Tall Ship EagleMoutoussamy Madai
I am a French Cadet from the French Naval Academy and I am writing this article from the Eagle. The first mission of the American tall ship, as you probably know, is to train cadets from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. This is the first time the French Navy has done such a thing with the Coast Guard! Thus, I jumped at the opportunity to come on board for a deployment of three weeks. In fact, I do think that the French Naval Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy have a lot to exchange since their organizations are really similar.
It is an unforgettable experience for me. For example, it is really exciting to climb up the mast and to look over the immensity of the ocean. Every time we go to sail stations, you can feel the excitement in the air. Whenever we look at the wind fueling the sails we are proud of our work, for on Eagle, we are all working together.
Our love for the sea creates unity no matter who we are; French Cadets, Canadian Sea Cadets, Chinese Cadets, USCG Cadets – the ocean looks the same no matter where you are from.
Navigating together reinforces links between people, for we are always ready to help a shipmate who needs it. “Unity makes us stronger.” It is a rule of physics that the more people you have working in harmony to pull on the rope, the easier the ship can readjust its course. Pierre, the other French Cadet, and I have been welcomed on board by the 2nd Class Cadets, the cadre of Swab Summer. We had a lot of laughs together, and when talking about our respective academies, daily lives, and the subjects we were studying (as physics, engineering, mathematics, foreign languages, etc.) we realized that our lives have a lot in common.
During Swab Summer, those who just entered the USCGA reinforce their unity while learning more about the traditions of the U. S. Coast Guard, just as we do in France during our first weeks at the French Naval Academy.
Day after day, I realize how wonderful it is to be here and to share feelings and experiences with my shipmates.
I hope that this program of exchange between the French Navy and the United States Coast Guard will continue providing more cooperation between our two countries.
Miss Moutoussamy Madai, Aspirant (2nd year cadet of French Naval Academy)