National Cuttermen Awards

Each year the National Cuttermen Chapter honors active duty cuttermen and units by recognizing outstanding achievement. Awards include the The Captain Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award and The Captain Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award.  See below for award descriptions along with present and past recipients.

The 2019 Captain Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award

YN2 Samantha Tober, USCGC HOLLYHOCK (WLB 214)

CWO Brad Jopling, CGC POLAR STAR (WAGB 10)

Nomination Summary

The Captain Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award annually recognizes one Coast Guard officer and one Coast Guard enlisted member who have most embodied the Coast Guard Core Values and contributed to furthering the Coast Guard’s sea going profession.  The Gold and Silver Ancient Mariners present award plaques to the award recipients at a Cuttermen’s Call event at the annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Enlisted

YN2 Samantha Tober is a temporary cutterman serving as independent duty Yeoman in CGC HOLLYHOCK (WLB 214). Embracing the “can-do” cutterman mentality, YN2 Tober exceled in all aspects and went the extra mile to get the job done. As a qualified Master Helmsman, YN2 Tober completed 68 moorings, 85 Aids to Navigation evolutions, 30 restricted waters transits, and helmed through 188 hours of icebreaking operations. YN2 Tober revamped the cutter’s Master Helmsman JQR, including developing ice navigation and close quarters maneuvering sections. Through YN2’s efforts, the cutter excelled in executing CG policy and taking care of its 50 person crew, including 100% compliance during the Finance & Administration inspection, work-day schedule revisions, inport watch duty rotation management, crew pay and transfers, sailor of the quarter program, and public affairs program (personally leading over 70 tour groups). Lastly, when HOLLYHOCK was selected to prototype a commercial Short Range UAS, YN2 volunteered to become a remote pilot, completed 40 hours of training and instruction, passed the FAA licensing exam, and logged 16 flight hours.

Officer

A permanent cutterman with ten years of sea time, CWO Jopling serves as Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) in CGC POLAR STAR (WAGB 10). In this capacity, CWO Jopling was absolutely pivotal in ensuring POLAR STAR sailed for Operation DEEP FREEZE 2019 in support of resupplying McMurdo station, Antarctica, and Presidential mandates. Through his efforts, POLAR STAR completed a new $4.4M electrical propulsion control & monitoring system upgrade to correct major system flaws and greatly improved electrical plant reliability. CWO Jopling led the cutter through a $10M dry dock availability, working to secure $1.3M of crucial parts and the early discovery of correctable gaps. CWO Jopling’s inspirationally developed his subordinates by leading drills, training, and managing crew personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO). As a direct result of his dedication, the crew was ready to respond to numerous fire and flooding casualties, including an out of control incinerator
fire and an electrical fire on the ship’s Westinghouse propulsion control system. Lastly, while on deployment, hove to in Antarctic ice, CWO Jopling demonstrated exceptional valor by entering a compartment flooded to chest level with 28 degree
water and executed an innovative repair to replace the centerline shaft seal and enable icebreaking operations to resume.

The Captain Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award Criteria

Past Recipients

The 2019 Captain Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award

CGC JAMES (WMSL 754)/CGC STRATTON (WMSL 752)

CGC ORCAS (WPB 1327)

Nomination Summary

The Captain Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award annually recognizes one major cutter (210 feet for greater) and one small cutter (175-feet and smaller), that have demonstrated mission excellence while maintaining a strong commitment to work-life and crew morale.

Major

JAMES was the first U.S. asset on scene in the Bahamas following Hurricane DORIAN, where the cutter acted as Commander, Task Group (CTG) Bahamas. JAMES exercised Tactical Control (TACON) over two surface action groups, each comprised of a medium endurance cutter and four fast response cutters, while providing air traffic control for 32 aircraft conducting 198 sorties, answering 1388 search and rescue calls, and saving 457 people. JAMES’ ship’s force completed three JIATF-S patrols, seized 12,055 kgs of cocaine and delivered 64 suspected traffickers for U.S. prosecution. JAMES also expended significant effort to achieve outstanding engineering readiness, including $4M in maintenance contracts and an innovative 35-day post-patrol MDE repair. JAMES was the first Legend-class cutter to receive the permanent Scan Eagle drone technology install, and achieved a 1,060 kg drug bust during its first use.

STRATTON completed a 165-day Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment immediately following achievement of the Overall Operational Readiness Excellence (“E”) award. STRATTON’s WESTPAC deployment included exercising the US-Fiji bi-lateral agreement and acting under the TACON of Amphibious Group Seven for Exercise Talisman Sabre (TS19), a three week Indo-Pacific Command Exercise against a fictional opposing force in the Pacific theater. Thereafter, STRATTON shifted TACON to Combined Task Force (CTF) 73 for exercises in the first island chain surrounding China, including Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). For numerous exercises, STRATTON was the lead planner or divisional tactics, SAR, MDA, VBSS/MLE gunnery, cross-deck flight operations, and fueling at sea. STRATTON conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS), often in close proximity to politically sensitive areas such as the Paracel Islands, Senkaku Islands, Scarborough Reef, and the Korean Peninsula supporting U.N. Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR).

Small

Despite its remote location, turbulent Pacific Northwest weather conditions and challenges with the Government Shutdown, ORCAS completed the most Living Marine Resource (LMR) boardings of any USCG unit for FY19. These boardings resulted in 61 safety violations, four major fisheries violations, and three vessel terminations. ORCAS played a pivotal role during the largest meth drug seizure in D13 history; ORCAS towed the interdicted vessel with 1,595 kgs of methamphetamine 120NM in 10 ft seas, and stood an eight-day custody watch over the vessel until turnover to the DEA. Managing five safe-to-sail casualties including underway engine room flooding due to a leaking shaft and loss of both SSDGs underway due to bad fuel, ORCAS performed flawlessly in meeting all operational tasking. Committed to its crew and community, ORCAS hosted an “Eight Bells” sunset cruise for 75+ family members & various local state & federal partners, in addition to 300 hours of volunteer work for the Marshfield Cemetery, City of North Bend, Habitat for Humanity, and Operation Rebuild Hope.

The Captain Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award Criteria

Past Recipients