6 reasons it’s awesome to be a woman in the Coast Guard

by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jasmine Mieszala, USCG

 

1. Women have been serving the Coast Guard for a really, REALLY long time.
Our roots in the Coast Guard can be traced back all the way to the Revenue Cutter Service in 1791 when “Black Marie” was hired to protect cargo destined for Revenue Cutter Scammel. She fought off six smugglers attempting to steal the cargo.

 

2. No job is off limits.
Women can serve in any job in the Coast Guard without limitation. Want to be a tactical coxswain? Done! Tactical law enforcement teams? Sure! Diver? Ok! Honor Guard? Absolutely.

 

3. The Coast Guard is family oriented.
It’s like having a big family at work and then being able to go home to your own family. And when you bring the two families together, it’s like a big family get together. But aside from all of that, we look out for each other.

 

4. Women are not treated differently.
We go to boot camp together. We train together. We eat together. We work together. And sometimes, our lives depend on each other.

 

5. It’s like having a ton of brothers.
The brothers you always wanted will always have your back. Sure, sometimes they get annoying..and maybe they get stinky from time to time, but they are there for you.

 

6. You form a sisterhood with other women serving in the Coast Guard.
We build each other up. We network together and form friendships that will last a lifetime. A lot of us have similar struggles, so we know how to help each other.

 

So if you’re considering joining the Coast Guard, or if you’re already here with us, remember.. It’s awesome to be a woman in the Coast Guard!