Recognition for members of the U.S. Coast Guard comes in many forms, being named “Sailor of the Quarter” is recognition voted on by both one’s peers and more senior ranking service members at the recipient’s duty station. The award criteria encompass virtually all aspects of the recipient’s service: achieving Sailor of the Quarter status recognizes the contributions of individual service members not only for their outstanding job performance and support of the Coast Guard and it’s missions, but also for supporting fellow service members and enhancing the lives of others at the station level. The “Sailor of the Quarter” for the first quarter of 2019 is Jeffery I. Legrand, Machinery Technician Third Class (MK3).

MK3 Legrand, an Illinois native, joined the Coast Guard in 2016 and first served aboard the 378-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John Midgett prior to achieving his specialty rating and being posted to CG Station Boothbay Harbor in July of 2017. While not describing himself as gear head, MK3 Legrand admits to always having been a “take things and apart and put them back together” kind of person and his time on the cutter focused that interest leading to his application to Coast Guard specialty training for the machinery technician rating.

Maintaining the three vessels at CG Station Boothbay Harbor is MK3 Legrand’s primary focus with job responsibility for all mechanical and many of the electronic systems on board the two 47-foot Motor Life Boats and a single 29-foot Response Boat. In a maritime service in which operational readiness can be a life and death matter, MK3 Legrand takes both the mechanical and bureaucratic responsibilities seriously.

Mission logging and maintenance recording errors can put a Coast Guard vessel out of service with the same operational consequences as can an engine casualty. MK3 Legrand was recognized for his comprehensive overhaul and updating of maintenance records which, if left undone, could have jeopardized the operational capabilities of the station’s vessels. That updating and correcting is normally done by a higher rated petty officer, but often working while off duty and after hours, MK3 Legrand completed the tasks quickly and efficiently.

MK3 Legrand was also praised for his willingness to unhesitatingly fill-in for crew members needing emergency leave and for his dependability in covering mission critical assignments which ensured uninterrupted mission readiness at the station.

The “Sailor of the Quarter” citation reads in summation: Your exemplary work ethic and military bearing are most heartily commended and set an outstanding example for others to follow. Your compassion, hard work, and extreme commitment to the U.S. Coast Guard and Station Boothbay Harbor is evident and exemplifies the Coast Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. I greatly appreciate your dedication to duty and your continued outstanding performance. Congratulations on your achievement and selection as Sailor of the Quarter. - Adam P. Smart, BMC, Officer in Charge, Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor