cadet blogs

Whirlwind

(The Cadet Experience, Class of 2012) Permanent link All Posts

As I sit at the Golf Company OOD desk, I’m reflecting on the summer this far. It’s not over yet, but I’ve already had some really memorable experiences. The first few weeks were spent working with the Cape May Company Commanders, studying for the mariner’s version of Driver’s Ed called Rules of the Road, and learning how to shoot a gun. After those three weeks, I went on leave. I got to see friends in Florida, family and friends in North Carolina, and then one of my sisters and I took a road trip up to Boston for two Red Sox games! (They won both, by the way.) While in North Carolina, I spent time at the beach and caught up with some friends from elementary and high school. We also went skydiving. It was a summer break I’ll never forget!

The excitement did not stop there. After leave, I return to the Academy just to turn around and go to Baltimore, Maryland. A few of my classmates and I got to shadow marine inspectors and experience a few days in the Coast Guard prevention field. We toured headquarters, met with an admiral and even got to see the command center for the current Gulf oil spill.

After that week, I spent two more weeks at the Academy. My cadre section sailed in 26-foot Colgates and learned deck seamanship on T-Boats. I spent last week in Mobile, Alabama. It was AWESOME there!!! I think I could live there when I get old. The purpose for that trip was to introduce cadets to Coast Guard aviation. Some of my classmates got to fly around in helicopters, while others of us went on Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) flights. I was actually on a flight that went over the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion the day before the current cap was installed. The site I saw will be in my brain forever. It was unbelievable.

This week my cadre section is preparing for our next three weeks on the USCGC Eagle. More writing and pictures will follow!

More about Katie.

Posted by Leann Strickland at 2/8/2012 3:23 PM