Jeff,
We exchanged email a year ago and since then you've expanded
and improved with another site that is remarkable. Last year
I asked you about having access to weather school lessons
but you explained that since I'm not in the military it wouldn't
be possible. Your new website coastguardwx.com also has the
weather school curriculum. However I'm not able to access
the ppt presentations. Do I still need to be military to do
so or do I simply need a bit of instruction and explanation?
Again, my congratulations to you for your new and well formatted
site.
Keith Brandt
Good Morning Chief,
Just wanted to say, great job with Coast guard WX.com!
As a former AG/MST (1964-1977) I sure wish this kind of information
had been available back in the day. Of course we could only
dream of “an internet” then.
I found your site after I found (lot of finding going on)
MST Hub thru Fred’s Place. All I can is that the rate
has sure changed from the beginning when the MST rate was
first conceived. No more oceanography or weather (well, up
till now for the wx). One needs a dictionary for the new abbreviations.
I see that the Guard is no longer using the Navy AG ‘B’
school. That was a school I really wanted. If I remember,
there were only two billets granted per year to the Coast
Guard.
Just for conversation about the history of our rate…the
fun of getting to get a radio fax and you loose the freq halfway
thru and trying to shift freqs to maintain reception. Then
saying forget it and just grab a Russian chart and call it
good.
Keep up the good work!
Bill Eustath - More
from Bill
Jeff,
Thanks for visiting my site. I do recall talking with you.
Your site is outstanding! Wish they could have had something
this in my day.
I am afraid I can not help you with your questions on the
history of the MST rate section. You have more than I knew--such
as the contest and winner of the rating badge symbol. When
I left CGOU for D12, we were still AGs. Most of what you wanted
to know took place in HQ, probably with very little input
from the troops. Remember, at the time there were no detailers
or enlisted rating managers.
I believe I was the first MST assigned to HQ, but it was only
supposed to be temporary to help, then, CDR Palfrey try to
find a better way to utilize MSTs. By at least 1974, there
was strong talk of getting rid of the rate, as both oceanography
and wx had gone away. I remember suggesting to HQ to assign
MSTs to the Strike Teams, but the response was, believe it
or not, "Strike Teams want people that work, like BMs
and MKs, not MSTs." In any case, the temporary assignment
lasted almost 4 years and when I retired MSTs were starting
to show up at MSOs and other places, with no one knowning
what they were supposed to do.
You might see if you can contact MSTCM (Ret.) Paul Flowers
who was around CGOU at close to this time. Paul was a AG1,
who made AGC(P) while I was a AG2 at CGOU. (He I think showed
up on Fred's Place reunion hall for CGOU.)
One question I would like to see answered is why did the USCG
go away from the Navy's AG school and opt for the USAF. USCG
mission's are naval, not air force. I would wager it was a
USCG pilot who came up with the idea, but I am biased. If
you find out, let me know.
I thought the USCG had some very talented enlisted forecasters
that would have been accepted any time in the NWS, or any
wx organizations. Not everyone was talented, but a couple
really stood out. Yet, they were never appreciated at their
units.
Sorry I could not be of any more help.
Dennis
Dr. Dennis L. Noble
www.DennisLNoble.com
"Those who seek the truth should be punished."
Unknown
"The historian's mission: to bring out of
chaos--more chaos." Robert Harris.
Good morning Senior Chief,
After reading your submittal in the latest MST Force Notes,
I am reminded that the gem which first caught my eye in the
treasure trove of MST missions was Weather! I graduated from
A-school in October, and truly enjoyed the entire course,
but Master Chief Prekel's weather block had me on the edge
of my seat. It was a basic introduction to the subject, just
enough to inspire me to want to delve deeper and possibly
gain knowledge that could be useful to the Coast Guard. I
am glad that there are still opportunities for weather related
training and specialties. I served onboard the Polar Sea as
a non-rate and was present for many of MST1 Aquino's WX briefs,
and absorbed weather related knowledge from her whenever possible.
I hope to attend the USAF WX Course and find myself in a position
like that someday.
RE: CGWXB PQS; who would be qualified to sign as a verifying
officer? Is this a qual, or a role I could fill here in Sector
Portland? Or is it just for AIRSTAs?
Thank you for the great website. I plan to utilize the site
whenever I get the chance.
V/R,
MST3 Michael Salcone
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