Ready for Action: Delta 184 recruits apply lessons learned
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Written by: CDR Glynn Smith
This post is the third and last in a three-part series focused on the interaction of Recruit Company Delta 184 and their co-mentors Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara and Senior Chief Petty Officer Tracy Ripkey as the recruits prepare for their first assignments. It was written by CDR Glynn Smith and Ademide Adedokun.
Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara congratulates Seaman Recruit Trish Tompkins at the Delta 184 graduation ceremony. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Recruit Company Delta 184 learned the basics of being Coast Guard men and women over the past eight weeks at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, NJ, and graduated on Dec. 3. While the training staff transformed them from a group of individuals to a team of motivated Coast Guardsmen, their mentors provided them critical guidance and insights that will help them be successful as they start their first assignments.
Over the course of our last two posts, Delta 184 progressed through their training and learned life skills beyond the classroom to prepare them for service. Now at graduation, their co-mentors, Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara and Senior Chief Petty Officer Tracey Ripkey, pass on their final insights.
“It is your duty to acquire and hone professional skills so that you can contribute to the Coast Guard’s worldwide reputation for excellence,” said Brice-O’Hara.
Through the mentors, the recruits were able to go beyond their Cape May education and seek the advice they needed to begin their careers. The mentors answered questions, set expectations and gave advice on career paths and advancement opportunities; habits for personal and professional success; and education and off duty activities.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Tracy Ripkey, co-mentor of Coast Guard Recruiting Training Company Delta 184, talks with members of the company on graduation day. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
“I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by Vice Adm. Brice-O’Hara and Senior Chief Petty Officer Ripkey – two of the most knowledgeable women in the Coast Guard,” said Recruit Sobeye Freemen. “Their mentoring guided me to success.”
The Training Center Cape May staff witnessed the progress of Delta 184 more than anyone else. They know how important the mentors are to the recruits.
“It was an honor to have highly ranked female figures in the Coast Guard to be mentors for Delta 184,” said MST1 Mark Fisher, Delta 184’s lead Company Commander. “They went way above and beyond what is expected of mentors and the company was always looking forward to seeing them. This was a memorable experience not only for the recruits but also for us Company Commanders.”
With family and friends on hand to recognize the achievement, Delta 184 graduated, and the new apprentices departed Cape May to begin their first assignments or A-schools.
“Build on the high standards instilled in boot camp and always keep learning and improving,” said Brice-O’Hara.
Delta 184 earned the highly coveted Battalion Commander’s Pennant. This distinction, awarded for overall superior performance, is achieved by only 10% of all graduating recruit companies.
Delta 184, welcome to the Coast Guard!
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Well, going back to Cape May to watch my cousin FN Levy graduate on December 2nd realy made up my mind on going from IRR to SELRES. I am going to take my retention physical on December 15th and after passing all the requirement exams I’ll get assigned a Unit. Thansk for D-184 and the extra motivational speach by Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara once again I’ll be part of a great service and serving a great country.
“BZ” to Delta 184! This must have been a thrill to graduate and also shake hands with the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard! When I graduated from Cape May 36 years ago this month, all I remember is having to carry out a flawless ‘drill team’ maneuver with the threat if we made a mistake, we would be held back! Anyway, VADM Brice-O’Hara and her leadership team are to also be commended for taking care of our Coast Guard and helping set forward the ‘right message’ to these young Coast Guard members. Thank you Admiral!
Jim Koshar only 36 years, I was the Captain of the drill team 46 years ago in January, XG Company, formerly I54….time flies when you are having fun.
**** I am so sorry, the correct date for the graduation was the 3rd of December. ( thanks to my wife, Karen). ****
I graduated in R-63 in August 1966 (only 44 years, Doug) after a wonderful 2+ months at Cape May with temps ranging from the 40’s to over 100 for a few days with outdoor training suspended. Back then there was only one Vice Admiral, serving as Vice Commandant, in the USCG and it was Paul E. Trimble from 1966 to 1970. His nephew was in our sister company and Vice Commandant Trimble came to our graduation ceremony. Of course the training center went all out for the VIP visit and our company commanders made us march and drill numerous extra occasions to ensure perfection on graduation day. Fortunately all went well and we all escaped Cape May to face long train rides home on leave because every airline was shut down by a IAM strike except for non-union Delta and they were fully booked weeks in advance.
Photos of R-63 are at:
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/57612026 and
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/57612027
It is nice to see young people are joining the Coast Guard to serve the nation. Once I cherished an ambition to join the prestigious Coast Guard but that did not materialize. But it is heart rendering to see that young boys and girls are making a beeline to be a part of this prestigious institution.
Don…I did Cape May with the snow blowing at a 90 degree angle and slipping on the ice. To cold for a CA kid. You CC BM1 Bell I think may have been a BM2 and an assistant when I was permanent party til early 1965, he looks famiular. I was the SNPH in the photo lab at Cape May prior to going to the Navy photo school in Penscola then on to NYC. Looks like my predessor may have taken you company picture. My boss in New York was WO1 James Boyd, relation?
Doug, a group of us were from Florida and we froze in that early June weather too. We were BM1 Bell’s first company on his own and he was 100% gung ho with a point to prove that his company would excel. Our sister company had a more experienced Chief and he was far more laid back so they marched and drilled far less than us. I believe the photo was taken by a private company under contract to the USCG because all of us could order copies for a couple of bucks. No relation to James. My dad served in the USCG during World War II on a troop transport in the Pacific and after a couple of years he was a BM1 recruit company commander at the USCG recruit training center at Manhattan Beach, NY until the war ended.