Coast Guard

Homemade meals come straight from the heart- ‘made with love’- as they say. Those fragrant aromas, familiar tastes and cherished recipes can transport you back in time to those moments that stick with you for a lifetime.

For Petty Officer 1st Class Jennaya Allen and Petty Officer 2nd Class Gabriela Alongi, family and food have always gone hand in hand. Now, as culinary specialists in the Coast Guard, both Allen and Alongi get to do something only seen a handful of times within the Coast Guard, one sibling taking over the other’s position.

On the morning of August 26, Allen advanced from petty officer second class to petty officer first class and was replaced by her own sister, Alongi.

Their parents attended the ceremony, and Allen specifically wanted her mom to pin her.

“She’s never been a part of a ceremony before and I think it would be pretty cool,” said Allen.

Standing outside of Coast Guard Station Little Creek, a small group of people watched as Master Chief Petty Officer James Swenson, the rating force master chief for culinary specialists, presented the sisters with his custom knives, which read, “Thank you and YES CHEF!” following Allen’s advancement ceremony.

After the ceremony, the sisters embraced and inspected their new knives with fervor. Alongi tried to keep her excitement to herself but was too enamored with the festivities to do so.

“Look at us now!” exclaimed Alongi.

Though they started from humble beginnings in their kitchen at home cooking with their parents, they now run their own galleys and travel the world in service of the Coast Guard as certified culinary specialists.

Coming from a blended family, both Allen and Alongi have grown up with Italian and French influenced cuisines prepared by their parents. These influences presently play a role in how they prepare and cook meals in the service.

“Food was always a priority in our family,” said Allen. “Whether it was gathering to make a meal for the holidays or just a simple meal to try, it’s always been something we prioritized as a family.”

When Allen received her orders to the USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143) in Guam, she immediately called her sister to share the news with her. Excited for the next part of her journey, Allen was surprised to hear what Alongi had to say next.

“I want your spot,” said Alongi. She had always wanted to go to a patrol boat, and this was the perfect opportunity to do it. With the position opening up, the timing could not have been better for Alongi to head to the USCGC Sailfish (WPB-87356) homeported in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

An expression of joy lit Allen’s face as she said, “We knew we would cross paths at some point while in the Coast Guard, but we never thought that she would be relieving me, it’s just so crazy!”

Putting their plans in motion, Alongi put the Sailfish on her picks list and got what she wanted. She would be headed to Virginia Beach to take over the galley from her own sister in just a few months.

“I’m just worried about the jokes from the crew like, ‘oh your sister made this better than you did!’” said Alongi jokingly, “but I’m looking forward to the challenge!”

Allen joined the Coast Guard in 2019 and Alongi joined in 2021. Although both sisters knew they wanted to join, only Alongi knew culinary specialists was the obvious choice.

Allen was initially interested in public affairs, but with long wait times for that path, she decided to follow her other passion of cooking instead.

With her first option closed off, becoming a culinary specialist was next in line. Both sisters had spent countless hours in their family home cooking with their parents, for each other, and sharing their experiences with their five other siblings.

Between the two of them though, Allen would agree that the true culinary artist is Alongi.

“I love cooking,” said Alongi. “I always have. Food makes people happy and knowing that I can do that, brings me a lot of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.”

Morale aboard a cutter can be determined by many factors but the food is near the top of the list. Having come from the USCGC Calhoun (WMSL-759), a national security cutter homeported in South Carolina, the expectation for cooks, like Alongi, is high.

National security cutters have large crews, which means there are a lot of mouths to feed, not to mention the possibility of picky eaters.

Recognizing the importance of their meals, their choices, and their work ethic, both sisters are aware of the need to be present and flexible when it comes to their galleys.

“When you’re on a national security cutter, the crew is about 130 to 160 [people],” Alongi said. “There is always that one person who has an issue with your choice of food and it’s up to you to work with them to keep them happy and focused on the mission.”

“As a cook in the Coast Guard, you need to have thick skin,” stated Allen. “Not everyone will like everything that you make and it’s up to you to figure out what makes them happy and accommodate them. It took me awhile to develop that.”

For both Allen and Alongi, the experiences they have had in life and at home with their family has pushed them in the direction they wanted to go. Their trajectory would not be where it is now without the assistance and guidance—of not only each other, but specifically—their parents.

“It’s been a journey getting to this point for the both of us,” Allen enthusiastically avowed. “We could not have done this without our parents.”

“Jennaya’s right,” agreed Alongi. “We are who we are because of them.”

With the support of culinary specialist leadership from Coast Guard Headquarters, the two sisters shared a special moment during the morning’s ceremony. Standing to the side, Allen’s dad captured the moment her mom pinned on the first-class rank insignia onto her uniform.

These sisters share something no one else will be able to touch—you cannot replicate it—a relationship built over a long period of time with messy nights in the kitchen; and long talks on the phone while apart at their units.

Looking lovingly at her sister Alongi said, “I’m glad you’re my sister and I’m glad our parents met. We wouldn’t be where we are today if they didn’t find each other. We didn’t have to love each other but we chose to love each other. We have that bond and that means a lot to me.”

From humble beginnings cooking Italian and French influenced dishes with their parents to traveling the world serving Coast Guard crews from their own galleys, these two truly are ‘Sisters in Service’.

YAP, Federated States of Micronesia – A multinational team representing five Pacific nations kicked off the fourth mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2024-2 (PP24-2) in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Sept. 4.

Yap Gov. Charles Chieng hosted U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Keeler, PP24-2 mission commander, and Royal Australian Air Force Wing Cmdr. Scott Minchin, PP24-2 deputy mission commander, for a key leadership engagement at the governor’s office as the first official event of the stop.

The Yap mission stop, which runs from Sept. 4-10, brings together approximately 70 participants from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, all working to increase humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness in the Indo-Pacific.

“The U.S. has a long-standing relationship with Yap, reflecting our deep commitment to our Pacific neighbors. Given Yap’s vulnerability to natural disasters, the Pacific Partnership team is dedicated to helping prepare for and manage these emergencies,” said Keeler. “By collaborating with our partners from Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand, along with the people of Yap, we aim to strengthen disaster preparedness and response, ensuring we prepare in calm to respond in crisis.”

At the invitation of the host nation, emergency operations training workshops covering disaster relief and humanitarian assistance will take place with the U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Army Civil Affairs; Yap Disaster Control Office; Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance; International Organization for Migration; Catholic Relief Services; and FSM Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Emergency Management.

The Pacific Partnership Band, composed of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band and the Royal Australian Army Band, will perform in a variety of community engagements.

Pacific Partnership medical providers will work shoulder-to-shoulder with providers at Yap State Hospital and technicians at Ulithi atoll and Fais island to provide tailored medical care focusing on optometry exams, dental screenings, community health engagements and subject matter exchanges as well as spay and neuter clinics for cats and dogs.

“We are thrilled to once again welcome the multinational Pacific Partnership team to the Federated States of Micronesia. This year, the people of Yap will see first-hand meaningful engagements with the mission team, a stellar example of the enduring cooperation between our two nations,” said Hon. Ms. Jennifer Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia.

In the aftermath of the December 2004 “Boxing Day” tsunami that devastated parts of South and Southeast Asia, the United States mobilized numerous military assets and personnel to support the relief effort. Recognizing the opportunity to build on the goodwill and lessons learned from that initial mission, the U.S. Navy planned and executed the inaugural Pacific Partnership mission in 2006; its primary aim was to proactively prepare for a more effective response to natural disasters while strengthening relationships and security ties between nations.

Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational HA/DR preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

For more information about Pacific Partnership visit, www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership.

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (August 15, 2024) – Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) Sailor and Shelbyville, Ill. native Master-at-Arms 1 st Class Shawn D. Bly competed with the U.S. Navy Marksmanship Team (USNMT) at the 2024 Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) National Matches, held at Camp Perry, Ohio from July 11 – August 10, 2024.

Bly has served in the Navy for over 11 years, and he has been at NSGL since October, 2021. He first began to shoot with the USNMT in 2022. One of his main motivations for joining was to see how his shooting skills compared with others in the armed forces, both in the Navy and other branches.

“I really wanted to see where my skills matched up with others in the military,” said Bly. “Plus it’s pretty cool to be able to say you shoot guns competitively for the Navy.”

Since he began competing with the USNMT in 2022, Bly has competed in multiple competitions. He’s competed in the Atlantic Fleet and All Navy (East) Rifle Championship match three times, the Inter-Service Rifle Championship Match twice, the Virginia State High-Power Service Rifle Match once, and the CMP National Matches three times.

“I met Bly in 2022 at the 60th Annual All Navy/Fleet (East) Rifle and Pistol Championships in Quantico, Va.,” said Chief Logistics Specialist Jason Ryan, from Leavenworth, Ka., serving aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and another member of the USNMT. “He performed exceptionally, and as a result received the award for High New Shooter for the rifle discipline. This feat was accomplished with a rifle and equipment that was borrowed to him and that he was completely unfamiliar with. To say that Bly has a natural gift for marksmanship is an understatement. With coaching, mentorship and dedication I have witnessed him improve immensely over the past three years. He’s a very accomplished shooter and is among the top in

the Navy and the nation.”

The CMP National Matches, held annually at the National Guard training center at Camp Perry, Ohio, is one of the nation’s largest series of competitive shooting matches. Each year, the matches bring over 5,000 competitors, volunteers, vendors and family members to Camp Perry

each year.

At this year’s CMP National Matches, Bly took first place in six different matches, winning the All-Navy Adm. Arleigh Burke Trophy; the All-Navy Capt. Joe Earl Wyatt Trophy; the Inter-Service Coast Guard match; the Inter-Service Don McCoy Memorial Trophy; and the All Navy Rifle Excellence in Competition (EIC) Non-Distinguished match, which made him the 433rd

Distinguished Rifleman ever in the Navy. Overall, Bly placed 46 th out of 324 competitors. Bly was also the first Master-at-Arms to win all three of the Navy trophies. Bly feels that his success would not have been possible without the training and mentorship of other members of the USNMT.

“I’ve had many ups and many downs. It wasn’t just show up and shoot and hit the center. I missed targets completely and had poor concentration at times. The other team members are there to help you out and get rid of the mistakes by building you up,” said Bly. “The team is a very tight-knit group, and they all do a great job of making sure everyone can perform at their highest level via training and experience.”

Sailors interested in shooting for the USNMT should consult with their chain of command, and can join the U.S. Navy Marksmanship Forum Facebook Group for more information about how to join the team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298739620052/