Kimball Readiness awarded for first time in station’s history
Crewmembers at Coast Guard Station Marathon accepted the prestigious Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award Monday.
The award was presented by Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Levitt, and Capt. Pat DeQuattro, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla.
“It was an honor to have MCPO Levitt, our services highest ranking enlisted person, present our station with this prestigious award,” said BMCM Chuck Lindsey, Officer in Charge. “I am extremely proud with each and every member of Station Marathon.”
Coast Guard Station Marathon is located in the heart of the Keys at mile marker 48 on Vaca Key. The 35 members assigned to the station are responsible for more than 300 search and rescue cases and over 500 law enforcement boardings per year.
The Coast Guard has a standardization team that conducts an intense evaluation of each station once every three years to measure the unit’s ability to carry out its missions. Units that not only meet but far exceed readiness requirements receive the Kimball Award.
To receive the Kimball Award requires a combination of superior test scores, condition of the vessels, excellent performance of underway drills, a successful and progressive unit training program, survival systems readiness and good administrative work. Failure in any one of these areas precludes a unit from achieving this award.
Kimball was the General Superintendent of the Revenue Marine Bureau from 1871 to 1878, which evolved into the U.S. Life Saving Service, a predecessor to the modern day Coast Guard. Kimball is credited for putting the service on the road to professionalism by defining and heavily enforcing the fundamentals of training and equipment.
