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What started as a source of pride aboard the former Coast Guard
Cutter Glacier in the mid 1970s, donning a red uniform ball cap, is
now part of a right of passage for those who serve aboard
icebreakers throughout the Coast Guard.
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January 10, 2017 - A crewmember aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Polar
Star stands the bridge watch during icebreaking operations off the
coast of Antarctica. Crewmembers are authorized by the cutter’s
command to wear their red ball cap once the cutter enters the
Antarctic region. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer David Mosley)
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During his deployment as operations officer aboard the Glacier,
retired Rear Adm. Joseph McClelland Jr., served aboard the ship as
it left a yard maintenance period where it was painted red for the
first time. Painting the cutter red was an endeavor intended to help
helicopters spot the ship in the ice.
“I remember some hilarity on the part of observers on the shore
as we sailed for an Arctic cruise,” said McClelland. “It (the red
paint) was a somewhat radical change, but certainly proved to make
good sense.”
The idea of the red ball cap attempted as a
means to enhance pride in icebreaker sailors, according to
McClelland. Crewmembers could earn the privilege to wear the red cap
by completing necessary qualifications for their responsibilities on
board or by earning either the Coast Guard Arctic or Antarctic
Service Medal.
“Fortunately for me, the commanding officer
and executive officer understood and they gave me some maneuvering
room to establish the tradition,” said McClelland. “I am pleased
that the practice continues to be accepted.”
Earning a red
ball cap is now a tradition used on all major icebreakers in the
service, which include the Coast Guard Cutters Polar Star and the
(non-operational) Polar Sea, both 399-foot heavy icebreakers, and
the Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a 420-foot medium ice breaker, all of
which are based out of Seattle, Washington.
As a surprise,
during the Polar Star’s current icebreaking mission to ensure the
critical resupply of U.S. Antarctic Program research stations in
Antarctica, the red ball cap was presented to all new crewmembers.
The command believed that the crew earned the right to wear the red
ball caps because of ”above and beyond” effort through a demanding
shipyard season and an arduous work schedule to prepare the vessel
for deployment. The hats were distributed at an all-hands event held
shortly after the cutter’s crossing into the Antarctic Region.
The crew is in Antarctica to facilitate the annual resupply and
refueling of two Antarctic Program stations, McMurdo and
Amundsen-Scott South Pole. The National Science Foundation manages
the U.S. Antarctic Program.
“The crew really pulled it
together to ensure we could get to Antarctica to do our job this
season,” said Capt. Michael Davanzo, commanding officer of the Polar
Star. “We truly believed that every crewmember earned the right to a
red hat. However, in the future, we will be following the tradition
developed by Adm. McClelland.”
A pair of Coast Guard Cutter Polar
Star red hats sit on a chart of the coast of Antarctica, Jan. 10,
2017.
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January 10, 2017 - A pair of Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star red hats
sit on a chart of the coast of Antarctica. The wearing of a red ball
cap aboard a Coast Guard icebreaker is a tradition that was started
in the 1970’s. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer David Mosley)
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In addition to the red hat, each crewmember can earn a
small round gold pin emblazoned with a man in cold weather
clothing and the words “Antarctic Service.” A crewmember
becomes eligible to receive and wear the pin once they serve
10 days in the region, a requirement to qualify for the
Antarctic Service Medal.
“The ability for people to earn the right to wear the red hat is
a source of pride for each crewmember,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class
Gavin Dunaway, an electronics technician with the Polar Star’s
engineering control group. “Some red caps display one, two or more
pins, demonstrating that the wearer served multiple times in the
region.”
Because of the foresight of a single operations
officer aboard the first red-painted Coast Guard icebreaker, earning
a red hat is now a tradition that crewmembers strive to achieve.
Regardless if they are serving in the Antarctic or the Arctic,
icebreaker crews have the opportunity to earn something that offers
a source of pride while supporting the country’s economic,
commercial and national security missions.
By U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer David Mosley
Provided
through
Coast
Guard
Copyright 2016
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