A recruit assigned to Recruit Training Command (RTC), was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the City of Coronado Jan. 15.
    The award was presented to SR Blair Geiss, who is in his fifth week of training at the Navy's only boot camp, and to SN William "Pepper" Lang, a second phase Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) student. Also honored was Jacob Bender. The trio were recognized for meritorious service in the line of duty as a lifeguard, Geiss' job prior to joining the Navy.
    The mayor of Coronado, Casey Tanaka, bestowed the commendations during a city council meeting. Geiss' father, retired sailor Paul Geiss, accepted the award on behalf of his son.
    Geiss and the other lifeguards were the first to arrive on scene of an injured male surfer and were able to bring the injured surfer in to shore and assessed his condition. They quickly realized they had to act fast; the injured surfer had broken his back in knee-deep water. The man had jumped, believing the water to be much deeper. 
     "He went in the water feet first and hit the bottom. He was conscious but couldn't move, so we decided to flip him on his back to C-spine him."
    According to Geiss, a "C-spine" is essentially immobilizing an injured person on a backboard to minimize any movement of the neck, back or lower body. This procedure prevents any further injury to a person with suspected spinal cord damage.
    The injured man was placed in a lifeguarding truck and ferried across the beach to a waiting ambulance. This is the last Geiss heard regarding the incident, until Jan. 17, when Lt. Michael Keppen presented a faxed copy of the mayoral commendation to Geiss in front of his recruit division.
    "When the email came through," said Geiss, "I wasn't sure why I was getting it. It was just another rescue. We do c-spines on the beach quite often. I believe he [the injured man] was under 30 years old, so it is my hope that he was able to rehab, that there wasn't permanent damage."
    In fact, the man was able to stand during the commendation ceremony in Coronado.
    "I'm proud of the actions these men took," said Mike Blood, Coronado fire chief. "I'm proud of the professionalism they demonstrated that made a positive impact in someone's life."
    Such accolades are nothing new to Geiss; he previously received a mayoral commendation for finding a lost child at the beach. The grateful mother contacted a city council member and Geiss was honored with outstanding recognition for his efforts.
    "I've been doing it for a long time," said Geiss. "In my eyes it's another day at work. I've been told by friends and family, 'You're a superstar, you're a hero.' For me it's fun. There's certain things you can do without making yourself feel pumped up or honored. For a day-to-day rescue, I swim out with a buoy and fins, say 'How are you doing? My name's Blair. I'm here to help.' You ramble off a few questions.
    "If you do it for eight years, you don't necessarily think of one rescue as heroic," said Geiss. "It does feel very good knowing you sent someone home to their family."