cadet blogs

Aviation Day

(Choosing the Coast Guard Academy, Class of 2014) Permanent link All Posts

Today was Aviation Day at the Coast Guard Academy, which consisted of several Coast Guard pilots flying in, talking with us, and giving us a tour of their aircraft. I was pumped to be around so many people that live out the Coast Guard mission every day. Think about it. By this time next week, how many people will they have helped, saved, or protected? As always happens when I ponder this thought, I simply cannot wait to get out to the fleet!

I was also reminded today of why I choose the Coast Guard in the first place. Last summer, I went through the AIM program here at the Academy, and one night my cadre told a story of a challenging Coast Guard helicopter rescue. Without going into too much detail, hearing this story was a defining moment in my decision process, and because of it, I was certain that the Coast Guard was where I wanted to be. Fast forward to Aviation Day, one of the pilots that visited was one of the pilots in that story!

This man, unbeknownst to him, had been tremendously influential in my career decision, and he was standing before me. This got me thinking. If he is just an average Coast Guardsmen, then that means that anyone who graduates from the Academy, including me, can one day be what he is already: a hero. Stories like his are not the exception; they happen everyday by normal people who have a passion for excellence and a strong resolve to help and protect those in need. It is because of this that I find myself content to remain here at the Academy and learn everything I can about becoming one of those leaders of character.

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Posted by Leann Strickland at 2/15/2012 11:47 AM