cadet blogs

After rowing Nationals, I was sent to San Diego, California on the CGC Boutwell. It was the same cutter I was stationed on as a 3/c cadet. Since then, it had changed homeports and crews. Because rowing crew had cut into my summer, I was stationed on the Boutwell for about 18 days instead of the standard 42. Luckily, I had already completed many of the trainings 2 years ago onboard the cutter so I was able to qualify Security Watch within those few weeks.

When I first got the assignment to the CGC Boutwell, I was disappointed, as I had already experienced the exact same cutter. However, I am really happy I was sent back. The attitude and the operational success of the cutter had been transformed since I had last been aboard. It was awesome to see the difference in the cutters performance, the crew’s attitude toward not only cadets, but the Coast Guard in general. It was a great example to me about how leadership does have an impact.

But just as soon as I felt settled down, it was time to fly off to Albuquerque for my internship.

More about Jessica.

This past summer was one of the best of my life. It began in May when the Women’s Crew Team was selected for NCAA Nationals. Eight Division III schools are selected and we were one of them. Instead of immediately heading out for my summer unit, I stayed at the Academy with fellow rowers and trained. All we did was eat, sleep, work out, and hang out. Nationals were held in New Jersey and we went down the week of the event to train there. One night involved a huge banquet where all the rowers of all NCAA Divisions dressed up and celebrated their achievement in making it that far. We wore our Trops (a summer uniform) to the event. I was so proud that night of everything we had accomplished. We succeeded in attaining the same level athletically as these other rowers while going through so much else that they would never know about or understand. It was a great feeling. That week was Memorial Day weekend and the speaker gave the Coast Guard a shout out. One of the seniors, SJ Otey, won the academic award for having the highest GPA out of all Division III rowers. Pretty incredible. We ended up dominating the Petite Finals after not making it into the Grand Finals by a close photo finish. We quickly said goodbye to the seniors as they departed for their units and were transported to our summer assignments.

More about Jessica.