The Coast Guard held a Silver Ancient Mariner Change of Watch ceremony Friday at Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale.
During the ceremony Master Chief Petty Officer Russell Cox was named the fourteenth Silver Ancient Mariner of the Coast Guard. The title was assumed from Master Chief Petty Officer Matthew Coppola, who retired after 30 years of service.
“This ceremony recognizes the rich, 228-year legacy of the seagoing history we have,” said Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the Coast Guard. “Master Chief Cox takes on the mantle of responsibilities to honor and uphold this tradition. While we look to the future to innovate and evolve, sometimes we look to the past to see what defines us as a service.”
The Ancient Mariner Award was established in 1978 to honor those who have chosen to accept the responsibilities of a cutterman and follow the path of life at sea. This award not only recognizes seagoing longevity but also extols the officer and enlisted cutterman whose personal character and performance standards honor the most venerable practitioners of seamanship and reflect the Coast Guard’s core values.
The Gold and Silver Ancient Mariner Award recipient will hold the distinction until retirement, release from active duty or upon display of unsatisfactory performance or conduct.
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