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The Amazing Race: Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr and Coast Guard Atlantic Area staff traveled more than 10,000 miles and covered seven countries to meet the hardest working Coast Guard members of the Atlantic Area. The mission was to meet with Forward Deployed Coast Guard members from the Northern Arabian Gulf, hold an all hands meeting with the Secretary of Homeland Security at Camp Patriot, Kuwait, converse with US Navy Combatant Commanders, and interact with officials in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Malta in less than 12 days from 30 June to 12 July, 2009.

“Mission success” said VADM Papp. “It was great to shake hands with my shipmates in the Gulf and to have Secretary Napolitano see how the forward deployed forces work and live. She couldn’t have traveled further from Washington DC to see the hardest working Coast Guardsman and women than in the world. I am extremely pleased at the work by every single member deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf”.

Pictured Left to Right: LT Donte Perry, CMC Bryan Clemons, LCDR Prince Neal, LCDR Mike Goldschmidt, AMT2 Amy Klines, AET1 Darin Grant, AMT2 Jessie Summerline, Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. , S/A Troy Hascher, CDR Ric Rodriguez, Chaplin Gary Weeden, LT Cliff DeTemple with Coast Guard “TWO” in the background.

Recognizing our people

(LEFT) FN Stephen Newberry is presented a "Good Shipmate coin" aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Monomoy. Vice Adm. Papp created the coin to recognize those persons that go beyond their day-to-day job to put a little extra in for the Coast Guard and their shipmates.
(RIGHT) Congratulations are in order for Petty Officer 2nd Class Dylan Ranson for earning his Reserve Good Conduct Award Ranson is assigned to the FOB at Camp Patriot in Kuwait.

The FOB

Vice Adm. Papp met with the addresses Coast Guardmen assigned to the forward operating base (FOB) at Camp Patriot in Kuwait, Tuesday, July 7. The FOB is made up of personnel from Coast Guard Port Security Unit 301, Redeployment Assistance Inspection Detachment Nine, and various other FOB support staff members.

Bahrain visits continue

A couple of new photos just came in from the team in Bahrain. On Monday, Vice Adm. Papp met with Col. Ala Seyadi (right), Commander of the Bahrain Coast Guard at Bahrain Coast Guard Headquarters to discuss Maritime Domain Awareness and joint operations between the two nation's coast guards. The chief of public safety, Major General, Dr. Abdul Latif Bin Rashid al Zayani, also attended (center).
Vice Adm. Papp later presented a painting of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle entering New York Harbor to Col. Ala Seyadi.

VADM Papp and Secretary Napolitano visit U.S. Coast Guard forces in Kuwait

Vice Adm. Papp and Secretary Napolitano spent some time with the Coast Guard men and women assigned to our Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) in Kuwait, Thursday (July 2).

They toured one of our 110s there, the Aquidneck, met the personnel working at the forward operating base at Kuwait Naval Base and Camp Patriot, and met with the Combined Task Group 55.6, which trains Iraqi coalition forces to advance regional security and stability. They also met with the Middle East Training Team, which conducts law enforcement programs in conjunction with U.S. Naval Forces surface exercises in the region.

Secretary Napolitano said, “Confronting global terrorism demands vigilance in every corner of the world. The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Kuwait work courageously every day to promote security in the Middle East and defuse threats before they reach our nation’s shores.”

Vice Adm. Papp visits Jacksonville, Fla., units

Captain Paul Thomas, the commander of Sector Jacksonville, gives Vice Adm. Papp a brief of Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection operations at the Joint Maritime Advanced Scheduling and Targeting Team on Blount Island, Fla., Thursday, May 14, 2009. The JMASTT is a joint Coast Guard and CBP operations center that adds an additional layer of security through the sharing of capabilities and information to the Port of Jacksonville.

Vice Adm. Papp spent some time talking with the crew of an MH-65 helicopter at the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron in Jacksonville, Fla. HITRON is the premier maritime aerial use of force unit in the United States and has a 100 % success rate of engagement.

Vice Adm. Papp addresses the entire crew of Sector Jacksonville, Fla., on his last stop of a two-day Jacksonville area unit visit Thursday, May 14, 2009. While at the Sector he participated in the promotion ceremony of a chief petty officer and presented a Coast Guard Achievement Medal.

Information and visual imagery provide by Petty Officer 1st Class Bobby Nash, PADET Jacksonville.

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