At first glance the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the RNLI appear poles apart. But the world's largest coastguard service and the RNLI have united to set up an exchange programme to help both services improve their ability to save lives at seaThere are many differences between the USCG and the RNLI. The USCG operates on a larger scale, not just because of the size of the country, but also because it has a wider brief. It is one of the nation's five armed services and has a mission:'to protect the public, the environment, and US economic interests - in the nation's ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security'. In contrast, the RNLI is a voluntary organisation with the one aim of saving lives at sea.

Despite these obvious differences, the RNLI and the USCG have much in common.

With similar search and rescue missions, the RNLI has the same operational challenges the USCG does. The USCG and the RNLI operate the two largest fleets of shorebased rescue vessels in the world and the two services use similar coastal rescue craft and equipment. The mutually-beneficial links between the life saving organisations of the US and the UK go back to the nineteenth century. A spirit of openness and cooperation, that started 200 years ago, continues to this day.

Landmark dates in lifeboats exchange 1807 The US's first purpose-built coastal lifeboat was constructed, using plans of Henry Greathead's British Original lifeboat 1873 The United States Life Saving Service (USLSS, which became the USCG in 1915) bought one of the RNLI's most common 10m mahogany lifeboats. They used the lifeboat as a basis to design US lifeboats in years to come 1967 The Waveney class lifeboat, based on a US design, becomes part of the RNLI fleet The main aims of the USCG/RNLI exchange are: • to enhance the relationship between the USCG and the RNLI• to exhange ideas and experiences.

Ian Ventham, RNLI Corporate Services Director, was involved in setting up the exchange programme. He stresses the importance of individual growth for those involved:'It should broaden the experience and knowledge of those on the exchange, and they bring the learning back.

The first two-year exchange started in summer 2002. Both organisations are keen to continue the good relationship and send more staff on the exchange. However, because of the USCG's law enforcement role, RNLI staff are not allowed an operational role with the USCG. This restricts the choice of candidates that can go to the USCG. But the RNLI is keen to explore the possibility of setting up exchanges with other organisations around the wortd.

Rich Condit of the USCG enthuses about the 'deck level interaction' of the exchange programme and believes the relationship has a future: 'We have begun a dialogue with the RNLI that is allowing our members to share any and all details of their training and experiences with the other service.' Rich highlights how the experience of the RNLI with Atlantic and Severn class lifeboats has helped in the development of the Response Boat - Small and the Response Boat - Medium fleets in the US. Similarly the RNLI has made many changes in training and has been able to tap into the knowledge and experience of the USCG.

The first people involved in the exchange are Kevin Speer {USCG) and Andy Whyte (RNLI). They are half way through their two-year exchange and the Lifeboat asked them about their experiences so far.Kevin Speer Kevin is from Tillamook Bay in Oregon, the north west coast of the US. As a BM (bosun's mate) at the USCC from 1997-2002 Kevin had responsibility for training and the daily operations of a USCG station. He has been involved in heavy surf work and is an advanced coxswain. Kevin is now working as an inshore lifeboat instructor at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes and is the D class helm course manager.

QWhy did you get involved in the exchange programme? A I wanted the chance to work with another life saving service and be given the opportunity to learn different search and rescue techniques. I also wanted to give my family the opportunity of living in England and to see as much of Europe as possible.

Q What do you see as the major benefits of the exchange programme? A The opportunity to learn each other's search and rescue techniques and about the various types of boats and various uses for them. We can also share the USCC advancement in personal protective equipment with the RNLI. It has opened a gateway of information on all fronts and it is a programme that should benefit both organisations for quite some time.

On a personal level it has allowed me to improve my teaching techniques and my boat handling skills in an inshore lifeboat. The community has been very welcoming and the RNLI has been fantastic.

Q What has been the worst thing about the whole exchange experience so far? A We had a very hard time in the beginning trying to get things organised so we could get settled in. All the hardship has paved the way for the future exchanges to come in and settle in very quickly.

Q What has been the best thing about the whole exchange experience so far? A Meeting all the wonderful volunteers throughout the United Kingdom. It has allowed me to train different people and given me the chance to tell the crew members what I do back home.Andy Whyte Andy spent 16 years in the Royal Navy before joining the RNLI. Prior to the exchange programme, Andy was responsible for the operational training management of 34 RNLI lifeboat stations in the south west of England.

He has joined the mobile USCC Response Boat training team, based at Yorktown, Virginia. The team conducts training on a variety of small boat designs, collectively called the non-standard boat fleet.

Q Why did you get involved in the exchange programme? A I saw this as an exciting opportunity to experience the work of another life saving organisation and leam from some of their training techniques, whilst also assisting them with the development of a new standard boat fleet and the training to support it.

Q What do you see as the major benefits of the exchange programme? A The exchange of information, procedures and equipment has already proved worthwhile. It has further developed the relationship between our two life saving organisations and will significantly enhance both organisations in the future.

On a personal level, this has also provided me with a chance to further develop both my practical and theoretical management and maritime skills in a very large team organisation and hopefully better serve the Lifeboats in the future as a result. It has already been a wonderful experience for me.

Q What has been the worst thing about the whole experience so far? A Some of the administrative issues in the US. Plus the fact it is very hard to find fish and chips, Branston pickle and all the other good UK food!Q What has been the best thing about the whole experience so far? A The travel and the people. 'Coasties' are very impressed with the professionalism of our staff and volunteer crews. Comments have included: 'What a brilliant organisation, how do I join'? USCC Coxswain 'If I come back in another life, I want to be part of the RNLI!' USCG CaptainLifeguard exchange The RNLI is benefiting from good relationships with many life saving organisations around the world. In 2002 RNLI Beach Rescue set up a lifeguard exchange scheme with partner organisations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa The aims of the lifeguard exchange scheme are to allow lifeguards to continue to work in the winter and to encourage the exchange of information, ideas, skills and experience between lifeguarding organisations. The RNLI recognises that lifeguarding is a seasonal job and that it is difficult to retain skilled, experienced and highly motivated lifeguards year after year. It hopes that by allowing lifeguards to continue working over the winter that they are more likely to stay committed to lifeguarding as a full time career.

The organisations currently involved in the exchange with the RNL1 are: • Surf Life Saving Western Australia • Surf Life Saving New South Wales • Surf Life Saving Queensland • Surf Life Saving NZ Northern branch • South Africa Life Saving With only 10 overseas positions available, competition is high. Beach Rescue demonstrates that it is committed to volunteer lifeguarding by selecting those who have a background in the Royal Life Saving Society or the Surf Life Saving Association dubs.

Beach benefits As with the USCG/RNLI exchange programme, the RNLI hopes the lifeguard exchange will benefit the individuals participating as well as the organisations involved. The Beach Rescue lifeguards are seen as ambassadors for both the RNLI and their country, and it is hoped that they will contribute to the promotion of lifeguarding worldwide.

Simon Crayfourd, who played a major role in saving a young girl's life on Perran Sands beach (see page 19 for details), is an overseas exchange lifeguard. Simon has been a lifeguard for Pittwater Council at Palm Beach, Sydney for four years. He is on loan from Surf Life Saving Services and has come to Carrick as one of the 10 overseas exchange lifeguards working for the RNLI in 2003.

Simon applied to take part in the exchange as he wanted to learn how the RNLI operated and wanted to gain more experience as a lifeguard. The lifeguards are currently responsible for making their own travel arrangements and financing the trip, but Simon appreciates the opportunity to work as a lifeguard full time: The best thing about the exchange is having the opportunity to work 12 months on the beach by coming over here in my off season.' He is proud of lifeguarding in Australia: 'I definitely see myself as an ambassador. If I don't perform it impacts on everyone's perception of myself and Surf Life Saving Services.' He has particular expertise in driving inshore rescue boats and RWCs and is a welcome addition to the Carrick team. As well as gaining more experience as a lifeguard, Simon feels he has learned from the exchange: 'I think I will take back better communication skills between myself and the public.1 Naomi Kelly benefited from a three-month season working for Surf Life Saving Western Australia. She has lifeguarded since 1999 at Poole and is now lifeguard supervisor:'The experience of working in Western Australia has helped me in the job I'm doing now as I learnt different ways of doing things.1 Naomi was delighted to represent the RNLI: 'I saw myself as an ambassador - mainly because every time I opened my mouth to talk to someone it was fairly obvious I wasn't Australian. I had to explain about the exchange and about the RNLI.' The experience of working in Western Australia has helped me in the job I'm doing now as I learnt different ways of doing things.' Naomi appreciated the opportunity of living and working in a different environment and praised the lifeguard exchange scheme: 'I think the RNLI will benefit from having a number of lifeguards who have experienced working in different environments and can bring that experience back to their own organisations.'.