Coast To Coasties

In this episode of the Coast To Coasties podcast, I sit down with Currently serving Coast Guard reservist / Author D.M.WEBBER as he discusses his newest novel "COLD FRONT" which is the start of a trilogy is the mystery & suspense thriller genre book series drawing from a particular small boat 29' vessel sailor named Logan Cross. Elements of the fictional story heavily draw upon investigating m...

In this episode of the Coast To Coasties podcast, I sit down with Aviation Survivalist Technician (AST3) Max Gardiner to discuss the daily work life of a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. While day-day work life will change greatly depending on where an individual is stationed, Max provides great insight on what his job entails to ensure he stays both proficient and ready to execute the Coast Guard miss...

So you want to become a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer? The pathway to becoming an Aviation Survivalist Technician (AST) is a journey with many challenges to overcome in accomplishing this objective. The Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer/AST rate is one of the most highly sought after career paths / adventures the U.S Coast Guard offers. Many people seek to join the Coast Guard specifically to do this missio...

In this episode of the Coast To Coasties I sit down with LTJG Bryan Casado and discuss his journey from U.S Navy Corpsman to U.S Coast Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS) graduate. We break down what life was like serving in the Navy and alongside Marines and what led to Casado's eventual transition to the Coast Guard. From there we have an in depth discussion on the process Casado went through t...

In this highly requested episode of the Coast To Coasties podcast, I sit down with LTJG Bryan Casado to discuss navigating military service life together with a family. Many extra considerations have to be taken into account for a member when the decisions affect their life as well as the lives of their spouse and children. We have a fantastic discussion breaking down the additional challenges Coa...

In this episode of the Coast To Coasties Podcast, I continue my 2 part discussion with MST1 Gavin Kline about the newest Warrant Officer pathway in the U.S Coast Guard. The intention of the program is to give members in certain enlisted rates earlier opportunity in their career timeline to become Warrant Officers which benefits both the enlisted member with increased pay and responsibilities and b...

In this episode of the Coast To Coasties Podcast, I sit down with MST1 Gavin Kline and discuss the highly requested episode of what the job of being a Marine Inspector involves. Marine Inspections is a highly sought after career to get into for the Coast Guard because of the plentiful career opportunities after the Coast Guard and for the amazing work-life balance the job provides while in the Coa...

By special request, in this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I do a deep dive on my Coast Guard Career so far and share my personal journey through the United States Coast Guard. I discuss my influences growing up that led to me joining the Coast Guard and milestone influences that have shaped my career to this point. Many listeners have requested I do a comprehensive episode of myself...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I have the privilege of sitting down with my guest, Chief Petty Officer Vicent Bucaneg, to talk about his Coast Guard career and why he loves working as a company commander for recruit bootcamp at Training Center Cape May! He has such a passion for what he considers to be the most fulfilling job in the Coast Guard, as it gives you the ability to...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast I go in depth on the Olmsted Scholarship Program which is a graduate school program enhanced with language learning opportunities that Coast Guard Officer's can apply to take part in. Founded in 1959 this super selective program involves one year of intense language learning followed by two years at graduate school university in the selected count...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I sit down with retired Coast Guard Pilot, Aaron Sanders, to have a discussion about the VA Loan. The VA Loan is an attractive 0$ down payment loan that enables Coast Guard and other military members active, reserve, and veteran to compete for housing they otherwise would be unable to afford in competitive real estate markets Coasties often get t...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, we dive into 2024 with an exciting episode featuring one of the smallest rates in the Coast Guard, highlighting the Diver (DV) Rate with only about 70 active duty divers in the entire U.S Coast Guard. I sit down with (DV1) Diver first class Andy Murillo who walks us through his day to day life as a diver as well as a detailed discussion on the pr...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I discuss the programs available to active duty and reservist members that we can utilize in pursuing a bachelors or masters degree while serving in the U.S Coast Guard. I cover various opportunities available for both enlisted and officers including the "Post 9/11 GI Bill", and the "Tuition Assistance Program", as well as the "Coast Guard Gradua...

In this episode of the Coast to Coasties Podcast, I sit down with my guest who is my mother, Jeannie Giacomuzzi and ask her for advice and tips she can give to other parents who are currently or soon to be embarking on the journey of having their child serve in the United States Coast Guard. We discuss great ways to support your children in the Coast Guard whether that be facetiming, care packages...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I go in depth on a comprehensive discussion of places and regions you could potentially get stationed in the United States Coast Guard. Often times one of the first questions that's going to come up on deciding whether you want to the join the Coast Guard or pick a particular rate is "Where could I potentially get stationed in the Coast Guard?" T...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I'm sitting down with my good friend Reservist Chief Boatswain Mate, Michael Gould, on our travel back from a high school community outreach event where we talk about the unique camaraderie gained in the military service as well as the importance of community awareness and outreach about what the Coast Guard is, and what we do as an organization....

New Episode! Thank you all for your patience and reaching out for when season 2 would officially launch and it is now! In the long anticipated return of the Coast to Coasties Podcast, I talk about my experience of becoming a Direct Commission Officer from application process to reporting at my unit and attending the Direct Commission Officer school at the Coast Guard Academy and we get into deep d...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I sit down with Senior Chief Thompson who is a Coast Guard Reservist on Active Duty Orders with the Portland Maine recruiting office. We discuss everything going into being a reservist in the Coast Guard including all the benefits and opportunities reservists can take advantage of and how they can balance their Coast Guard time with their civilia...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, we continue to build upon our previous episode highlighting the Marine Science Technician Rate, and take a further in depth look at the pollution and response side of the job. Our guest today, MST1 Justin Basham, has been a Marine Science Technician in the Coast Guard for 12 years with a majority of his career and interests focused on the polluti...

To Scrub...Or Not To Scrub...In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast I sit down with MST-A School, school house chief Senior Chief Kristin Gray and School Instructor MST1 Lewis Register as we cover a high demand topic the listeners have been asking for. The work life of a Marine Science Technician in the Coast Guard. This rate is one of the most encompassing rates with a dual purpose of...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties Podcast", I sit down with Carl Boehmer and Tyler Mleczko who both run the Coast Guard Mentorship Program. This program was created as a way for current Coasties serving in Active, Reservist, Auxiliary, and Civilian capacities to have the ability to network and connect with one another from any time and any place in a mentor mentee relationship with the goa...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I sit down with Seaman Sterling Opsahl for the my first episode recorded at A-School. We discuss his time as a non-rate at station Umpquaw in Oregon working at a surf station and highlighting the Surfman community in the United States Coast Guard. The surf community is specialized in heavy weather surf training to rescue people in heavy wave cond...

In this episode of the "Coast To Coasties" Podcast, I sit down with future Coastie and super fan of the podcast Eric Slutsky, who is currently working as a Coast Guard Auxiliarist in high school and has interest in becoming a Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME Rate). I ask him what interested him in joining the Coast Guard and why he's so passionate about making this a long term career for himsel...

In this second part of our interview with special guest commercial mariner Elan Silver, we discuss in depth our 4 year experience attending Maine Maritime Academy to earn our 3rd Mates Unlimited Gross Tonnage Licenses. We walk you through our journey year by year and all of the challenges we faced along the way from high school kids to professional mariners in a very competitive maritime industry....

In this special episode of the "Coast To Coasties" podcast, I sit down with Elan Silver, a civilian mariner who sails as a third mate for one of the commercial merchant vessels responsible for delivering goods to our country. 90% of all commercial goods trading is done through the waters of the world and Mr. Silver is here to tell us how important the U.S Merchant Marine is to our country as well...