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A Coast Guard rescue swimmer pulls in a rescue basket during an emergency call to a stricken vessel south of Sitka on Feb. 7, 2022. (Screenshot)

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Coast Guard rescues two from sinking vessel near Sitka

The fishing boat was taking on water with dead engines.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking to increase recruitment numbers after a pandemic-induced drop left the expanding service understrength. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Crewing the cutters: Pandemic complicated recruiting, says Coast Guard

Distancing and not being able to get face to face with folks didn’t help numbers.

Courtesy Photo / Lt. j.g. Matthew Hall
Coxswain Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Dillbeck navigates the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa’s small boat to Wrangell harbor to drop off a boatload of donations from an event in Petersburg.

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Coast Guard offers boatload of support for local communities

The crew lifted, distributed, and transported donations to where they could do the most good.

Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hickory is moored on Oct. 10 at the Pioneer Dock in Homer. Fresh snow or termination dust covers the peaks of the Kenai Mountains across Kachemak Bay, a sign of the coming winter. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

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Coast Guard edges toward full active-duty vaccination nationwide

Along with the other armed services, more than 90% of active duty members are fully vaccinated.

Crews aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf prepare to board a fishing vessel flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China in the North Pacific on Sep. 21, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

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Coast Guard, partner nations ID numerous fisheries violations

Ships found operating in concert with more than 450 shark fins aboard, according to Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Cutter Kimball’s crew lines the rails in anticipation of rendering honors to the Japanese Ship Kashima, a naval training vessel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, during an at-sea exercise near Dutch Harbor on Sept. 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

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Coast Guard and Japanese military conduct joint training at sea

The partner nations were able to take advantage of the serendiptious opportunity.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Capt. Darwin R. Jensen, Sector Juneau’s new commander, speaks during the change of command ceremony at the station on July 7, 2021.

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Friends in damp places: Sector Juneau CO talks partnerships, future plans

A new set of eyes can examine old plans, the new commander said.

A petty officer exhorts his shipmates during the tug of war, one of the inter-vessel competitions during this year’s Buoy Tender Roundup at Sector Juneau, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Small but mighty: Anthony Petit wins annual Buoy Tender Roundup competition

Yeah buoyyyyy

A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter like the one in this June 19 photo, rescued two plane crash survivors 40 miles southeast of Ketchikan on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Coast Guard rescues two from plane crash

No casualties resulted from the crash, which occurred on takeoff.

Then-Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, recently appointed as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during Coast Guard District 17 Change of Command ceremony on April 23, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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New Coast Guard vice commandant takes the reins

Fagan became the first woman to hold the rank of admiral in the Coast Guard.

U.S. Coast Guard photo
Rear Adm. Nathan A. Moore, commander, Coast Guard 17th District, shakes hands with a member at Air Station Sitka after presenting the crew with Air Medals on Friday. The aircrew received medals in recognition of the heroic actions and extraordinary measures taken to save the life of a lone fisherman adrift at sea Nov. 1, 2020.

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New D17 commander awards aircrew for November rescue

Between near-zero visibility and a 70 mph headwind, conditions were far from ideal.

Foundation pays off mortgage of Coast Guard member killed in Homer accident

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Foundation pays off mortgage of Coast Guard member killed in Homer accident

A Sept. 11 foundation formed to honor a fallen New York firefighter has paid off the mortgage of…

USCG warns mariners about VHF radio outages

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USCG warns mariners about VHF radio outages

The U.S. Coast Guard has experienced various very high frequency (VHF) outages in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska throughout…