WELCOME ABOARD!
Congratulations on your assignment to WALNUT! You are in store for a rewarding tour of duty that will challenge your abilities. Being a sailor and going to sea form the roots of our service. Whether this assignment will be your only afloat tour, or one among many, WALNUT will provide you with some great memories of your service.
Work in the aids to navigation (ATON) mission is very rewarding. WALNUT services several of the busiest waterways in the Gulf Coast, and a successful day of ATON work produces immediate results that are clearly visible to local mariners. As a whole, WALNUT's area of operations covers the Gulf Coast from Brownsville, TX to Appalachee Bay, FL. While aboard WALNUT, you will have the opportunity to see a variety of places and become familiar with multiple Coast Guard missions.
WALNUT is a great cutter with a great crew and you are lucky to be a part of that. Due to WALNUT relatively small crew size, many professional opportunities will be available to you. You need only work hard to take advantage of them.
I am very proud of WALNUT and her crew. With your help I expect to maintain WALNUT's tradition of outstanding service and continue her reputation as a buoy tender that lights the way for others to follow. I'm sure your tour on WALNUT will be rewarding and look forward to serving with you!
ITER ILLUSTRAMUS - WE LIGHT THE WAY!
LCDR Christopher Bonner
Commanding Officer
USCGC WALNUT (WLB 205)