The official blog of the U.S. Coast Guard
On Tuesday’s Week in the Life series, we feature operations from Coast Guard Cutter Sledge in Curtis Bay, Maryland, engine checks at Station Cape Charles, Virginia, a drug offload in Miami Beach, Florida, night hoist operations in Houston and new recruits reporting to Training Center Cape May, New Jersey.
On the surface, First Class Cadet Matthew Hanks appears to be a typical cadet: he plays baseball, he spends some nights up late working civil engineering design problems, and he’s gearing up for life as a commissioned officer. But a look beneath the surface reveals someone vastly different. Not only is he the spring 2015 regimental commander, the highest-ranking cadet in the corps of cadets, he’s already been in the Coast Guard for almost eight years.
So others may live. It’s the creed of Coast Guard rescue swimmers and a promise the Coast Guard makes to those in danger. It’s also a motto that Petty Officer 3rd Class Brett Bates lives by.
As Hurricane Isaac inched towards the Gulf Coast in August 2012, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Hockenberry was assigned to an aircrew tasked with relocating a Coast Guard helicopter outside of the storm’s path. Left behind were his wife and two boys. A flight mechanic at Air Station Orleans, Hockenberry’s duty to respond doesn’t stop when there is a storm on its way and he ensures his family is prepared well in advance of the storm first and foremost.
Weather conditions, crew responsiveness, incoming hazards and myriad meters, gauges and measurements. These are just a few of the things a pilot has to be wary of when flying an aircraft. A new concern is affecting Coast Guard pilots from Cape Cod, to Hawaii, from Puerto Rico to Seattle. Every air station in the Coast Guard is on the lookout for a simple beam of light.
With the threat of destruction looming every hurricane season, complacency is a responder’s worst enemy and aircrews work year-round to ensure they are ready to support their nation and community in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Altogether the preparedness and teamwork at the region’s four air stations paid huge dividends post-Isaac in the form of 28 lives saved and 54 assisted.
Written by Chief Petty Officer CC Clayton, editor-in-chief, Coast Guard Magazine Ever wonder what the Coast Guard does in an average week during the winter months? Probably pretty slow, right? While a lot of people are digging themselves out from another winter snowstorm, our service is out in full force training, rescuing those in need,
Results are in! With 31,639 total YouTube views and 1,064 votes (wow! Thank-you to all who voted), the winners of the second annual Coast Guard Video of the Year Award are… It was a VERY close race… Drum roll please….. First Place – Day 5 Receiving 162 votes, Coast Guard Port Security Unit 307 wins
In this file photo, the Coast Guard Cutter Penobscot Bay clears a path through the icy waters of the Hudson River. The Penobscot Bay is on its way to the Great Lakes to augment the other eight ice breakers assigned to Operations Taconite and Coal Shovel. (USCG photo PA3 Mike Hvozda) Click the image to
Guardians detain personnel aboard a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) captured in the Eastern Pacific off the coast of Central America. After finding the vessel was loaded with narcotics, Guardians seized the SPSS and detained the four crew members. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo) Click on the image to view more photos from the drug bust. Guardians from