A Different Focus District 13 personnel emphasize humanitarian, environmental missions

摘要

The Coast Guard's Thirteenth District, which encompasses four states in the Pacific Northwest, abounds with picture-perfect scenery that includes snow-capped mountains, sparkling waterways, tree-lined roads and lush forests. But it's also home to busy ports, significant commercial, passenger and recreational water traffic, and ever-changing weather conditions that can pose a variety of challenges for the service members stationed there. "We are primarily called upon by the public here to do humanitarian and environmental missions. That does not mean we don't do homeland security or maritime law enforcement or immigration missions, but the focus here is environmental and humanitarian. We have a heavy search-and-rescue mission and we spend a lot of focus on keeping the pristine environment the way it is," Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, district commander, said in an interview at his Seattle office prior to his July 12 retirement after 36 years in the service. He was succeeded by Rear Adm. Keith Taylor.