Joshua Ward

- Assisted in leading four hour snorkel tours twice a day.

- Supervised between 3 to 25 snorkelers per tour.

- Shuttled cruise ship personnel from the docks to the shop and snorkel site.

- Gave briefings about the shop, equipment, safety and tour site.

- Assisted water entry and exit from the beach for persons aged 8 to 70 years in tides as low as -3.8 and as high as 18.6

- Assisted donning wetsuits, booties, gloves, hood, mask, snorkel and fins.

- Gave creature talks about sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, whales, seals, crabs.

- Rinsed, hung, inspected all equipment at the end of the day.

- Performed Search and Rescue operations responding to recreational and commercial vessels in need of assistance.

- Towed and maneuvered vessels into harbors and moored them to a dock or slip.

- Supervised and trained deck department personnel on seamanship skills and maintenance of our 45 and 29 foot vessels.

- Inspected and maintained anchor system, towing system, lines, and all necessary equipment for underway activities.

- Verified presence of all equipment on the response boats every morning before getting underway.

- Checked the weather, tide, current, winds every morning in preparation for the duty set.

- Used navigation systems to build routes and determine depth and speed while underway.

- Assigned crew members certain responsibilities when on patrol or rescue missions.

- Stood overnight watch in port and conducted hourly rounds of the ship's electronics and machinery.

- Conducted regular maintenance and repairs on deck equipment while at sea and in port.

- Worked as a team with other shipmates during buoy evolutions inspecting the buoy and its shackles, chain, sinker and lights.

- Assisted in load and offload of cargo with ship's crane.

- Set up deck and performed at sea fueling of other Coast Guard cutters while underway.

- Assigned as cutter swimmer and ran drills for any cases of a man overboard.

- Conducted daily weather checks to provide to beach goers and other lifeguards.

- Gave public safety lectures to beach patrons on currents and waves to ensure a safe beach day.

- Observed surfers, swimmers and boaters for signs of danger or distress.

- Rescued surfers and swimmers in a safe and timely manner while utilizing rescue equipment and techniques.

- Mentored new lifeguards through training on off days enhancing their first aid and water skills.