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The United States Marines, Navy and the Air Force have definitely made their mark on the public.  Everyone knows them as protectors of America, but did you know that the Coast Guard is also a part of the US Armed Forces — a huge part — dedicated to saving lives? 

“We are the only branch that has a major humanitarian mission,” Coast Guard Career Councilor Dale Hawkins explained adding, “We are very proud of that.” 

They spend their time patrolling the seas and keeping us out of danger. They played a huge role in helping those involved in Hurricane Katrina.  In fact, they were there, prepared, before it even hit.

People interested in going into the Coast Guard as enlisted protectors must graduate from high school, have no criminal record, and pass both the written examination and the physical exam.

To become an officer one must have a four year college degree. Officers provide leadership, similar to bosses in the civilian world. They receive much higher salaries than enlisted workers.

Hawkins said that in the action movie, The Guardian, the Coast Guard was portrayed, “generally realistic, except that in weather that bad the coast guard does not send helicopters into it.”

As reassuring as that is, patrolling the open seas can be a dangerous task, no matter how good the weather is.

According to Hawkins, the Coast Guard has more aircraft per capita than the Air Force. Those familiar orange helicopters and planes are always there, day and night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the mission of protecting you.    

For more information about a career with the U.S. Coast Guard visit http://www.uscg.mil/top/car...