Barry Berg
COMO Robert Heinz
Trent Jensen
Neil McMillin
Stephen Putnoki
Chuck Woodward

Presented at:

Spring Business Symposium 2010

Date presented:

March 20, 2010

For exceptionally meritorious service from 1 May 2009 to 1 November 2009 while serving as part of the Coast Guard sector Upper Mississippi River's Contingency Communications Training Team.

Citation (in part)

"Members from Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-02 and one member from Flotilla 11-08 utilizing the "work smarter, not harder" philosophy and foreseeing a need to develop new Amateur Radio Operators with an advanced level of expertise to either a general class or higher level of licensure, adeptly organized an Amateur Operator Instructional Training Team.  The team was faced with the arduous task of training, testing, qualifying, and certifying all prospective students in proper procedures of amateur radio in an effort to enhance the Auxiliary's ability to conduct emergency communications in support of Coast Guard Missions for Sector Upper Mississippi River.  This savvy and knowledgeable team dedicated many months preparing to ensure all instructors were knowledgeable of all subject areas relating to amateur radio operations, which ensured that any potential training obstacles were dealt with in advance.  During this period, they created and prepared all original course material, set up a comfortable learning atmosphere, and developed the curriculum for students to obtain their Amateur Radio Class licenses.  Their hard work and effort produced 5 new operators with their technician class license and 4 students with their general class license within a 7-day period.  The integral training provided by the team was instrumental in establishing a standard knowledge base, certification, and contingency communications capability in support of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River deployed forces during future surge operations requiring higher level high frequency type communications."

Commendation received with ribbon pendant.