Operation Green Mountain at Station Burlington Story by Master Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Bernice, Office of Boat Forces (CG-731) While walking along Lake Champlain in downtown Burlington, Vermont, it’s impossible not to notice the clear blue sky and the deep green of the tree-lined mountains. This scene reflects in the water of this 125-mile lake shared by Vermont, New York, and Canada. Nearing the end of the walking path, Coast Guard Station Burlington has its piers next to one of the city’s largest marinas. Station Burlington has hosted Operation Green Mountain for the last five years. This program, fostered by Sector Northern New England’s Response Division, spans the summer months as a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue personnel multiplier on the vast and unique waters nestled between two US states that tucks northward into Quebec. This year, Operation Green Mountain evolved to assume the traits of the traditional Summerstock program organized on the Great Lakes. Last summer, six Coast Guard reservists came to Burlington to augment the Station’s active duty crew during the summer surge on the lake. Senior Chief Petty Officer Dwayne Matthews, officer-in- charge of Station Burlington, reflected on the contributions of the reservists assigned to the unit. “The integration of the crew has been very helpful with training both active and reserve members,” he said. “From the operational aspect, they are SAR ready, and our coverage is expanded. Our boarding numbers have sky rocketed since the reservists showed up.” While underway and headed north to the Canadian border town of Rouses Point, Petty Officer 2nd Class TJ Kelly said he appreciated the added benefit to being on orders for over two months. “This operation is very productive for new trainees,” said Kelly. “The BM3s are getting the stick time they need to certify as coxswains. This is a great opportunity to accomplish advancement goals and for skill building.” Petty Officer 1st Class Klimowicz and Petty Officer 3rd Class Holden Payseur conduct a boarding and provide a boarding report form to the owner/operator. Petty Officer 3rd Class Holden Payseur, who’d been at the station for more than a month, said he was grateful for the opportunity to be on active duty orders. “This is allowing me to chip away at the required tasks to certify as a coxswain—plus, I’ve participated in more boardings here in a week than I have ever at my home unit.” Payseur appreciated the intangible value add as well, adding “While here, I’m leading new teams and building confidence in the skills I’ve attained.” A five-year participant in Operation Green Mountain, Chief Petty Officer Eric Schnorrbusch returned to Burlington this summer, bringing operational experience to the unit’s summertime team. “Once the border is open, having us here will be even more important. There are many Canadian-owned boats drydocked in the U.S., and when the border reopens, the owners are going to want to splash these boats. There are 24 marinas in Vermont and 19 marinas on the New York side. This doesn’t include the marinas north of the border in Canada.” Schnorrbusch is well aware of the amplified Coast Guard presence on the lake. “You can see it when we visit the marinas—people are excited to see the Coast Guard. They get a sense of safety when they know we are out here.” The hard work of the Station Burlington active and Reserve crews is evidenced by over 300 underway hours. These hours have resulted in more than 350 boardings and 14 SAR cases, and countless patrols along the border. Schnorrbusch foresees more summers spent guarding the picturesque Lake Champlain. “We can do more here, with more,” he said. Matthews agreed. “This would be great for the lake, the station, and the Reserve program if becomes a permanent D1 fixture here in Burlington,” he said. � Issue 4 • 2021 � RESERVIST 13
