An Enthralling Life in the United States Coast Guard

 

The life being in the United States Coast Guard is seldom advertised the way it actually is. The crew wake to the booming voices of their radios in whatever language is spoken in the country they're in. They work together, old and young, experienced and inexperienced, those well-travelled and the young ones who never ventured beyond the confinements of their homes.

 

The morning news consists of the weather and includes the agenda they will have to follow through the day, never to sit down and return to just being a civilian. It is a world filled with schedule and yes, routine, but in the life of United States Coast Guard crew guard, the adherence to routine and schedule is a comfort and reflects control. They are instructed by men and women who know what they are doing and who plan their steps accordingly.

 

The United States Coast Guard crew spend an average of 185 days away from home, family, and friends but, other than the occasional jolt of homesickness the crew enjoy calling their 270 ft. base, home. The lifestyle that comes with underway duty is not actually more demanding than shore duty for example, it's simply different. So if it doesn't suit your desires than you may consider it more difficult than other types of duties. However, no matter what type of duty you undertake the same results are expected from every guard - excellence.

 

Underway Duty drastically differs from Shore duty where you may be part of a group, at a station or with a support unit. As part of a team in the United States Coast Guard going underway, you will crave touching ground, being around your loved ones while simultaneously capable of pulling an eight-hour long work day of watch. Those cooks boil as they wash and cook for 14 hours while craving positions located where there is fresh air to breathe and instruction in the skills they want to acquire for their future careers.

 

There are junior petty officers, seamen and firemen of United States Coast Guard who get together on deck almost nightly to master the skill of damage control. They are ultimately the only hope the crew has if the ship is damaged underway. The men and women of the United States Coast Guard learn fire fighting, patching, dewatering, plugging and how to use basic first aid. It is also mandatory that they know the exact location of each firefighting station onboard as well as every dewatering pump. This training is set right next to their eight-hour work shift, it will be rigorous.

 

It is also like a school with all sorts of daily drills to prepare the men and women for every possible incident consisting of both fire drills, boat lowering drills, fight quarters or law enforcement boardings. Part of preparation being a United States Coast Guard crew is also regular skill tests, to see how well each crew member is doing and the level of mastery they possess. The Senior United States Coast Guard crewmembers make sure that all the young officers are prepared for any conceivable damage situation the ship could fall into. Lieutenants, junior grades and ensigns are sent off in repair groups and fire squads to prevent imaginary floods and fires from spreading and destroying the ship while young petty officers venture with fire fighting teams into engine rooms. As these drills are being followed, seniors scrutinize and correct the crew's procedures and methods making sure everything is being done as ordered.

 

When you're on a United States Coast Guard, the cutter society consists of those on board with you. They are your home, your family, your community. When on land you can meet new people, that's not possible on a cutter until new people join. You will be far away from what you used to call home, and you may find it difficult to change the meaning of that word.  For 200 years this has been done, United States Coast Guard men and women have left proud and capable and without regrets. Be sure to know that it isn't impossible to be one of them.  

 

United States Coast Guard Life in the Coast Guard Coast Guard

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