Coast To Coasties

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties Podcast", I sit down with Carl Boehmer and Tyler Mleczko who both run the Coast Guard Mentorship Program. This program was created as a way for current Coasties serving in Active, Reservist, Auxiliary, and Civilian capacities to have the ability to network and connect with one another from any time and any place in a mentor mentee relationship with the goal of furthering both personal and career development. Carl and Tyler walk me through the history of why the program was founded and the important role it has today as it continues its rapid growth in the Coast Guard today. This program is pioneering the way for Coasties to connect with one another and I highly encourage everyone to become apart of it as it gives you both the chance to learn valuable knowledge from other Coast Guard members and pass on valuable knowledge to other Coast Guard members!

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I sit down with Seaman Sterling Opsahl for the my first episode recorded at A-School. We discuss his time as a non-rate at station Umpquaw in Oregon working at a surf station and highlighting the Surfman community in the United States Coast Guard. The surf community is specialized in heavy weather surf training to rescue people in heavy wave conditions and Sterling does an excellent job describing day to day life and rescue procedure at these unique units We also discuss his ownership and hobby of being a snake keeper and talks about caring for his green tree pythons and how other coasties can get started in owning and caring for snakes and other reptiles of their own. If anyone is interested in hearing about the amazing work the Coast Guard Surfmen are doing, this is a great episode to tune in for!

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I sit down with future Coastie and super fan of the podcast Eric Slutsky, who is currently working as a Coast Guard Auxiliarist in high school and has interest in becoming a Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME Rate). I ask him what interested him in joining the Coast Guard and why he's so passionate about making this a long term career for himself. We then discuss questions that himself and many other prospective Coasties have been waiting to ask on the show. Tune in to this first ever sit down with a prospective high schooler looking to make the Coast Guard a long term career for himself!

In this second part of our interview with special guest commercial mariner Elan Silver, we discuss in depth our 4 year experience attending Maine Maritime Academy to earn our 3rd Mates Unlimited Gross Tonnage Licenses. We walk you through our journey year by year and all of the challenges we faced along the way from high school kids to professional mariners in a very competitive maritime industry. Our time at Maine Maritime Academy was full of glorious adventures and rigorous academics along with a regimented lifestyle and we're here today to retell our story to the listeners. Many people have interest in both the United States Coast Guard and the Commercial Mariner Industry upon graduating high school and this is where Elan and I talk about our experience going the commercial route immediately after high school. This podcast is for anyone who wants insight to help them decide which path is right for them or anyone generally curious about what it's like to attend a Maritime Academy for 4 years!

In this special episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I sit down with Elan Silver, a civilian mariner who sails as a third mate for one of the commercial merchant vessels responsible for delivering goods to our country. 90% of all commercial goods trading is done through the waters of the world and Mr. Silver is here to tell us how important the U.S Merchant Marine is to our country as well as work schedules, travel/social life and pay as a Merchant Mariner. We talk back and fourth on how commercial mariners and the United States Coast Guard have quite a few similarities and differences in our missions to achieve the ultimate goal of serving on our oceans for the greater good of society. Anyone interested in hearing about what our great Merchant Mariners are doing out in the deep ocean, this episode is for you!

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, we sit down again with BOSN Fonville to discuss in depth the world of ATON in the United States Coast Guard. Black Hulls of all sizes are responsible for servicing and maintaining our buoys and aids to navigation throughout the U.S coastal waterways and rivers. Many people have called the world of ATON the hidden gem of the Coast Guard and now is your chance to here a first hand account from the BOSN Fonville who has served on multiple different platforms and districts in the ATON world. We're here to walk you through every step and detail of how we get the buoys out in the water and why they're essential for our civilian mariners and marine transportation system. To everyone interested in joining the Black Hull Mafia, this episode is for you!

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I sit down for the first of a two part episode with CWO3 BOSN Matthew Fonville and discuss his legendary career in the United States Coast Guard. BOSN Fonville has sailed on polar security cutters, worked as a quarter master 3rd class when the rate still existed, and has been stationed in Patrol Forces Southwest Asia to list a few of the amazing accomplishments of his career. We cover all of these adventures and get in depth into what his job entailed being a Boatswains Mate at each of his duty stations throughout his time of service. We also discuss the process of how he went from Chief to Warrant Officer. This episode is jam packed with content and one you definitely are going to want to hear if you are interested in the Boatswain Mate rate or traveling around during your Coast Guard career!

*(Golden Shellback if someone who crossed the equator at the international date line)

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I sit down with New England's District 1 Command Master Chief Michael Ingham to discuss his 24+ year journey from starting out as a Seaman Recruit (E1) at bootcamp, all the way to becoming district master chief and working with the District 1 Commander Admiral Mauger. Master Chief Ingham discusses how he came to join the Coast Guard and walks us through his personal career milestone moments that lead to this position including his time as the IT Rating Force Master Chief, and being in charge of the newly formed Cyber Command. We also discuss what the roles and responsibilities are of the Command Master Chief and the great things Master Chief Ingham is doing on a weekly basis to improve the lives of all the Coasties he represents!

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast I sit down with Tidas Dixon, a Petty Officer 3rd Class Damage Controlman aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter OAK. We discuss his life as a fisherman prior to joining the Coast Guard, Important skillsets you can develop as a DC, and ideas for improving public transportation systems to benefit members of the Coast Guard on a daily basis. DC3 Dixon has an incredible amount of foresight as to why the Damage Controlman rate provides people with great skillsets for a post Coast Guard transition to the civilian workforce and also has a lot of knowledge on how the individual commuter can benefit from taking advantage of more public transportation opportunities as they grow around the communities we serve. This is a great episode to tune into to hear DC3's words of wisdom and what serving as a Damage Controlman is all about!

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I have the privilege of sitting down with long time Coast Guard Auxiliary member and United States Navy Veteran Mr. Scott Campbell. Mr. Campbell tells us the vast amount of roles and opportunities people can partake in by volunteering in the Coast Guard Auxiliary along with some of his personal experiences he has had with his time apart of it. This is a component of the U.S Coast Guard that plays a vital role in maritime safety as well as search and rescue and I am delighted to produce and share an episode with the audience detailing this group of outstanding people who not everyone has heard about. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy our discussion!