Yeah I know...been slacking at getting this up.
So...I am prior service, Navy. Did 5 years in the Navy as an AT from 2002 till 2007. Was stationed with VF/VFA-103. Got to work on F-14Bs and F/A-18F. Went on 2 cruises, one on the USS John F. Kennedy (did their last cruise) and then the Ike. While in the Navy, got to visit lots of countries: UAE (like 20 times...boring), Bahrain, Spain, Italy, Malta, Cypress to name a few. Got out for about 6 months, just didn't like the Navy enough to make a career there. Did 6 months in the civilian world and was like, "Eek." Didn't want to go back Navy, just didn't love it enough to make it a career there...but I loved the military. So...then the Coast Guard popped in my head.
Took me about a year to get in, but my recruiter was able to get me into the PITSTOP program, so got refresher boot. Well, going from flip flops to boots over night sucked. Ended up getting 3 stress fractures in each foot. But I pushed on as long as I could...talked the HS into putting on my chit that I could carry my boots with me. So did firefighting, pistol, etc... with a broken foot. Wasn't until my CC forced me to go back to medical that they finally did the MRI and found the fractures, and of course they were bad. One was on my heel bone and the HS gave me crap for talking her into letting me carry my boots. Only thing I didn't complete with the fractures was the run (can't run very fast when you are gimpy). So...instead of the speedy month, I ended up staying there for another 5 weeks. But, eventually got to swim the PRT (which in a way is better because I am a much better swimmer than I am runner anyway).
After my wonderful stay in Cape May, I was stationed in Marquette, MI. Wonderful station, cold, but wonderful. I enjoyed my time there, and I recommend people going there, inland Coast Guard offers a unique experience from that of Coastal. Was there for about 2 years. I was there for so long because I first put my name on the duck scrubbers list. But...after spending time there and working the comms for the station, I found that I liked it better being behind the scenes than out in front...so I swapped my name to the OS list.
I am now stationed in Memphis, TN, and I love it here too. This was my first pick on my dream sheet in "A" school, and super glad it was. The people here are amazing. Yes, it is a lot slower paced than the Coastal sectors, but the brown water part of the Coast Guard holds such a wonderful experience. I learn something new about our country here every day. |