In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn records in person with Kurt Revels, United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer #243.

Revels takes us through his journey from the grueling days of Rescue Swimmer School to the intensity of real-world missions across multiple duty stations, including Chicago-Illinois, Mobile-Alabama, Kodiak-Alaska and Traverse City-Michigan. He shares stories of his first rescue, daring cliff operations, and missions in rough seas, all while reflecting on the lessons learned and the resilience demanded of every swimmer.

Revels highlights the camaraderie and mentorship that define the Coast Guard community, from training through deployments. He also touched on the more unique aspects of service—everything from "Unidentified Floating Objects” to trampolines adrift.

As Revels reflects on his final deployments and the shift into civilian life, he emphasizes the importance of carrying forward the legacy of service through mentorship, while also pursuing personal growth, fitness, and adventure. His stories shed light not only on the technical skill and bravery of rescue swimmers, but also on the emotional toll and profound impact of their missions—both on those saved and those doing the saving. Enjoy!

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