BOSS members learn boating safety

Apr 28, 2024

BELTON, Texas — In a joint effort to bolster water safety, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 5-7 and Better Opportunity For Single Soldiers hosted a series of boating safety classes this summer, with the final eight-hour session held Aug. 24.

Guided by certified instructors from the auxiliary, BOSS Soldiers engaged in an intensive curriculum focused on water safety precautions. They learned about the importance of life jackets, essential safety equipment, the U.S. Aids to Navigation System and the roles of buoys and beacons. The course also covered boating regulations and emergency response strategies for hypothermia and man-overboard incidents. Those who finish the course and pass the assessment earn a Texas Boating Safety Certificate.

A 22-year U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Mark Prentice has dedicated more than two decades to boating safety education in Central Texas through the auxiliary.

“The Coast Guard has always been part of my life,” Prentice said. “I joined when I was 17. Later, after I retired I received a letter from a captain asking me to assist the local Coast Guard Auxiliary here in Central Texas teach safey classes about boating.”

While the course offers a solid foundation in boating safety, Prentice highlighted that it’s primarily an introduction.

“This doesn’t turn someone into a 100-ton captain. It’s an eight-hour primer on boating safety,” Prentice said. “Having this knowledge makes participants part of the 5% that truly understand boating. This awareness promotes safety for everyone on and in the water.”

After undergoing intensive boating safety training, many Soldiers now approach maritime precautions with heightened awareness. Sgt. Rafael Escamilla, BOSS vice president, is a testament to this shift in perspective. Beyond merely obtaining a boating license, Escamilla found the BOSS life skills program to be a profound journey into the intricacies of safe vessel operation.

“Not only did you get the boating license, we also learned how to operate a vessel properly,” Escamilla emphasized.

He added, “With the new life skills I’ve acquired through the boat and water safety training, I’m now eager to own or rent a boat, so that I can go boating or fishing with my friends and family.”

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