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Raw recording of Rescue Checklist excerpt.
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Raw recording of Rescue Checklist excerpt.
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Raw recording of Rescue Checklist excerpt.
Joshua is dedicated to becoming a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard. He takes his training seriously and is excited to earn his air crew wings. He is committed to taking care of his equipment and being the best rescue swimmer he can be. Joshua is eager to be on call and is motivated to be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepared. He reflects on his family and wants to make them proud. Joshua understands the importance of following protocols and living by checklists. He anticipates wearing the Samurai Warrior dry suit and wonders if he has what it takes to be a rescue warrior. Joshua is grateful for those who have gone before him and saved him during Hurricane Katrina. He completes the initiation requirements and proudly wears his AST badge. He understands the importance of preparation and staying proficient in his role. Joshua knows that his baptism into this career came through both fire and water. Testing, Joshua took to the consumption of lots of coffee and made friends with peers as dedicated to the mission as he was throughout. Joshua was thrilled when he rejoined the rescue swimmer program again to fulfill another syllabus to become a journeyman. He began to anticipate the day when he would earn his air crew wings after he qualified on his airframe, the MH-60T Jayhawk. That all stood for military helicopter, T being the model number, and the proud 60 mechanics called it the big iron. Just as warriors of old took great care of their steeds, he too was proud to take great care of his mechanical instrument of deliverance. He wanted to be on call as the duty rescue swimmer without anyone who looked over his shoulder. The exceptions were his chief and the chain of command all the way up to the CG commandant who ultimately bore responsibility. His first day solo was on the horizon. The exhaustive preparation still came in waves as part of the rigorous CG strategy to be always ready. The rescue checklists, one through three, were part of him by then. One, preparation, two, on scene, three, completion. In Joshua's career he knew was still in rescue checklist one, preparation. He remembered his previous harsh lesson about the importance of timeliness. He was grateful to be out of the classroom and into the shop. He took captive every task, the most random mechanical information, and devoured the workings of the Jayhawk airframe assigned to him. Joshua took every lesson to heart as he knew the machine would be an extension of his life-saving skills one day. He was thrilled to be in the shadow of the duty swimmer and jumped at the opportunity to carry the nearly 75 pounds of gear to the helo for him. Mansoor, you piece of dirt, get over here with my gear. Aye, aye, chief. What's with those teeth, Mansoor? Chief, not enough hockey in Texas to knock them out properly. Won't find a girl with those things. You better take up hockey soon. Won't find a girl with those things. You better take up hockey soon. He was not qualified yet, but the brash sound of the search and rescue alarm excited him, and his blood pulsed through his veins. He anticipated the rescue swimmer wings after his operational RS syllabus was complete, and he would become part of the crew to turn the plane and assist in life-saving missions. He began to sing or hum the CG song to himself absentmindedly. Always ready for the call, we place our trust in thee. Through surf and storm and howling gale, high shall our purpose be. Semper Paratus is our guide, our fame, our glory too. To fight to save or fight and die, aye, Coast Guard, we are for you. Joshua had a lot drilled into him throughout the years of instruction he had received. CG protocols seemed to be endless. He and others lived by the checklists. It was no ordinary life. He was motivated to be the best version of himself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He allowed himself more sleep now than at any other point in his course. The trainees conferred with one another, and each thought they no longer took a fire hose to the face each day. He could stay awake just long enough to reflect on his family, and his last thoughts were of his dad. Have I made you proud, Papa? Maybe even Jones may be pleased. Joshua realized he had not preserved for the fame of completing the AST requirements. Joshua realized he had not persevered for the fame of completing the AST requirements, the glory of a splendid uniform, and more pay, but to fight through the pain, to follow unconditionally. If I follow you, I will never face the unescapable alone. He soon would wear the heavy orange Samurai Warrior dry suit to protect him from the frigid elements of land and sea. His specific role had been planned for years. He soon would wear the heavy orange Samurai Warrior dry suit to protect him from the frigid elements of land and sea. His specific role had been planned for years. Do I have what it takes to be a rescue warrior? Joshua's best memory of his Papa would always be as the ultimate warrior. All he had on was a wet, nasty old T-shirt and jeans. Joshua took to the consumption of lots of coffee and made friends with peers as dedicated to the mission as he was throughout. Joshua took to the consumption of lots of coffee and made friends with peers as dedicated to the mission as he was throughout. Joshua was thrilled when he rejoined the rescue swimmer program again to fulfill another syllabus, to become a journeyman. He began to anticipate the day when he would earn his air crew wings after he'd qualified on his airframe, the MH-60T Jayhawk. That all stood for Military Helicopter, T being the model number, and the proud 60 mechanics called it the Big Iron. Just as warriors of old took great care of their steeds, he too was proud to take great care of his mechanical instrument of deliverance. He wanted to be on call as the duty rescue swimmer without anyone who looked over his shoulder. The exceptions were his chief and the chain of command all the way up to the CG commandant, who ultimately bore responsibility. The exceptions were his chief and the chain of command all the way up to the CG commandant, who ultimately bore responsibility. His first day solo was on the horizon. The exhaustive preparation still came in waves as part of the right, rigorous CG strategy to be always ready. The rescue checklists, one through three, were part of him by then. One, preparation. Two, on scene. Three, completion. Joshua's career, he knew, was still in rescue checklist one, preparation. He remembered his previous harsh lesson about the importance of timeliness. He was grateful to be part of the team, and he was grateful to be part of the team. He was grateful to be out of the classroom and into the shop. He took captive every task, the most random mechanical information, and devoured the workings of the Jayhawk airframe assigned to him. Joshua took every lesson to heart as he knew the machine would be an extension of his life-saving skills one day. He was thrilled to be in the shadow of the duty swimmer and jumped at the opportunity and carried nearly 75 pounds of gear to the helo for him. Mansool, you piece of dirt, get over here with my gear. Mansool, you piece of dirt, get over here with my gear. Aye, aye, Chief. What's with those teeth, Mansool? Chief, not enough hockey in Texas to knock them out properly. Won't find a girl with those things. You'd better take up hockey soon. He was not qualified yet, but the brash sound of the search and rescue alarms excited him, and his blood pulsed through his veins. He anticipated the rescue swimmer wings after his operational RS syllabus was complete, and he would become part of the crew to turn the plane and assist in life-saving missions. And he would become part of the crew to turn the plane and assist in life-saving missions. He began to sing or hum the CG song to himself absentmindedly. We're always ready for the call. We place our trust in thee. Through surf and storm and howling gale, high shall our purpose be. Semper Paratus is our guide, our fame, our glory too. To fight to save or fight and die, I, Coast Guard, we are for you. Joshua had a lot drilled into him throughout the years of instruction he had received. CG protocols seemed to be endless. He and others lived by the checklists. It was no ordinary life. He was motivated to be the best version of himself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He allowed himself more sleep now than at any other point in his course. The trainees conferred with one another and each thought they no longer took a fire hose to the face each day. He could stay awake just long enough to reflect on his family. His last thoughts were of his dad. Have I made you proud, Papa? Maybe even Jones may be pleased. Joshua realized he had not persevered for the fame of completing the AST requirements, the glory of a splendid uniform and more pay, but to fight through the pain, to follow unconditionally. If I follow you, I will never face the unescapable alone. He would soon wear the heavy orange Samurai Warrior dry suit to protect him from the frigid elements of land and sea. His specific role had been planned for years. Do I have what it takes to be a rescue warrior? Joshua's best memory of his Papa would always be as the ultimate warrior. All he had on was a wet, nasty old T-shirt and jeans. He had pointed him and his family to be rescued, and his last words to him were, Look up. Joshua now understood what made the helicopter blades roar and the rotor's power that washed over him so many years ago. Then, it was a surprise to answer to hope-filled prayers. Joshua had learned that it was the coordinated efforts of those who had unselfishly gone before him, prepared for his nightmare of Katrina, and saved him. From then on, the engine's power and the crew's dedication would carry him to unreachable people. The big, bold, black U.S.C.G. letters swam in front of his eyes every night. Not only was he about to rescue others, but Joshua was also part of the C.G.'s mission to bring them all home alive, and more than alive, for their participation. Joshua, at last, completed the initiation requirements and wore the A.S.T. badge of wings and fins with honor. The spread wings on his uniform reminded him, and the crews he served with, of the powerful gift Jones had spoken of earlier. The ritual to become an A.S.T. was handed to him by others, like Jones, the current Master Chief, and Chief Simon, who had also fought the good fight. He reminded himself his new A.S.T. status symbolized his preparation for every new day. It was paramount to retain his necessary proficiencies and interdependence upon the crews he interacted with each mission. Joshua knew his baptism hadn't come through only fire, but through the water, too. He was rescued by the water for the water. From there on in his career, Joshua could solo as the crew's swimmer, but that did not mean he was ever entirely alone. He understood he had along with him the unfathomable power and the boundless comfort of the mission's existence to enhance life. They danced between their high-speed operations and their compassionate vigilance. The C.G. Aviator's annual dunker training in the pool was a constant reminder of their mortality and that they had to plan and prepare to escape certain death themselves, and to save others. Their success depended entirely on their interconnectedness to search for and save the lost and hurt and those close to the jaws of death. Their success depended entirely on their interconnectedness to search for and save the lost and hurt and those close to the jaws of death. Chapter Five Kitty Hawk, North Carolina Joshua sat on a C.G. picnic table outside the hangar, still in his dry suit, and nibbled on a granola bar. Joshua sat on a C.G. picnic table outside the hangar, still in his dry suit, and nibbled on a granola bar. He gazed up at the circling seagulls, frustrated and annoyed at the circumstances The seagulls, who flapped their wings erratically The seagulls, who flapped their wings erratically while the winds whipped, knew the drill was somebody had probably fed them from the table, and eventually they would get scraps. When the birds of the air needed food, they had it. How could this have happened on my watch? It had been an average S.A.R. case. Bad weather, missing surfers, a motor lifeboat was launched and on scene. It had been an average S.A.R. case. Bad weather, missing surfers, a motor lifeboat was launched and on scene. a motor lifeboat was launched and on scene. The waves had gotten more significant, though, and the overhead search had been initiated. When the waves reached ten feet or more, the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, and the S.A.R. had gotten noteworthy, The S.A.R. alarm just next to him screeched and made him startle for the first time in a long while. He'd been so lost in his thoughts, he laughed out loud at his reaction. Jeez, Luis, I gotta pull myself together to go on another S.A.R. case, especially in these terrible conditions. He hustled inside and swallowed the tiny bit of food he had left to chew as he strode through the door. He wished he'd eaten better if he knew he'd be gone again. I need a bathroom. It could be a while this time.