New Year, New Career

By LT Connie Braesch in Security on
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WASHINGTON- Petty Officer 3rd Class Lashaunta Lewis, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer Greb, Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Canuel, Chief Petty Officer Neena Cicinelli, Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Foster and Master Chief Petty Officer James Labarre pose for a group picture after receiving plaques for their new job rating, maritime enforcement specialist, at Coast Guard Headquarters, Jan. 6, 2010. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Victoria Bonk-Meyers)
WASHINGTON- Recenty pinned Maritime Enforcement Specialists pose for a group picture after receiving plaques for their new job rating at Coast Guard Headquarters, Jan. 6, 2010. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA3 Victoria Bonk-Meyers)

The New Year marks the beginning of a new career path for some Guardians. As Coast Guard commands across the nation ceremoniously induct members into the new Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME) rate, these Guardians are not only making Coast Guard history and becoming plank owners of the new rate but they are also illustrating the service’s commitment to maritime homeland security.

Coast Guard MEs will serve on the front lines in operations including maritime law enforcement, anti-terrorism, force protection and physical security operations in ports across the world. The initial ME rate will be filled by legacy Port Security Specialists and other Guardians who fit the eligibility requirements. These Guardians will set the mark for what it means to be an ME and are being given a unique opportunity to devote the rest of their Coast Guard careers to maritime security. They will deploy with law enforcement detachments (LEDET) aboard Navy ships and with Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST) in ports across the world as well as Coast Guard stations and cutters conducting boardings and drug or migrant interdictions.

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Active duty and reserve members of the Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) 91103 from Los Angeles/Long Beach participate in a plank owner ceremony for the Coast Guard’s newest rate, Maritime Enforcement Specialist, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. The MSST is forward deployed here to perform maritime anti-terrorism and force protection duties at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Allyson E.T. Conroy)
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Members of MSST 91103 participate in a ceremony for the Maritime Enforcement Specialist rate, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. The MSST is forward deployed here to perform maritime anti-terrorism and force protection duties at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Allyson E.T. Conroy)

Future members of the ME rate will attend over two months of training at the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. The first class is scheduled to start in February 2010.

For more information about the new ME rating, watch this video. For more multimedia and imagery of the ME rating, search the Coast Guard Visual Information Gallery (CGVI) for “Maritime Enforcement Specialist.”

Back in August 2009, when the rate was just beginning to take shape, one of the first Maritime Enforcement Specialist Master Chief’s was the Compass’ Guardian of the Week. Click the photo to read MECM Gordon Muise's thoughts about the rating and what it takes to become a Maritime Enforcement Specialist.
Back in August 2009, when the rate was just beginning to take shape, one of the first Maritime Enforcement Specialist Master Chief’s was the Compass’ Guardian of the Week. Click the photo to read MECM Gordon Muise's thoughts about the rating and what it takes to become a Maritime Enforcement Specialist.
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