Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak

Hello Fishies!

One job that certainly does not get the attention it deserves is that of the US Coast Guard. It appears that they are in the process of re-vamping their website, check it out!

From the Coast Guard website:

Air Station History... in a nut shell

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak is a Seventeenth Coast Guard District (D17) unit on beautiful Kodiak Island approximately 250 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The Air Station was commissioned as an Air Detachment April 17, 1947 with one PBY Catalina aircraft, seven pilots, and thirty crewmen. It represented the first permanent Coast Guard aviation resource in Alaska. The Air Station is the major tenant of Integrated Support Command (ISC) Kodiak, and the largest Coast Guard command in D17 and the entire Pacific Area (PACAREA). The present complement of HC-130H's, HH-60J's, HH-65A's aids in completing our mission and saving lives.

Our Mission

The primary mission of Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak is to provide aircraft and crews in support of the Coast Guard's core missions which include: Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, covering 4 million square miles including the Gulf of Alaska, Bristol Bay, Bering Sea, and the Pacific Ocean above 40N latitude; Enforcement of Laws and Treaties (ELT), primarily focused on the nation's most active fisheries; logistical support of isolated D17 units; Marine Environmental Protection (MEP); Aids to Navigation (ATON); Military Defense; disaster control services and relief; and assistance to numerous local, state, and federal agencies. The HC-130H and HH-60J aircraft serve as the primary SAR response assets.

HH-65B Dolphin Helicopters

HH-65B helicopters augment Alaska Patrols (ALPAT) by deploying aboard 378’ High Endurance Cutters to make our presence known to the outer edges of the largest operational area of responsibility in the Coast Guard (over 3.9 million square miles). Supported by extremely motivated and professional ALPAT maintenance personnel, HH-65A Helicopters achieve a remarkable 98% availability during deployments. Without that type of support, operational effectiveness on the high seas would be substantially diminished.

HH-60J Jayhawk Helicopters

Protection of living marine natural resources doesn’t end with the close monitoring of U.S. and International fishing fleets far from Kodiak. Air Station HH-60J crews remain intensely involved with state and local officials to equally ensure nearby sea-lion rookeries remain unmolested, halibut fishery openings and closings are closely monitored for violators, and local herring fisheries are properly conducted.

HC-130H Hercules Fixed-Wing

In addition to Search and Rescue operations and Fisheries Law Enforcement patrols, the Air Station flies missions involving logistic support of outlying Coast Guard units as far as Barrow to the north and Attu to the west, deployed helicopter SAR support out of Cordova from April through September, and support of federal agencies throughout the state.

Maintenance

Air Station Kodiak's maintenance professionals "keep'em flying". Keeping aircraft mission capable in some of the most demanding weather conditions found anywhere in the world requires a special sense of dedication and commitment. With aircraft availability rates that routinely surpass Commandant requirements, the men and women of Air Station Kodiak continue to meet this challenge. Aviation enlisted personnel can expect to be assigned to one of the three airframe types (C-130, H-60, H-65) at Kodiak. Assignment to ALPAT (H-65) is normally a second tour of duty for qualified aircrew members.

Air Station Awards

Air Station continues to be recognized nationally for the accomplishments of the crew. Recent awards include; the 2002 Naval Helicopter Award for Aircrew of the Year, the Seventeenth CoastGuard District Operational Excellence Award for a Large Unit, 2001 Association of Naval Aviators Award for Helicopter Aviation, the 2001 National Defense Transportation Association Unit Award, and a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Award in 2000. Individual recognition includes presentation of the prestigious Admiral Bender, Admiral Hayes, and Admiral Gracey awards.

The officers and enlisted men and women of Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak have consistently demonstrated heroism and professionalism, remaining SEMPER PARATUS to serve their country, and more closely to home, the people of the great state of Alaska.

USCG Air Station Kodiak - U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Stay tuned!

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