Shore, Land, or Sea Going

[JACoastie]

Most of the GM's I served with afloat basically had it made.

Stood BM watch on the bridge/making rounds/rotating the watch.

Armory/office was one of the lowest level, best rideing, hardest to reach compartments on the cutter.

[Sea_Spook]

GMC,

Nice post. Unfortuantely it's the way we are headed with this new "port centric" CG. Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, we already have people "managing" (yeah right  ) cutter operations who have never spent a day underway.

It's unlikely to change until someone gets hurt out there (because they lacked the relevent experience) or the Navy scoops up the offshore segment of our misson.

[AIREDALE]

Thor,
        Thank you for the kind words about us aviator type guys. Though we are mostly shore based we have the greatest respect for our sea going brothers. \
        I have not seen many desks get underway or trying to get airborne lately. It's a shame that so many guys choose to become "white collar sailors." It's their loss that they lose out on all the comraderie and action that's out there.
         These guys remind me of that hotel commercial on TV, where the guy says "I never rode a bull before, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night."
                                      SEMPER PARATUS

      "Those wonderful men in their flying machines."

[Salba]

 

Sea versus Shore?

You'll always have this catfight.  Some folks avoid the shore like the plague and some likewise getting Sea Duty/Overseas Duty.  The nice part about the Coast Guard is that because of our missions and diversity of units - we can manage a great career the majority of which we do what we want.  Missions and assets change - goal of helping public, protecting our nation doesn't. Semper Paratus means we're ready to contribute despite changes to mission and assets available.

I disagree with some about shore pukes - although it's fun to good naturely rib each other.  Those shore pukes make it possible for those sea going creatures to do their jobs too!  Training, pay, logistics, and so forth.

As to folks without the "sea experience" telling sea goers what to do - that's an experience thing.  I feel the same way when non-trainers try to tell me how to design and present good training.  It's not limited to cutter duty!

For myselfl - I loved going to sea.  Went as RM2, RM1, and RMC - BUT I don't have a permanent cutterman's pin.  Had a lot of short tours for a variety of reasons (including selection to OCS); and when I didn't go to sea as JO my sea duty options were eliminated.  If I were in a service like the Navy - I could have gone to sea without JO/DWO experience - but then I'm not in the Navy so going to sea without that experience as JO wasn't possible.

So have fun - kidding each other about our roles - whether its flying, steaming, or being a land lubber... but remember none of us accomplishes the mission assigned without the others.

Enuf Said
Best Wishes

[ronone]

Hey RonOne, I'm glad to see you chose a screen name indicative of a GREAT Navy Combat SAR squadron, HELSUPPRON ONE!!!

BTW, you left out the great aviation components of the CG.  They're a little closer brethren than the rest of the CG folks to me.

Thor,  my nom de net is in honor of the the first combat patrol craft to serve in Vietnam. U. S. Coast Guarda Squadron One, Vietnam. 

[EX-CG-GM]

Hey RonOne, I'm glad to see you chose a screen name indicative of a GREAT Navy Combat SAR squadron, HELSUPPRON ONE!!!

BTW, you left out the great aviation components of the CG.  They're a little closer brethren than the rest of the CG folks to me.

Thor,  my nom de net is in honor of the the first combat patrol craft to serve in Vietnam. U. S. Coast Guarda Squadron One, Vietnam. 

It's taking awhile, but we'll get Thor educated yet....   

[tc1uscg]

MC Guns.. Nice to see you onboard. Hope you had a nice rest.. 

Now for the subj at hand.     

This subj will never go away. One doesn't make you better then the other. What seems to always be pushed to the back of the pile is the CG is made up of various arms that forms our now CG universe. Traditions don't die. People just forget where it all came from.

For a little help.. here's a good place to start to get educated.. http://www.uscg.mil/history/

When we talk about traditions.. are you talking about tossing someone into the water when they are a new member of the crew or traditions like rendering honors, crossing the equator and so on? 

[Crazy Horse]

The Navy had it easy.................E4 and below in most rates............(except those damn brownshoes  ) 5 and 2 (sea vs shore) E-5 and E-6 3/3.........E7 and above different rules.

I loved sea duty.........You could show up in medical holding a detached arm and it was, here is some 800mg Motrin now get back to work. Shore duty, I broke a nail...........3 days SIQ.