SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Puerto Rico was formally presented with the Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award Wednesday at Coast Guard Base San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Summer I. Kimball Readiness Award is earned by Coast Guard units that demonstrate a extraordinary state of readiness in administration, operations, maintenance and training during a rigorous inspection. Failure in any one of these aspects loses the possibility of the award for any unit.
“This award highlights the outstanding dedication, commitment and selfless service of the men and women of our Aids to Navigation Team in Sector San Juan,” said Capt. Drew W. Pearson, Sector San Juan commander. “I congratulate them on this hard earned recognition that sets them apart, as the best of the best, amongst all Coast Guardsmen across our Nation”.
Pearson presented the award to Chief Petty Officer Scott Forbidussi, Aids to Navigation Team Puerto officer in charge, who received it on behalf of the men and women in Aids to Navigation Team Puerto Rico.
“Obtaining the Sumner Kimball Award at Aids to Navigation Team Puerto Rico sums up the ability of our people to unite, commit, plan, execute and achieve goals while continually adapting to logistical and geographical hurdles,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Raymond Coleman, Aids to Navigation Team Puerto Rico executive petty officer. “This is a tremendous achievement for our people and a recognition never before obtained by any unit at U. S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan.”
A Coast Guard standardization team conducts an intense evaluation of each Aid to Navigation station once every three years to measure the unit’s ability to carry out its missions. Units that not only meet, but far exceed readiness requirements receive the Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award.
“This year Aids to Navigation Team Puerto Rico was one of the proud few to earn the distinction of the Kimball Readiness Award,” said Cmdr. David Berliner, Sector San Juan chief of prevention.
Only an estimated 15 Coast Guard units receive this special recognition each year.
Sumner I. Kimball was the General Superintendent of the Revenue Marine Bureau from 1871 to 1878, which evolved into the U.S. Life Saving Service, a predecessor to the modern day Coast Guard. Kimball is credited for putting the service on the road to professionalism by defining and heavily enforcing the fundamentals of training and equipment.
Aids to Navigation Team Puerto Rico is located in San Juan Puerto Rico. The 12 members assigned to ANT Puerto Rico are responsible for servicing and maintaining 126 Aids to Navigation including 14 Lighthouses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. ANT Puerto Rico’s primary mission is Short Range Aids to Navigation; however, this unit may also be tasked with multiple missions. These missions include Search and Rescue, Ports Waterways and Coastal Security, Alien Migration Interdiction Operations and Marine Environmental Protection.
