners worldwide as the leader in maritime Search and Rescue (SAR). A vital aspect of the SAR function involves the management of a VHF-FM distress alerting and command/control system that provides radio coverage over our coastal waters, navigable rivers and Great Lakes . The communications Watchstander; an integral part of this network, the voice of the Coast Guard, providing valuable and effective assistance in the event of a crisis situation. Station Destin has an Area of Responsibility (AOR) extending from Navarre Causeway to Lake Powell. Station Destin has a communication center which houses the unit's radios, phones and other equipment used in communications with both the Coast Guard and civilian vessels. The main purpose of the communications Watchstander is to maintain a constant guard for distress calls, whether they are received by radio, cell phone, or relayed by other agencies. When not working a distress situation, the Watchstander serves as the administrator for the station, answering routine phone calls, taking down messages, and maintaining a detailed log of everything that occurs during the Watchstander's four hour watch. Most Watchstanders stand two - four hours watches per week, not necessarily the same day, as well as extra duty for events such as Billy Bowlegs and Hurricanes.  

The communication center is manned by active duty Coast Guard or specially trained Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel.  Qualified Watch Standers are Frank Allen, Morris Davis, Duke Matthews, Dave Olsen, Joe Reichal, Stan Smith and Curt Waier. BM1 Chris Whittington of the USCG Station Destin said "Auxiliary Watchstanders stand 4 hours watches, and sometimes on weekends. The benefits of having so many qualified Auxuliary Watchstanders cannot be overstated: Active-Duty personnel can maintain qualifications, maintain boat response readiness, conduct extensive training missions and go on "temporary additional duty" missions.  

I spent one morning in September at Station Destin, in the communication center ( Command Center ), observing the On-Duty Watchstander, Joe Reichal an Auxiliarist. I discussed his job in detail and talked to members of the Coast Guard to see how Mr. Reichal fit into the over all operation. Upon my observation you could not tell that Mr. Reichal (auxiliarist) was not an active-duty member since they treated him as if he was a member of the team, dressed in the appropriate uniform and acted accordingly. Some of the comments from the Coast Guard members are included in this article.  

    USCG Station Destion Command Center,Randy Black, Bill Petriz, and Station personnel  

During my visit to the Command Center, it was alive with activity. With telephones ringing, personnel entering and exiting the room, VHF radio chatter going on between commercial fisherman, local boaters and the USCG itself; monitors displaying communication tracking and local area mapping, and loudspeakers blaring commands, it takes a well trained experience individual to handle the job effectively.  I left the command center and drove back home and truly appreciated the quietness of my car.  

I think the Watchstanders; be they active-duty or auxiliarist, play a very important role in providing our local area boaters with a service that they cannot see, but are only a call away, by VHF radio(channel 16) or cell phone (station # is 850-244-7147).  I have this number setup as a speed dial number on my cell phone. As a boater myself and an auxiliarist, I feel more comfortable while on the local waters knowing these professionals are watching out for me.