Detachment Videos Showcased at First District Southern Region Conference

I learned yesterday Mark Dunmire and others from the First District Southern Region presented a workshop at their District Conference this past weekend that highlighted the use of Social Media use in the Coast Guard. Specifically, the "Public Affairs update at the D1SR Conference includes the use of social networking technologies to accomplish and promote our missions." This was a great vote of confidence from outside of our own District (D1SR is up in the New York-New England area).

We were happy to hear that some of the Detachment's YouTube work was showcased, specifically the video of David Kraemer, '10, discussing his experience and the opportunities available to William and Mary students that join the program. The video has been out for several months now, but I thought I would repost it for you to have a look at below.

Thanks for the publicity and the good words from D1SR!

First specialty qualification completed by a Detachment Member!

This weekend was a big milestone for the William & Mary Detachment, and I am very proud of Nick Zaremba for being the person to achieve it. On Saturday, at Advanced Skills Weekend at Training Center Yorktown, Mr. Zaremba became the first W&M Detachment Member to successfully complete a specialty qualification.

His passing score on the Seamanship (AUXSEA) exam puts him on the way to achieving the Auxiliary Operational certification. This semester he is also working hard in the Boat Crew and Vessel Examination programs, all of which make him not only the first W&M Detachment Member to complete a specialty qualification, but the first student to every do so in a Coast Guard Auxiliary College Detachment. I am looking forward to seeing Mr. Zaremba, as well as Mike Piantedosi and Myles Busching, training for the first time out on the water now that the weather is warming up.

It was a very productive weekend all around, with good lectures and discussions on a number of topics. I was happy to complete my personal qualification in Marine Safety Administration and Management within the Marine Safety and Environmental Protection program. Check out the video on the whole event below.

Zaremba does good work

Nick Zaremba, W&M class of 2012, has been serving as the Incident Commander in our Spring 2009 Incident Command System exercise. He joined the Detachment last August, balancing it with football through his entire first semester on campus, and has excelled in his month-long role since the new semester began. He will begin the Boat Crew Academy program next week, and hopes to be out finishing his training on the water as soon as the weather warms. You can read from his recent interview, and watch the video, on the Detachment's website at http://wm.5srdivision6.us/news/articles/zarembainterview.