Bruce MacCormac is certainly not new to Boothbay Harbor, having been a summer resident on McKown Point since 1966, but he is new to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary with less than two years as a member.

In the short period of his membership, he’s achieved what very few other Auxiliary members anywhere have ever achieved: On Wednesday, Oct 15, MacCormac was named “Sailor of the Quarter” by the command and personnel of USCG Station Boothbay Harbor.

“Sailor of the Quarter” is an honor voted on by the personnel at the station and recognizes the contributions of individual service members for outstanding performance and support of the Coast Guard and its missions at the station level.

MacCormac, known around the station as “Aux Mac” or “Mr. Mac,” mans the communications center every day from 5:45 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., responding to routine and emergency radio calls as well as routing incoming phone calls to individuals and departments at the station.

To qualify as a Communications Watch Stander any individual, Active Duty, Reserve or Auxiliary, must undergo rigorous training in the operation of the Rescue 21 communications system, radio protocols for Search and Rescue (SAR) cases plus varied major and minor emergencies that form part of the incoming radio communications from the station’s Area of Responsibility (AOR).

In the case of Station Boothbay Harbor, the AOR extends from Small Point to the west to just east of Port Clyde to the east and includes the navigable sections of the three main rivers in between. Part of every watch stander’s qualification process is an AOR test, which requires a comprehensive knowledge of the key points and landmarks in the entire AOR.

In addition to emergency calls from recreational and commercial boaters, when underway each Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel periodically reports operational status and position on set time intervals; each report must not only be recorded but plotted quickly and accurately.

In the winter “Aux Mac” travels from his home in West Hartford, Connecticut, to CG Station New London where he provides the same level of professionalism in communications watch standing in addition to various other station duties.

As a volunteer in 2014, “Aux Mac” has already performed over 650 hours as a Communications Watch Stander, more than 500 of those at Station Boothbay Harbor since May, along with 130 hrs of Boat Crew operations and approximately 250 hrs of other duties or travel to/from his duty locations.

Every service hour performed by “Mr. Mac” frees an active duty member for other tasking such as underway boat time or duty coverage which may allow leave or time off for medical or family matters.

Each “Sailor of the Quarter” has a small plaque with his name affixed to a wooden paddle ornamented with traditional rope “fancy work” which hangs in the station lobby; it’s with great pride shared by all that the newest plaque will be for “Bruce J. MacCormac, USCG Auxiliary.”

Mr. Mac’s “Sailor of the Quarter” citation reads in part:

“Your volunteer hours ranked second this quarter among all Coast Guard Auxiliary members nationwide .... In addition to your volunteer hours you also rendered assistance by providing valuable insight and local knowledge for several newly reported shipmates. Your mentorship and caring for these individuals helped set the tone for the family atmosphere we strive to cultivate at Station Boothbay Harbor.

Your Esprit de Corps to serve the U.S. Coast Guard, your shipmates and your community is the basis of our Core Values: Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty.” —William C. Armstrong, Officer in Charge