Ms. Jeannie Sansone is presented the award for Civilian of the Year for 2012 by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp and Mr. Curtis B. Odom, the director of Personnel Management for the Coast Guard May 10, 2013. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – A local woman was named the Coast Guard’s Civilian Employee of the Year for 2012 and presented an award from the Commandant of the Coast Guard Friday.

Ms. Jeannie Sansone, a civilian employee at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May and resident of Lower Township, N.J., was selected from the Coast Guard’s more than 8,800 civilian employees as the Civilian of the Year for her contributions to the service’s missions.

“I’m flattered and humbled to have been selected for such a prestigious award,” said Sansone. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of my family, friends and colleagues.”

Sansone currently serves with the Facility Engineering staff aboard Training Center Cape May and is critical to maintaining the facility’s infrastructure, which is responsible for training more than 80 percent of the Coast Guard’s workforce and home to 13 tenant commands. Sansone provides much needed administrative support to the maintenance team including maintaining a comprehensive property inventory and managing spending and accounting for a more than $8 million budget.

One of the highlights of Sansone’s performance in 2012 was her ability to implement new Coast Guard Real Property policies, which required Sansone to inventory 86 buildings, 174 housing units and numerous structures across more than 352 acres of the training center. To properly document the real property aboard training Center Cape May, Sansone had to work more than 40 hours of overtime physically measuring the property, use GPS technology to mark each building and capture photo documentation of the facilities.

“Ms. Sansone’s work on the real property project aboard the Coast Guard’s fifth largest base set the standard for the rest of the Coast Guard to follow,” said Cmdr. Robert Hueller, the Facility Engineer for Training Center Cape May.

Sansone was presented an award by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp for her efforts during a ceremony in Washington.

Sansone’s mother and father, Andrew and Lovlene Sansone, currently reside in Waretown, N.J.

Petty Officer 1st Class Christie Herms, a lead instructor at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May from Houston, instructs recruits. She will be recognized as the 5th Coast Guard District Enlisted Person of the Year for 2012 during a ceremony here May 3, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. (Coast Guard photo)

CAPE MAY, N.J. – A local Coast Guardsman will be named the Enlisted Person of the Year for 2012 in the 5th Coast Guard District Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Petty Officer 1st Class Christie Herms, a lead instructor at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May from Houston, will be recognized as the 5th Coast Guard District Enlisted Person of the Year for 2012 during a ceremony here May 3, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. Herms was selected from more than 3,000 active duty Coast Guardsmen stationed in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina. (Coast Guard photo)

Petty Officer 1st Class Christie Herms from Houston, a lead instructor at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, was selected as the Enlisted Person of the Year from more than 3,000 active duty Coast Guardsmen stationed in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina.

“I’m honored and humbled to be selected for this prestigious award, but I couldn’t have done it without the never ending support of my husband, family, shipmates and command,” said Herms. “I will continue to honorably serve the United States Coast Guard and my shipmates to best my abilities.” 

Rear Adm. Steven H. Ratti, the 5th District commander in Portsmouth, Va., will present Herms her award during a ceremony Friday. 

Herms was recognized for a variety of her contributions at the Coast Guard’s only enlisted accession point including revamping the Coast Guard’s entry-level CPR/First Aid curriculum, managing the training data of more than 2,500 recruits and qualifying as one of only a handful of master training specialists in the Coast Guard, which is the highest instructor qualification available to Coast Guardsmen. She was also instrumental in directly helping several service members as an applied suicide intervention responder in the region. 

In her free time, Herms also led a number of initiatives aimed at supporting the community of southern New Jersey. She was instrumental in the administration of recruit blood drives for the American Red Cross, which collected more than 809 units of blood in 2012. She was also an active member of the Coast Guard’s Partnership in Education Program promoting learning with children both in the classroom and at home, helping to build playgrounds at area schools and devoting more than 40 hours to help area children with their homework after school. 

Herms devoted a number of hours to improving the quality of life for Coast Guardsmen as the president of the Coast Guard Enlisted Association, a service organization that supports the Coast Guard enlisted workforce. She also organized a Parent’s Committee for the Child Development Center at Training Center Cape May where more than 80 military children are cared for every year. 

In 2012, Herms was also awarded the Master Chief Petty Officer Pearl Faurie Women’s Leadership award for “inspirational, innovative and imaginative leadership and mentorship on and off duty,” according to the Coast Guard’s diversity staff. She was also selected as Training Center Cape May’s Enlisted Person of the Year for 2012. 

Herms currently resides in Cape May Courthouse, N.J., with her husband, Tom, and two children, Cassie and Troy. Herms’ mother, Janet Lovelady, currently resides in Clayton, N.M., and her brother Christopher Lovelady lives in Katy, Texas. Herms is a 2000 graduate of South Houston High School. 

Editor’s Note:  Please note the servicemember's first name was misspelled in the original release. Please contact Donnie Brzuska at O: 609-898-6362, C: 609-224-0214 or E: Donnie.C.Brzuska@uscg.mil with any questions.

Coast Guardsmen and recruits take a break for a quick photo at Cape May Elementary School after conducting several Earth Day related projects to the school’s outdoor classroom April 17, 2013. Coast Guardsmen and recruits refurbished vegetable gardens, cleared the school’s nature trail and build another garden for the students. (Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Donnie Brzuska)

CAPE MAY, N.J. – Coast Guardsmen and recruits kicked off Earth Day early by helping a local elementary school repair, clear and expand its outdoor classroom Wednesday.

More than 30 Coast Guard volunteers helped build gardens and clear a nature trail used by children at Cape May Elementary School to learn

A Coast Guard recruit removes debris that fell during Superstorm Sandy on Cape May Elementary School’s Nature Trail during a clean up project that included more than 30 Coast Guard volunteers April 17, 2013. The trail is part of the school’s outdoor classroom, which is used to teach the children about geography, science, and much more. (Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Donnie Brzuska)

everything from geography to science. The Coast Guard has been helping the school’s staff and children maintain the outdoor classroom, which encompasses three vegetable gardens and an expansive nature trail, for more than 20 years.

“We really needed a lot of help this year because of some large debris down on the trail due to (Superstorm) Sandy,” said Sandy Sandmeyer-Bryan, a teacher at Cape May. “The kids really love to come out here to get some hands on education and get real life examples of what we teach in the classroom.”  

The Coast Guardsmen and recruits helped fill existing gardens with more soil, which had been compressed due to rain and time, and they laid another garden. The students use the gardens to grow vegetables, and they use the produce to learn about cooking and healthy eating. According to Sandmeyer-Bryan, some of the vegetables harvested are even donated to local charities.

The volunteers moved several large pieces of debris that had fallen due to Sandy from the school’s nature trails including a tree and numerous large limbs. The team also cleared the trail of overgrowth and repainted outdoor classroom benches.

“This was not only a great opportunity to improve the environment, but we also helped with the education of young people,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. “It was truly a great effort by our people to make a positive impact in the community.”

Coast Guardsmen from Station Cape May and Training Center Cape May participated in the project. The recruits are stationed at the training center with Recruit Company Alpha 188 and are scheduled to graduate Friday.

Editor's Note: Please click on the thumbnails to download high-resolution photos.

 CAPE MAY, N.J. – The Coast Guard’s largest ambulatory care facility will be transferred under the command of the Coast Guard’s only enlisted basic training center Sunday.

Coast Guard Health, Safety and Work-life (HSWL) Regional Practice Cape May will transfer its command oversight from Coast Guard Service Center in Norfolk, Va., to Training Center Cape May where it previously resided as part of an organizational realignment. HSWL will be fully integrated as one of four divisions comprising the training center staff.

The unit is being transferred to the training center to provide more efficient administrative and logistic support to the clinic, which processes an average of more than 3,000 recruits per year. The medical staff at the clinic also sees more than 55,000 active duty and reserve military patients and fills more than 35,000 prescriptions each year.

“The transfer of the Health, Safety and Work-life Regional Practice to Training Center Cape May will help improve the patient care and personnel support by easing administrative and logistic burdens for the medical staff,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, commanding officer of Training Center Cape May.

The clinic consists of more than 100 medical and support staff including Coast Guardsmen, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and civilian and contract employees. HSWL is located in the Samuel J. Call Health Services Center aboard Training Center Cape May.

CAPE MAY, N.J. - The Coast Guard Recruit Color Guard carries the National Ensign, the U.S. armed service flags and the POW/MIA flag during Sunset Parade at Training Center Cape May Aug. 5, 2012. The Coast Guard took a moment to recognize the founding of its service during the Parade, which was attended by more than 450 people. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Donnie Brzuska.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – Coast Guard Training Center Cape May will be open to the community during four Sunset Parades this summer.

Sunset Parades are impressive military displays consisting of marching troops, the Recruit Silent Drill Team, the Recruit Band, cannon fire and a low-level helicopter flyover. All of these activities are free and open to the public.

The gates of Training Center Cape May will be open 30 minutes prior to each Sunset Parade, and visitors are encouraged to use this time for security screening, parking and seating. Sunset Parades are exciting and fun for the entire family; however, children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the ceremony.

Each ceremony begins with a full Regimental Review of the Coast Guard recruits in basic training aboard Training Center Cape May followed by performances by the Recruit Silent Drill Team and Band. The ceremony concludes with the lowering of the National Ensign and a flyover by a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J.

The 2013 Sunset Parade schedule is as follows:

• May 26, 2013, at 7:45 p.m.
• July 7, 2013, at 8 p.m.
• Aug. 4, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 1, 2012, at 7 p.m.

In the event of inclement weather, visitors may call Training Center Cape May’s base information line at (609) 898-6700 for cancellation information.

Editor's Note: Please note there was an error in the date in the below cutline. This copy has been corrected.

CAPE MAY, N.J. - Mr. George Noblit poses in the Machine Shop aboard Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Nov. 27, 2012. Noblit was recognized by the Coast Guard with the Putnam Award for his inspirational leadership and actions before, during and after Superstorm Sandy March 11, 2013. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Donnie Brzuska.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – A Coast Guard employee from Training Center Cape May was recognized by the service for his excellence in inspirational leadership in 2012 Monday.

Mr. George Noblit from Aston, Penn., received the Putnam Award for his contributions to the missions of the Coast Guard, its people and the community throughout 2012. Most notably, the award recognizes Noblit’s actions during Superstorm Sandy when he led a team of civilian and military employees to reconstitute the training center’s waterfront, so operational units stationed here could return and conduct vital Coast Guard missions.

“Mr. Noblit has demonstrated highest level of commitment to the Coast Guard, our Core Values and our unit missions,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. “His efforts have ensured our operational units can do their missions, our recruits can train effectively, developed our crew personally and professionally, and has made our unit the best place to live, work and visit.”

His efforts during and immediately following Sandy’s landfall included conducting numerous repairs to the waterfront facility including restoring damaged electrical power systems, repairing fueling piers and fixing mooring equipment. He was also instrumental in preparations for the storm, which ensured the training center could resume normal operations within days after Sandy’s landfall despite significant coastal flooding.

Noblit, who manages 28 civilian and military employees, was also recognized for his efforts to lead his employees to successfully complete more than 4,500 corrective work orders, which helped either restore, maintain or improve Coast Guard operations aboard the service’s fifth largest base. He also managed a $300,000 budget that was spent on critical recapitalization or environmental improvement projects.

Aside from his professional contributions, Noblit devotes much of his free time to support a variety of causes and charities including the USO, Toys for Tots, Flags Across America and the Coast Guard Cape May Chief’s Association.

Noblit will be presented a plaque for his service during a ceremony later this year.  

Mr. Eric Bruckenthal, father, and Mrs. Patricia Bruckenthal, stepmother, unveil a memorial in honor of Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal at the Bruckenthal Hall building dedication ceremony at Training Center Cape May, N.J., Feb. 26, 2013. Bruckenthal was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2004. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

Patricia and Ric Bruckenthal, stepmother and father of the late Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, place their hands over their hearts during the National Anthem at the Bruckenthal Hall Dedication Ceremony at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. The ceremony was held on the 14th anniversary of Bruckenthal's basic training graduation. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nick Ameen	Capt. Bill Kelly, commanding officer of Training Center Cape May, speaks to the audience at the Bruckenthal Hall building dedication ceremony at Training Center Cape May Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. The building is named in honor of Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2004. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.	The Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Robert J. Papp salutes during the National Anthem at the Bruckenthal Hall building dedication ceremony at Training Center Cape May, N.J., Feb. 26, 2013. Bruckenthal was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2004. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – The Coast Guard dedicated staff barracks at its only enlisted basic training facility to a Coast Guardsman killed in action during a ceremony Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Petty Officer 3^rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, who graduated basic training here in 1999, was killed by suicide bombers during Operation Iraqi Freedom defending oil platforms off the Iraqi coast April 24, 2004. Officials at the training center recognized Bruckenthal’s sacrifice on the 14^th anniversary of his graduation from the facility by dedicating staff living quarters in his memory.

“Petty Officer Bruckenthal is part of our long, blue line of dedicated Coast Guardsmen who have stepped forward to serve their fellow man and put service before self,” said Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Robert J. Papp. “As future generations of Coast Guardsmen walk through these doors and into this building – and into our Service – we can be sure he will always be remembered.”

Bruckenthal’s father, Mr. Eric Bruckenthal, and several other family members attended the ceremony and helped unveil a memorial at Bruckenthal Hall dedicated to the Coast Guardsman’s service and sacrifice. The Coast Guardsman leaves behind a wife and child who were unable to attend Tuesday’s event.

“I know Nate (Petty Officer Bruckenthal) would’ve have wanted to be remembered in this way – at the place where he started his journey in the Coast Guard,” said Mr. Bruckenthal. “We appreciate the Coast Guard’s continued recognition of his service and sacrifice.”

A number of Bruckenthal’s shipmates, colleagues and friends attended the ceremony in his honor. Petty Officer 1^st Class Joseph Ruggiero, who was by Bruckenthal’s side when he was killed, was a distinguished guest. Bruckenthal’s company commanders, who led him through recruit training, helped unveil his memorial. The master of ceremonies for the event was Lt. Cmdr. Doug Daniels, who met Bruckenthal’s casket upon his return to the U.S. in 2004.

“Our newest members will be forever shaped by Petty Officer Nathan Bruckenthal’s commitment to our Core Values,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. “When Coast Guardsmen think of their heroes, Petty Officer Bruckenthal’s name now appears on the same list as Signalman First Class Douglas Munro, Seaman William Flores, and Captain Richard Etheridge just to name a few.” 

What: Coast Guardsmen will remember Petty Officer 3^rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, who was killed April 24, 2004, during combat operations off the coast of Iraq, by dedicating a building in his name at the service’s only enlisted basic training facility Tuesday at 11 a.m.  

Where: Training Center Cape May, N.J.

When: This marks the 14^th anniversary of Bruckenthal’s graduation from boot camp at Training Center Cape May.

Who: A number of distinguished and special guests will be participating or attending the ceremony including:

• Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Robert J. Papp
• Mr. Eric Bruckenthal, father of Petty Officer Bruckenthal
• Petty Officer 1^st Class Joseph Ruggiero, was by Bruckenthal’s side when he was killed
• Lt. Cmdr. Doug Daniels, who met Bruckenthal’s casket upon his return to the U.S. in 2004
• Bruckenthal’s company commanders, who led him through basic training
• Numerous friends and family members

How: Please contact Donnie Brzuska at C: 609-224-0214, O: 609-898-6362 or E: Donnie.C.Brzuska@uscg.mil for access to the facility. Media are asked to RSVP due to increased security for the ceremony.

About Petty Officer 3^rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal –

Hometown: Smithtown, N.Y.

Born: July 17, 1979

Died: April 24, 2004

Location of death:  near Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal off the coast of Basra, Iraq

Entry into service: Jan. 5, 1999

Basic Training graduation date: Feb. 26, 1999

Enlisted rating: Damage controlman

Nature of death: Killed along with two U.S. Navy sailors while defending oil platforms critical to the economic stability of Iraq.

Awards: Bronze Star with Valor device, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Survived by: Wife, Pattie, and his daughter, Harper Natalie Bruckenthal, born after his death.

About Bruckenthal Hall –

Home to: 81 personnel stationed at Training Center Cape May and its tenant units

Memorials: Two memorials were dedicated to Bruckenthal - an exterior memorial and an internal memorial. Both celebrate the life and service of Bruckenthal.

Location of memorials: The exterior memorial is located in a high-traffic atrium. The internal memorial is at the main entrance.

Funding: The memorials cost approximately $28,000, which were funded by the Coast Guard Foundation.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – The Coast Guard will dedicate staff barracks at its only enlisted basic training facility to a Coast Guardsman killed in action during a ceremony Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Petty Officer 3^rd Class Nathan Bruckenthal, who graduated basic training here in 1999, was killed by suicide bombers during Operation Iraqi Freedom defending oil platforms off the Iraqi coast April 24, 2004. Officials at the training center will recognize Bruckenthal’s sacrifice on the 14^th anniversary of his graduation from the facility by dedicating staff living quarters to his memory.

“Petty Officer Bruckenthal’s selfless service and sacrifice epitomizes our Core Values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty, and he continues to make a lasting contribution to our service through his legacy, which shapes future generations of Coast Guardsmen,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May.

Bruckenthal’s father and several other family members are scheduled to attend the ceremony to unveil memorials dedicated to the Coast Guardsman’s service and sacrifice. The Coast Guardsman leaves behind a wife and child who are unable to attend Tuesday’s event. 

The Coast Guard’s most senior leaders are also scheduled to attend the ceremony including Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Robert J. Papp and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael P. Levitt. The ceremony comes only one day prior to the State of the Coast Guard speech by the Commandant in Washington; however, the Coast Guard’s most senior officer wanted to ensure he was present for this “important and significant event for the Coast Guard and Training Center Cape May.”

A number of Bruckenthal’s shipmates, colleagues and friends will be attending the ceremony in his honor. Petty Officer 1^st Class Joseph Ruggiero, who was by Bruckenthal’s side when he was killed, will be a distinguished guest. Bruckenthal’s company commanders, who led him through recruit training, will help unveil a memorial in his honor. The master of ceremonies for the event, Lt. Cmdr. Doug Daniels, escorted Bruckenthal to his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., in 2004.

Several elected officials or their representatives from the region are also scheduled to attend.

Editor’s Note: Media are invited to attend this event. Interviews will be available with Bruckenthal’s family, senior Coast Guard members and Bruckenthal’s shipmates. Media should RSVP with Donnie Brzuska at O: 609-898-6362, C: 609-224-0214 or E: Donnie.C.Brzuska@uscg.mil ASAP due to increased security for the ceremony.