The Aids to Navigation 2012 Calendar 

National Aids to Navigation School USCG Training Center Yorktown Calendar Year 2012
2012 
From the School Chief 

Thanks to all of you who have submitted some great photos, not only for this 2012 calen

letin as well. Last year some units never received calendars, so please send a note to LTj

you hear of those who do not receive their calendar shortly. We here at NATON appreciate all of your efforts and we remain committed to supportin

free to call myself or the staff anytime. Very Respectfully, 

LCDR Mark Crysler 

NATON School Chief 

On the Cover: USCGC SYCAMORE (WLB-209) towing USCGC FIR (WLB-213) after FIR suffered a rudder towed FIR over 1,200 nautical miles over an eight day period. 
OPERATIONS SECTION 

LTJG Lisa De Pace, 757.856.2350 Aid Positioning (ANC-AP) November 29 - December 7, 2011 January 17 - 25, 2012 February 7– 15, 2012 April 3 - 11, 2012 June 5 - 13, 2012 August 21 - 29, 2012 September 18 - 26, 2012 Officer Basic ATON (ANC-OB) March 12 – 16, 2012 May 7 – 11, 2012 July 23– 27, 2012 Officer Advanced ATON (ANC-OA) March 19 – 23, 2012 April 23 – 27, 2012 May 14 – 18, 2012 

BUOY DECK TRAINING TBOSN4 Skip Sawyer, 757.85Buoy Deck Supervisor (ANCDecember 5– 9, 2011 February 13 – 17, 2012 May 7 - 11, 2012 August 13 – 17, 2012 Construction Tender (ANC-March 5 - 9, 2012 August 13 – 17, 2012 MAJOR AIDS SECTION EMCS Michael Brown, 757.Automated Lighthouse TechNovember 28 - December 9, 2February 27 - March 9, 2012 May 7 - 18, 2012 July 30 - August 10, 2012 

NOTE: All course dates are subject to chan

website (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/tqc/defaultdates before submitting ETR’s 

NATON School FY 2012 Class Schedule 
ANT OIC (ANC-ANT) 

February 27 - March 2, 2012 April 16 - 20, 2012 July 30 - August 3, 2012 Minor Aids Maintenance (ANC-MAM) December 5 - 9, 2011 January 30 - February 3, 2012 June 11 - 15, 2012 August 13 - 17, 2012 Advanced Minor Aids Maintenance (ANC-AMA) December 12 - 16, 2011 February 6 - 12, 2012 March 19 - 23, 2012 April 30 - May 4, 2012 June 18 - 22, 2012 August 20 - 24, 2012 September 24 - 28, 2012 

ATON Structure Climbing March 12 - 16, 2012 March 26 - 30, 2012 April 23 - 27, 2012 May 21 - 25, 2012 September 10 - 14, 2012 September 17 - 21, 2012 River Tender (ANC-RIV) September 17 - 21, 2012 Training Team ManagemeAugust 7 - 9, 2012 

NOTE: All course dates are subject to chan

website (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/tqc/defaultdates before submitting ETR’s 

MINOR AIDS SECTION BMCM Scott Ehrich, 757.856.2453 

NATON School FY 2012 Class Schedule 
Crew from ANT Detroit and the District Nine Training Team working on Sandusky Range Rear Light. P
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

January 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 

15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 31 

Climbing safety harnesses shall not be used with automatically inflating PFDs. Harnesses worn over inflatable PFDs can restrict the outward inflating action and may prevent breathing or cause crushing injuries to the upper torso. 

New Year’s 

Day 

Martin 

Luther King Day 
USCGC BRISTOL BAY (WTGB-102) working seasonal aids to navigation. Photo by BM3 Ge
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

February 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 

5 6 7 8 9 

12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 

Plastic buoys were the subject of experimentation in the 1940s, the 1950s, and again in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Color tests in 1979 and '80 proved green-colored buoys were more visible than the traditional black can buoys. 

President’s Day 
USCGC WILLOW (WLB-202) in the Arctic. Photo by PA3 Luke Clayton. 
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

March 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 

4 5 6 7 8 

11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29 

Not all Red 6P Lamp Changers are High Wattage. Due to the immense demand for 6P's during Hurricane Katrina, the manufacturer was forced to utilize the red chassis on many low wattage 6P's in order to meet demand. Always reference the information plate on the 6P and verify the Amperage rating listed. 
USCGC CHIPPEWA (WLR-75404) moored Cape Giardeau, Missouri. Photo by Jeff L. G
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

April 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 

15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 

Western River ATON Units maintain over 7,000 buoys, 4,000 shore aids and a navigable water way that is 10,300 miles long. 

Easter 
The crew of USCGC PENDANT (65608) working to repair Hardy Rock Daybeacon 1. Photo by BM
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

May 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 3 

6 7 8 9 10 

13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 31 

The Boston Light on Little Brewster Island was the first lighthouse built in the United States in 1716. However, it was renovated in 1783 because it was damaged in the Revolutionary War. The oldest lighthouse as it was originally constructed is actually the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey. 

Mother’s Day 

Memorial Day 
Members from USCGC SPAR (WLB-206) servicing the 12 meter NOAA buoy 46035 off of Alaska. Photo b
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

June 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

3 4 5 6 7 

10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 

Cottonwood was originally an Army Corps of Engineers river tug named Le Claire that was built in 1915. She was acquired by the Lighthouse Service in 1938 and renamed Cottonwood. She serviced ATON for 650 miles of the Tennessee River above the Kentucky Dam. She was decommissioned in 1946 and sold the following year. 

Father’s Day 
USCGC TACKLE towing USCGC BRIDLE after BRIDLE suffered a steering casualty while icebreaking on the Penobscot 
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

July 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 

15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 31 

Baltimore Harbor is also the site of the Star-Spangled Banner Buoy, which marks the spot where Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem. Happy Independence Day! 

Independence Day 
USCGC SEQUOIA's (WLB– 215) ATON dive team conducts a subsurface mooring inspection and chain rep

Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Photo by BOSN Joe Toth. 
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

August 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 

5 6 7 8 9 

12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30 

The Light-House board had the first steam tender, Shubrick, built in 1857 at a cost of $60,000. 
USCGC COWLSIP and USCGC HENRY BLAKE moored in Everett, Washington in 2001. Photo by B
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

September 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 

16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30 

The design of the 180’s was adapted from that of the 177-foot Juniper constructed in 1939. Alterations were made based on the requirements of the newly expanded Coast Guard. 

Labor Day 
The NATON Structure Climbing Class preparing for rescues. Photo by BOSN Skip Saw
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

October 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 2 3 4 

7 8 9 10 11 

14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 31 

To ensure standardized ATON structure climbing safety training throughout the Coast Guard, NATON School is the subject matter expert and primary source for ATON structure climber safety training. 

Columbus Day 
USCGC SMILAX (WLIC-315), Queen of the Fleet, moored in Fort Macon, NC. Photo by PA3 D
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

November 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

1 

4 5 6 7 8 

11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29 

USCGC SMILAX was commissioned on November 1, 1944. She was crowned Queen of the Fleet on April 14, 2011. 

Happy 67th Birthday! 

Thanksgiving 

Veteran’s Day 
Sunrise over Mackinac Island, Michigan. Photo by BM1 Zack Stockdale. 
US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown 

1 USCG Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690 

Phone: 757-856-239 

Fax: 757-856-2326 

National Aids to Navigation School 

ATON Fact! 

December 2012 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 

2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 

16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30 31 

Aids to Navigation School was established on December 15th, 1944 with the purpose or design of training enlisted personnel, preferably first class or chief petty officers, in an advanced course on varied duties of Aids to Navigation. The school was located in Groton, Connecticut and lasted 21 weeks.

Christmas Day 
An Aids to Navigation Technician works on a light at dusk. Photo by BOSN Skip Sawyer, 
USCGC BLUEBELL (WLI-313) underway in the Snake River. Photo by BOSN J. J. Riv
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

Commanding Officer 

US Coast Guard Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 23690-5000 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE: $300