Has anyone here been stationed on an ice breaker? If so, did you like or dislike it? I imagine it could be either really boring or really cool. Maybe a bit of both?

Bells is a former ice breaker sailor. I'm sure she could answer some questions... From what she has said, she seemed to enjoy it.

I was on an icebreaker, the HEALY for 3 years, I started as a fireman and went to BM3 by the time I left. It was pretty neat. No matter what your crew is going to determine how much fun you have, but on that ship you are BUSY. If you are an engineer you are busy and if your deck you are busy. Alot of people on Icebreakers are sometimes on their 2nd or 3rd tour because they like it so much.

I would probably go back. But really, it was the crew that made it fun, and thats going to be any unit.

Long patrols, I was a part of a 6 month one, a 8.5 month one, and a 4 month one. But if you single and down for whatever its fun. if your married with kids it is probably a lot harder to do. But alot of people go because they pretty much get first pick when they transfer out of there.

Wow 8.5 months! That's a long patrol time. I would think some cabin fever would be associated with that length of time. Unless you are making landfall to restock/refuel every couple of months? Or are the supplies delivered?

I would never turn it down, however, I'm not sure how I would feel at see for over half a year never making landfall.

Usually u would go to a port call every 30-50 days, just depends on the mission, but we would always be in Alaska and wouldn't get to Seattle until the end.

And Alaska port calls are always so damn exciting! LOL

I am currently on HEALY as a FN, and I enjoy my job. If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to help you out.

Thanks all! I have a few more questions that I suppose are about cutters in general. When you go into a foreign port, or a port that isn't your port of call, for resupply do you get any leave off the cutter? How do you stay fit aboard a cutter for months? Also, what is the schedule like once your back at home port and off patrol?

Colin, my son, has been to ports all over the place. He has gotten off the ship and explored. He has loved it. He has been places he would not have had the opportunity to go had it not been for the CG. So long as you don't have duty and must stay aboard the ship, get off, enjoy the local culture.

Depending on the size of cutter there is usually work out equipment. If you are at a port call usually it's either considered work days so you work a normal 7-1 inport schedule or its considered as part of your patrol break so you work 72s, meaning your off except for duty days or coming in every 4th day for a workday. At home port most cutters work 7-1 and then have duty every few days where u stay overnight

On the Healy we have 2 gyms with lots of equipment. There are also a few people that do crossfit in the hangar after the work day is over. When we pull into port you can take leave, but it is up the discretion of your shop and command. My 3rd took a week of leave and spent the time in Anchorage with her husband during a port call.