Photo By Sgt. Brandon Aultman | U.S. Military personnel with the Marine Corps Base Hawaii Provost Marshal’s Office...... read more read more
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At the edge of the crystal-clear waters of Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, an essential team stands guard, ensuring the safety and preservation of the island paradise. MCBH Waterfront Operations is a dedicated force responsible for search and rescue, emergency response to environmental hazards, and maintaining security for this unique base.
"We have a memorandum of agreement with Coast Guard District 14. We're responsible for search and rescue on our side of the island, from Kahuku Point to Makua Point, and 12 miles out from the island. Any distress calls that are made within that area go to us. Service members, civilians, it doesn’t matter," explained U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Bowlen, officer in charge of MCBH Waterfront Operations.
One of the team's recent rescues involved a catamaran in distress coming from Honolulu Harbor on the east side of the island and stranded in about seven to eight-foot seas. The hull was broken off with four people on board when the team arrived. They were successfully able to tow them back to the harbor and get them back safely, despite the dangerous sea conditions.
U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Amado Barozo with Waterfront Operations recalled the incident: “With our boats, we don't usually go out past 6-foot waves, due to the limitations of the craft. However, the call was made for us to go out there. When we found them, there was a whole chunk of their boat missing. And so, we towed them to the bay here.”
The team's duties are not limited to search and rescue operations. Bowlen shed light on their crucial role in environmental emergency response: “Oil spill response is our primary mission. We stand ready 24 hours a day to execute oil spill containment and recovery in case there's an oil spill within the bay.”
Waterfront Operations also has a crucial responsibility to protect the island from hazardous materials. "We're extremely important to the base because the state of Hawaii has a lot of natural resources that need protecting, especially here in Kaneohe Bay. So, if there's an oil spill and it gets outside of our primary containment booms, it could spread to those areas and cause a lot of damage,” Bowlen states.
Additionally, Waterfront Operations is entrusted with ensuring the base's security. Bowlen elaborated: "We have a 500-yard boundary from anywhere around the base. That is the restricted area due to the flight line, as well as the firing range. We conduct deterrence measures to control the different areas and zones, to ensure civilians are aware of the restricted areas."
The team's commitment to building relationships with the community extends beyond their emergency response duties. "We have a lot of disabled vessel calls that we support. We also participate in volunteer services with organizations like Coconut Island and the University of Hawaii, to strengthen our ties with the local community and give back," said Bowlen.
The Sailors of Waterfront Operations are taught quickly to be masters of their craft. Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Jarquin explained: “Everybody here knows the steps on what we must do. If you're on duty by yourself, you know how to respond, what you need to say, and what you need to be looking for when you go out there. We know what boats need to be deployed for any situation.”
The training and readiness of the Sailors at Waterfront Operations is crucial for their ability to handle emergencies efficiently. "We do a couple of days in a classroom, a couple of days on the water, and then we do our final certification. The training prepares the team for future incidents and makes sure the base is fully prepared to execute in case of emergencies," emphasizes Bowlen.
Bowlen’s confidence in his team is reinforced by the extensive amounts of training exercises they perform day in, and day out. He claims, “They are the best of the best. They demonstrate weekly that they can get on the water in a small amount of time and be able to efficiently and effectively execute their duties.”
As the sun sets on the turquoise waters of Kaneohe Bay, the team at Waterfront Operations continues their unwavering dedication to protecting this paradise, serving those in need, and maintaining the security of the base. Their heroics may often go unnoticed, but their impact on the community, the environment, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii is immeasurable. They are silent guardians of the bay, preserving the beauty and safety of our home.
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2023 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 450069 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 315 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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