What is the toughest job in the United States Coast Guard? Why?

2015-05-19T14:13:48-04:00

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made May 19 at 2015 2:13 PM

2015-05-19T14:13:45-04:00

Search and Rescue Swimmer?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 2:18 PM

2015-05-19T14:18:26-04:00

All seriousness aside, I would say the toughest would be having to put up w/ more jokes than us Air Force guys.

Those guys are awesome. Constantly patrolling & out on the water in much smaller craft. Search & Rescue is no joke at all!!!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 19 at 2015 2:17 PM

2015-05-19T14:17:21-04:00

I think Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher answered this one in that documentary.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 2:21 PM

2015-05-19T14:21:16-04:00

i would have to say the ones that walk around on River Street, Savannah GA on St. Patricks day without giving in and grabbing a beed from a vendor.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 2:27 PM

2015-05-19T14:27:36-04:00

While I am not CG, but my vote is for the Rescue Swimmers up in the Kodiak

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 19 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-05-19T14:30:15-04:00

Rescue swimmer.
USCG Liasion to USNORTHCOM

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 2:39 PM

2015-05-19T14:39:46-04:00

I'm not C.G but I figure it is probably.....

Publically admitting that you are in the Coast Guard?

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made May 19 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-05-19T14:45:37-04:00

Rescue swimmers and the rest of their crew would get my vote.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 19 at 2015 2:54 PM

2015-05-19T14:54:26-04:00

Same as the Navy and Marine Corps. Not falling overboard!

Response by LTJG Robert M. made May 19 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-05-19T15:01:18-04:00

I don't think any of them are tough if you love what you do, rescue swimmer is a volunteer program, so if you are doing it, you must love it!!

Response by PO1 Dustin Adams made May 19 at 2015 3:37 PM

2015-05-19T15:37:38-04:00

SAR and LEDET (Counter Narcotics - VBSS)

The red-headed step sister may have been adopted by DHS but they are consummate professionals.

Semper Paratus

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 19 at 2015 4:15 PM

2015-05-19T16:15:38-04:00

The Recruiter...... ;o)

I'd say their Search and Rescue folks, notably their swimmers.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made May 19 at 2015 4:19 PM

2015-05-19T16:19:49-04:00

9 years of shipboard duty, 7 hurricanes, 2 North Atlantic gales (perfect storm weather), four years in Gulf of Alaska. Hairiest part was SAR, always was in worst possible weather. when other ships/fishing boats/commercial crabbers were ducking into port to avoid weather, we were headed out to rescue the stragglers.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made May 19 at 2015 5:50 PM

2015-05-19T17:50:48-04:00

I'd have to go with Counter Drug Interdiction. (Sorry, I don't know the acronym for that.) Those guys don't walk into the hornet's nest... they're run into it.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made May 19 at 2015 7:46 PM

2015-05-19T19:46:01-04:00

Human Resources because they have to work past 1500 to type the Plan of the Day.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made May 19 at 2015 10:20 PM

2015-05-19T22:20:15-04:00

I'm glad you asked this question. The Coast Guard is almost a mystery. They save drowning victims, inspect vessels, intervene drug smuggling, but they do need to step up their advertising and PR image. They catch the brunt of jokes within the military community, but some of their vessels look like they would inflict SERIOUS pain! They have neat aviation toys as well. The guys that dive into arctic waters knowing they only have moments to say alive themselves? Forget about it!!! I wish we had more active members on RallyPoint. The 3 that are well known to us are among the best people I have ever interacted with on here. I'd actively recruit them to join, but everybody knows how busy the Coasties are in the desert of Arizona.

Response by SFC Wayne Ocker made May 19 at 2015 10:27 PM

2015-05-19T22:27:59-04:00

Any that serve they are watching our boarder

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 10:32 PM

2015-05-19T22:32:04-04:00

I would say it would have to be ASM... Or AST I believe they call it now.... Yes, the guys who jump from a perfectly working helicopter into 20 foot seas with 50kt winds.. Some of those guys were then left behind because after the rescue there was not enough room onboard and they had to wait for another helo... Not easy!!

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made May 20 at 2015 7:02 AM

2015-05-20T07:02:34-04:00

Definitely rescue swimmer, hands down!

Response by FA Heather Levy made May 20 at 2015 10:59 PM

2015-05-20T22:59:41-04:00

Rescue swimmers... Why is obvious

Response by SN Greg Wright made May 20 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-05-20T23:10:11-04:00

As in any other branch of the service...

....Spouse.

Response by CPO Bernie Penkin made May 20 at 2015 11:34 PM

2015-05-20T23:34:38-04:00

I think it depends on the type of duty station. When I was stationed on a patrol boat the whole crew routinely went into danger during search and rescue operations off Cape Hatteras. I used get pretty scared as a SAR Controller on the Oregon coast. It was nerve wracking to launch helos and boats in stormy weather and planning their search areas. The hard part was not knowing what they were actually heading into and planning for the worst possibility.

Breaking ice in the polar regions was pretty cool. The seas were pretty rough in some places. Oddly enough the roughest seas I ever sailed were the great lakes in November. Hard to believe but true.

Response by PO1 Ronald Schmiegelt made May 21 at 2015 3:22 PM

2015-05-21T15:22:04-04:00

Any of the operational jobs are tough. It all depends on the weather you have to operate in. Being a boat coxswain is one of the toughest. Usually they are junior enlisted, responsible for the boat and crew. They are constantly making tough decisions to accomplish the mission and keep their crew safe. They often operate independently, far from shore, and in all weather. They also get very little recognition for their work. Being on an 82ft patrol boat, out of San Francisco, with a LtJg as CO, was also frightening. He didn't know what he was doing, so you really had to watch out for your own safety.

Response by PO3 James Smith made May 22 at 2015 9:43 AM

2015-05-22T09:43:59-04:00

My personal opinion is working on a buoy tender on a day to day basis . Remember those people are handing 7 to ten ton buoys on rough waters . The buoys are swing freely and the chance of getting hurt are extremely high . Other jobs have more danger ,but the dangers ore not every day , I was in the Guard for four years and never served on a snatcher. I was on a 327 (U.C.G.C. Duane WHEC 33) and was on the Viet Nam cruise .

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2015 10:07 AM

2015-05-22T10:07:31-04:00

I have no clue. I don't know anything about the Coast Guard. All I know is that they are on boats. I really wonder how many of us are really able to answer this.

Response by PO3 James Cox made May 22 at 2015 11:08 AM

2015-05-22T11:08:07-04:00

i served in the '80 s onboard WMEC Dependable (626) she proudly displayed a golden pot leaf on her mast. = 1 Mil Tons seized. In addition to drug interdiction patrols we did immigration control, sar, and constant training.."Always Ready", all this with a $1 M bounty to who ever could sink us. She is still on duty.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2015 3:56 PM

2015-05-22T15:56:02-04:00

I guess it depends on the circumstances. I'd say overall, rescue swimmers (AST) have the most physically demanding job. There's also surfmen, who are a rare breed, but certainly have gained a reputation for taking the boats out in absolutely insane conditions for SAR cases. HITRON for LEDET trains to shoot out the engine block of go-fasts (drug boats) from a helicopter.

Response by PO1 Don Mac Intyre made Jan 26 at 2016 6:05 AM

2016-01-26T06:05:09-05:00

Hearing that fellow Coasties were lost while attempting to save others.
Followed by reading ignorant posts from service members that are clueless as to what it takes to be a Coastie.

Response by PO1 Jason Venema made Jan 26 at 2016 8:38 AM

2016-01-26T08:38:27-05:00

Buoy Tenders can have extremely long days of physical labor. They're also my favorites and have been the majority of my 10 year career.

Response by SCPO Ronald Rankin made Jan 26 at 2016 9:48 AM

2016-01-26T09:48:54-05:00

I spent over 30+ years in the coast from 1980-2010. Needless to say, but I've seen and done a lot. The toughest job in the Coast Guard is all the work required 24hrs a day, 7 days a week with a constantly small budget. I've spent hrs in a Saudi Arabian holding cell, I've run drug interdiction in the middle of the night on Rhib without close backup. Just keep in mind we aren't in DoD for a reason, but we are still one of the armed forces. If you ever get board see if you can catch a ride on a Cutter during 50 ft seas trying to go rescue people. No job is toughest or more important, from the non rates who paint to the CO who commands everyone needs to do their job for us to succeed.

Response by SCPO Dale Leighton made Jan 26 at 2016 10:23 AM

2016-01-26T10:23:06-05:00

If you ever found yourself in maritime peril and required the services of the Coast Guard I suspect you might just have a change of heart. With 25 years in the CG behind me Buoy Ops on the black hulls (buoy tenders) Pulling buoys off station on to the vessel, scraping and painting them and them resetting on station with GPS pin point accuracy.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Jan 26 at 2016 3:28 PM

2016-01-26T15:28:42-05:00

CAPT Edward Eng - Sir, I would love to hear your feedback on this one.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jan 26 at 2016 3:39 PM

2016-01-26T15:39:48-05:00

Cleaning the mud off the bottom of their boats. :)

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 4:58 PM

2016-01-26T16:58:51-05:00

Honestly, we "Blue Water" boys bash on the "Puddle Pirates"...but they have some pretty Bravo Alpha mission capabilities and scope. I can tell you one thing for certain-They don't consider a Navy O-3 with four years of bridge time the equal of more than a PO1 in lat-transfer ;)

Response by CWO4 Carter Owens made Jan 26 at 2016 6:17 PM

2016-01-26T18:17:16-05:00

I have a two-part answer.
Being a Marine Inspector. There are so many rules, regulations and procedures within USC series.
And working within the National Strike Force. That is a very challenging mission.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 7:01 PM

2016-01-26T19:01:46-05:00

Before I answered, I'd have to know what the definition of "toughest" you are using.

Physically demanding? Probably AST - the Rescue Swimmers.

Emotionally demanding? How about 19-year old smallboat coxswain that has to haul the corpse of a victim back to port with the family all gathered at the dock?

Intellectually demanding? Any of the regulatory enforcement folks that have to have chapters upon chapters of Federal Code of Federal Regulations memorized.

Having career fields that are significantly more generalized than all of the other services - with a SINGLE admin rating to do what the Army splits into NINE career fields, and other fields that are MUCH worse?

How about running an entire unit as an E-7 with full UCMJ authority and all the other stress of a full command?

Staffing units with exactly what is needed - without benefit of considering the silly things like leave, qualification time, injury, or surge operations?

Flying aircraft into storms that have forced all the expert pilots of the other four services to run away to inland safe-havens?

Running Search and Rescue cases in horrible conditions for idiots reported missing - only to find out that they changed their minds and went to their buddy's house to drink and never told their family members?

Doing 24 hour duty every two to eight days with no day off afterward, just being allowed to "nap" on board a noisy work-place for four hours afterward?

Making life and death decisions in perilous situations that can impact you, your crew, and possibly dozens or hundreds of others on a daily basis.

Doing inspections on international commercial vessels that will willingly lie on documents to save money, shipping Methyl-Ethyl-Killyouquick instead of Fuzzy-Duckling slippers?

Or, my personal favorite: doing any or all of the above and never getting credit for it?

Response by CPO Donald Crisp made Jan 26 at 2016 7:43 PM

2016-01-26T19:43:02-05:00

OK, I see a lot of non-CG responses and I have to say that I appreciated each one. As for the toughest job, you'll get a lot of different responses. Having served for nearly 22 years myself, I can tell you that ANY operational unit has its tough spots. Rescue Swimmers hit the water when others can't, patrolling cutters go out when the weather and conditions are at their worst, small boat units often have a very heavy work load including but not limited to search and rescue, law enforcement, marine environmental protection, event coordination and once again these take place in some of the worst conditions, severe heat, hurricanes, Noreaster's that send most small boats scrambling for the closest port in the storm and all dealing with a public that knows little to nothing about what the Coast Guard is all about. But as a whole, every job in the Coast Guard relies on every other job at some point in time, whether you're a cook, deal with the admin, engineer, deckie, operational specialist, or whatever. Non-stop, peace time, war time, and every minute in between. The Coast Guard has very little "down time." I am proud to have served in the Coast Guard and would do it all again if given the opportunity.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 8:19 PM

2016-01-26T20:19:26-05:00

Everyone sees the rescue swimmers as the face of the Coast Guard, and they do amazing work, but there are so many missions within the Coast Guard most folks don't ever hear about. We have folks all around the world training other nations and conducting missions. I wish they would take "Coast" out of our name. LOL That said, for the toughest job that I would never want to do is buoy tender duty. It's gross, rough, hard, dangerous work. Plus, these guys contribute to drug and alien interdiction ops.

Response by PO3 Sonny Simms made Jan 26 at 2016 10:02 PM

2016-01-26T22:02:47-05:00

I got out po3 because all I did was swab decks and stand watches. All my fault because of being immature and stupid. My father was a Marine so I was torn between the Corp and the Navy. A brother (who was in the Navy) of one of the guys I joined with talked us out of the Navy and said join the Guard. Rest is history.

Response by CPO Tim Dickey made Jan 26 at 2016 10:13 PM

2016-01-26T22:13:39-05:00

I crossed deck and served nearly 10 years in the Coast Guard Reserve. Between the SAR swimmers, the Law Enforcement Dets, and the old Maritime Safety Office (MSO), the MSO types have the toughest job. They're responsible for vessel inspections, keeping the ports and harbors clean, and generally enforcing the national and international shipping operations standards.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 12:06 AM

2016-01-27T00:06:21-05:00

The toughest job in the CG or is right at the top of the list would be that of the Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) or Independent Duty Health Services Tech (IDHS) aboard a 378 (WHEC) attached to a support unit w/out a CG Clinic & contracted with a Navy MTF ten miles away that doesn't understand CG policy. With a crew of 165 w/out an aviation attachment & 170 w/ an aviation attachment; it can get overbearing while cruising around the Bering Sea in December heading out into 40-50 foot seas with hail winds to save those too ignorant to head in for safety, but we're usually saving those employed in the most unsafe job in the world; the Bering Sea Fisherman. I really enjoy my job, but when 2 or more crew-members get injured at the same time in that environment; it's team work from the tight crew I have to help the injured crew-members & myself through the ordeal. This job will never go away & my hat goes off to all the other 378 IDC's/IDHS's out there.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Jan 27 at 2016 12:18 AM

2016-01-27T00:18:42-05:00

Toughest mental/emotional/career job?

Recruiter. 7;^P
Why? Duh...

Humor aside, I have no clue, but bouncing across the waves in a RHIB to do an Inspection / Boarding Action (or whatever it's called)... not me. Mi MUCHO GRANDE wuss-bucket... gimme a nice, safe, 25 mph blind-sprint sitting next to a nuclear power plant at least 400' underwater, daring the 1000's of psi to crush you like a grape.

Response by PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr made Jan 27 at 2016 12:44 AM

2016-01-27T00:44:28-05:00

being brave enough to volunteer to join a service that tells you you have to go out but you dont have to come back.

Response by PO2 Gary Wood made Jan 27 at 2016 1:53 AM

2016-01-27T01:53:36-05:00

All, Everyone has a tough job that never give up..

Response by PO2 Gary Wood made Jan 27 at 2016 1:57 AM

2016-01-27T01:57:35-05:00

Every job! Each works tirelessly for the mission!

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Jan 27 at 2016 1:59 PM

2016-01-27T13:59:50-05:00

I don't know what the toughest job in the Coast Guard is , all I know is that they do it well. I was happy as all get out when they showed up to save my butt when our fishing boat lost power in the San Diego Ship channel. No,we didn't tell them when they showed up we were US Navy

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jan 27 at 2016 7:07 PM

2016-01-27T19:07:25-05:00

Making sure you are over 6' tall? Why is that you ask? Everyone knows that you have to be 6' tall or more to join the USCG. That way when your boat sinks, your head is still above water!

Response by PO3 Rod Arnold made Jan 28 at 2016 11:03 PM

2016-01-28T23:03:21-05:00

Rescue swimmer in Alaska!!!

Response by PO2 Katie Benson made Jan 29 at 2016 12:46 PM

2016-01-29T12:46:37-05:00

With respect for my shipmates, I think all of our jobs are difficult and I think each of us doesn't understand fully what the other rates go through!
We are a great team!!!!

Response by SN Bryan King made Feb 2 at 2016 9:11 PM

2016-02-02T21:11:29-05:00

The toughest job for me was going from Alaska to Buffalo, Ny, fresh water sailors have no clue.

Response by CPO Allen Campbell made Feb 8 at 2016 1:26 AM

2016-02-08T01:26:42-05:00

Finding the person who poured the last cup of coffee without brewing a fresh pot!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2016 2:05 PM

2016-02-13T14:05:20-05:00

Army Reserve Public Affairs Officer makes a joke about coasties. Most press he ever got.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 10:42 AM

2016-03-09T10:42:20-05:00

While I doubt many would agree.... ATON is a rough business... In 92' I was the DC3 assigned to ANT NY, a 17 member unit with 2-21' Small Boats and 2-49' "A" Frame ATON Boats, when a Nor'easter hit the East Coast in mid-late December.... Our unit lost over 50 buoys (a few of which never were recovered and probably still sit at the bottom of the East River and KVK) while others required serious repairs to the lights or had to be re-positioned, had damage to numerous Light structures, 16 of which were completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt, and countless Dayboards were damaged or destroyed (Probably about 1/3 of the boards in our operational area).... And all in the New York City area from Fort Totten to Sandy Hook, West Point to Ambrose Tower.... We worked 18-20 hour days for over a month (including weekends) restoring navigation to the area in just above to sub-freezing temperatures and Ice Flow conditions wearing ratted out Mustangs and soaked to the core.... Like I said...ATON is a rough business.....

Response by PO2 Alvin Dimalanta made Jun 30 at 2016 5:22 PM

2016-06-30T17:22:37-04:00

Cook, they work every holiday, weekends, and many have to cook all three meals which can be an 18hr work day, they get crapped on by the crew because the food they get from their supplier is the same type as cafeteria food.
You should feel how hot the galley and mess deck on a 378 is from the heat radiating from the engine room, mainly when the Shia is down by the equator, even the engineering divisions don't suffer in sweltering heat like that.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 14 at 2018 10:40 AM

2018-04-14T10:40:07-04:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1snF6PF0UTA

I was always rather singularly struck by this particular video...I'd always found it one of the more interesting I'd seen about USCG, you know? We also have a family friend who'd been Army enlisted, went Army WOCS for helicopters, finished his bachelors in aviation at Embry Riddle Univ, then went interservice to USCG for helicopters as well, either by direct commission, or by an OIS (indoc program), as opposed to their OCS, from what I'd gathered when he and I chatted at one point....

US Coast Guard Hitron Law Enforcement Homeland Security

See how USCG Law Enforcement and Narcotics does their job in Hitron to keep he United States save from drugs. Property of: Military Channel Uploaded by CPO-S...