Station earns the Sumner I. Kimball award

Heavy rains Monday morning missed Coast Guard Station Ponce Inlet as its crew of 35 men and women assembled in the yard to receive a coveted award for exceptional readiness.
The outpost on the New Smyrna Beach side of the inlet stayed dry just long enough during stormy weather for presentation of the Summer I. Kimball Award, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jensen, who is in charge of the small military base.
The prize -- a plaque and pennant named for a historic Life-Saving Service general superintendent who served from 1878 to 1915 -- resulted from high achievement during a three-day inspection early this year. The station received a perfect score for survival gear and 47 out of 50 points in overall unit assessment.
"I have been in the Coast Guard for 17 years, with five different shore units and on multiple ships. This is the first time I have been in a unit that has received this award," Jenson said. "I attribute it to the crew. Everybody has to be a cohesive team or you cannot come together to get the required points needed for the award."
The inspection involved individual written crew testing, individual inspections, boat inspections and "under way drills," including towing and search and rescue procedures, Jenson said.
Capt. Andy Blomme, commander of Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, made the presentation. He said the award is highly coveted and described the inspection standards.
"The slightest error could result in loss. If there's a safety violation, they lose all points for the drill. Or if one flare is missing, they could lose all their points for a personal inspection," said Blomme, who is stationed at Naval Station Mayport and oversees 600 active duty and Coast Guard reservists from Jacksonville to Malabar Beach. "I am extraordinarily proud of the teamwork the station showed and the responsiveness overall."
The pennant will fly for the next two years, he said, but the award is only a symbol of the everyday effort by the crew, which has many missions, including maritime security, national defense and protection of natural resources.
"Last October, we had a vessel drifting into the surf line where it almost certainly could've rolled over and caused loss of life. They were able to catch the boat and save three lives. Those types of heroic actions are easy to recognize," Blomme said. "But daily they are offshore with their eyes opened, looking for anything out of the ordinary, aware of the maritime environment."