Shake Those Pounds's Journal, 07 June 2022

That is so sweet. I suggested she get a sponsor family. Sounds like a great program. I’ll save your email and delete the post so it isn’t public. Thank you! What did you teach? 

I taught Officer Candidate School, primarily Leadership, Nautical Science, and Ship Handling Theory courses. We were (and still are) in the basement of Chase Hall. I got to sail with the cadets on the Eagle six times and loved my time with them! Your daughter has an amazing future ahead of her… worst case scenario, she completes five years, has no debt, and has a degree. She will be ridiculously marketable outside of the service. Best case scenario, she utilizes the Coast Guard’s benefits and goes to grad school (the Coast Guard often give you two years off PAID to go to graduate school when she’s a Lieutenant). Maybe she does a career, and if so she’s eligible to retire at 42 years old with a pension forever. I’m 42 this year, joined when I was 19, and am retiring to spend time with my two boys who are going into high school. We bought a house with cash here in Austin and don’t have a worry in the world. I’m really stoked for her - it’s a phenomenal time to be a woman in the CG. Admiral Linda Fagan (I worked directly for her from 2018-2021) is the first female Commandant of any military service… she is not Commandant because she’s a female, she is Commandant and happens to be a woman/trailblazer. The future is hers. All the best! 

I am so impressed with the equality in the Coast Guard. Her class is around 42% women, the most they’ve had. Her plan is to major in Naval Architecture, do 2 years on a boat after graduating and then go on to flight school. Plans can change, but it is no doubt an amazing opportunity no matter what she does. At 17 she already realizes how amazing it is. I’m so thankful life has lead to this path.