ALCOAST 213/09
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2008 FIREMAN FIRST CLASS PAUL CLARK BOAT FORCES ENGINEERING
AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
1.  I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MK2 MATTHEW MERICAL OF COAST
GUARD STATION PORTSMOUTH HARBOR HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE WINNER OF
THE 2008 FIREMAN FIRST CLASS PAUL CLARK BOAT FORCES ENGINEERING
AWARD.  THIS PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL AWARD RECOGNIZES A COAST GUARD BOAT
FORCES ENGINEER WHO DEMONSTRATED SUSTAINED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE,
EXCEPTIONAL TECHNICAL SKILLS, AND EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP.
2.  MK2 MERICAL EPITOMIZES A BOAT FORCES PROFESSIONAL. WHILE
SERVING IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT STATION PORTSMOUTH HARBOR,
MK2 MERICAL ASSUMED THE DUTIES OF THE UNITS ENGINEERING PETTY
OFFICER(EPO) DURING THE EPOS UNEXPECTED ABSENCE. THIS WAS CRUCIAL
IN ENABLING STATION PORTSMOUTH HARBOR TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STATE
OF READINESS AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS.
3.  AS THE ACTING EPO, MK2 MERICAL COORDINATED THE MAINTENANCE OF
FOUR OPERATIONAL PLATFORMS, A LARGE UNIT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE
COMPLETION OF THE SECOND OF TWO 47 FT MLB YARD PERIODS.  A
CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL, HIS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE WAS FREQUENTLY
CALLED UPON AND WAS KEY IN EXECUTING THE 47 FT MLB YARD PERIOD.  HE
EFFECTIVELY OVERSAW DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE AND CASUALTY REPAIRS OF
ALL ASSIGNED BOATS, INCLUDING THE REPAIR OF A 47 FT MLB SEA POWER
GENERATOR.  HIS SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
ENABLED THE STATION TO EXCEL DURING THEIR ANNUAL READY FOR
OPERATIONS INSPECTION.  ADDITIONALLY, MK2 MERICAL EXPERTLY MANAGED
THE TEMPORARY ASSET INVENTORY TOOL.  MK2 MERICAL SERVED AS BOAT
ENGINEER DURING SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE SEARCH AND RESCUE CASES,
INCLUDING THE RESCUE OF TWO CREWMEN FROM A CAPSIZED FISHING VESSEL.
UPON RECOVERY OF THE CREWMEN, MK2 MERICAL TOOK CHARGE OF THE
MEDICAL TREATMENT UNTIL THEY WERE SAFELY TRANSFERRED ASHORE.  MK2
MERICALS HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE HAS BEEN
EXEMPLIFIED IN ALL AREAS OF STATION WORK. HE WAS THE ONLY ENGINEER
AT HIS STATION TO CERTIFY AS AN OFFICER OF THE DAY.  MK2 MERICAL
WAS HAND PICKED TO SERVE AS THE STATIONS SUPERVISOR FOR
COMMUNICATIONS DURING THE 2008 MULTI-NATIONAL OPERATION FRONTIER
SENTINEL.  IN ADDITION TO HIS WATCHSTANDING AND ENGINEERING DUTIES,
MK2 MERICAL IS THE UNITS MORALE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, CAPTAIN OF THE
UNITS SOCCER TEAM, AND THE ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFICER.
CURRENTLY TAKING NINETEEN CREDIT HOURS PER SEMESTER, HIS COMMITMENT
TO CONTINUED EDUCATION HAS RESULTED IN ONE THIRD OF THE UNITS
PERSONNEL ALSO SEEKING COLLEGE DEGREES.  MK2 MERICAL IS A SUPERB
ROLE MODEL, DEVOTING HIS PERSONAL TIME TO THE COMMUNITY BY
VOLUNTEERING FOR BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS. AS EVIDENT FROM HIS
ACTIONS, HE EMBODIES THE COAST GUARDS CORE VALUES.  BM2 MERICALS
OVERALL EFFORTS IN TRAINING, LEADERSHIP, AND BOAT OPERATIONS ARE
COMMENDED AND ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.
4.  EACH YEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SELECT ONLY ONE
RECIPIENT FROM THE SUPERB GROUP OF PETTY OFFICERS WHO ARE NOMINATED
FOR THIS AWARD. HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO THE FOLLOWING FINALIST:
  MK1 KURT YOCKEL, STA OAK ISLAND
5.  I AM PLEASED WITH THE NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY NOMINATION
PACKAGES THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND COMMEND ALL THOSE WHO TOOK THE
TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY OUTSTANDING ENGINEERS WE HAVE
THROUGHOUT BOAT FORCES.  EVERY NOMINEE IS A TRUE BOAT FORCES
PROFESSIONAL.  NOMINEES FOR THIS AWARD ARE LISTED BELOW IN
ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
  A.  MK3 DAVID BARBER, STA PONCE DE LEON INLET
  B.  MK1 ADAM BARTON, STA LAKE TAHOE
  C.  MK1 RONALD BERGER, STA CRISFIELD
  D.  MK2 MASON BOWEN, STA FT MYERS BEACH
  E.  MK1 GLEN BROWNING, STA CASTLE HILL
  F.  MK2 CHAD BUSH, STA MUSKEGON
  G.  MK1 ROBERT CHOFAY, STA POINT ALLERTON
  H.  MK1 JACOB CORREIA, STA FORT PIERCE
  I.  MK2 BRIAN DEVORE, STA ST. CLAIR SHORES
  J.  MK1 DANIEL FISCHER, STA ROCHESTER
  K.  MK1 JOHN HELTON, STA SOUTH PORTLAND
  L.  MK3 TYSON LIGSAY, STA ROCKLAND
  M.  MK3 DANIEL LITTON, STA CAPE MAY
  N.  MK1 LUKE STEVENS, STA GOLDEN GATE
  O.  MK2 JOSHUA VANPOUCKE, STA SEATTLE
  P.  MK2 DUSTIN WILSON, CGC BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
6.  PRESENTATION OF THE 2008 FIREMAN FIRST CLASS PAUL CLARK BOAT
FORCES ENGINEERING AWARD WILL BE COORDINATED UNDER SEPCOR.
7.  THE SELECTION PANEL MEMBERS ARE LISTED BELOW:
  A. LT WILLIAM SCHRADE, COMDT (CG-731)
  B. LTJG JESSICA KANE, COMDT (CG-731)
  C. CWO MARK DAVENPORT, COMDT (CG-731)
  D. CWO MICHAEL RUSSEL, NMLBS
  E. BMCM KEVIN LEASK, COMDT (CG-7D-1)
  F. MKCM G.L. DELLA ROCCO, COMDT (CG-481)
  G. YNCM CLAUDE TAYLOR, COMDT (CG-00B)
  H. BMCS RODNEY STORLE, BFCO CENTER
  I. BMCS ERIC LEPLEY, BFCO CENTER
8.  RADM WAYNE E. JUSTICE, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR CAPABILITY,
SENDS.
9.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.