CAPE MAY, N.J. – Coast Guard Training Center Cape May hosted congressional staff members, Friday, for a display of various Coast Guard assets during Coast Guard Mission’s Day.
More than 40 congressional staffers arrived by bus to the training center where they were given a traditional company commander welcome and spent the day learning about various missions and assets used by the Coast Guard to conduct its front line missions.
“Hosting this year’s Mission Day is really a privilege,” said Capt. Todd Prestidge, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. “This is an opportunity for us to bring representatives of our elected officials to Cape May, show them the birthplace of our enlisted corps and educate them on our service’s front line missions in order to garner support for the entire service. The fact that we were chosen to host just goes to show that the training center in Cape May is the best place to live, work and visit in the Coast Guard!”
Beyond learning about recruit training, the visitors were treated to tours of the CGC William Tate, static displays from the service’s Telecommunications and Information Systems Program, LANTAREA Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center, and the Coast Guard’s Document and Media Exploitation Program. Additionally they had lunch with recruits, viewed K9 demonstrations, took a boat ride with boats from Coast Guard Station Cape May and viewed a search-and-rescue demonstration from a helicopter crew out of Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City.
The ultimate purpose for hosting Missions Day is to give the Coast Guard an opportunity to educate.
“Bringing a group of representatives from the offices of our elected officials serves as a way to not only share with them our roles and responsibilities as an organization, but also what challenges our organization faces,” said Lt. Dave Zwirblis, a member of the Coast Guard’s congressional affairs staff. “The information they take back helps those who draft legislation, which could affect our service, to make better informed decisions.”
Ada Waelder, a staffer from Senator Maria Cantwell's office, looks through a thermal scope, Friday, May 13, 2016, during one of the static displays offered during Coast Guard Missions Day. Waelderand fellow staff members went to various displays throughout the day to learn about the Coast Guard's roles and responsibilities. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards)
Congressional staffers watch as a Coast Guard K9 unit demonstrates the dog's ability to detect explosive materials, Friday, May 13 2016, at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J. The staffers were onboard the training center to learn about the different roles and responsibilities of the service. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards)
Lt. Sam Hill, a pilot stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., speaks with congressional staffers, Friday, May 13, 2016, at the Coast Guard's Mission's Day event in Cape May, N.J. The Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May hosted the event, which brought 40 congressional staffers to the area to learn about the Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards