Radio Boat Forces

This week on Radio Boat Forces , we’re joined by a leader who knows exactly how to turn potential into performance, head coach of the Coast Guard Academy football team, Coach C.C. Grant.   Entering his sixth season with the Bears, Coach Grant brings nearly three decades of experience developing disciplined, mission-ready competitors. From leading a baseball program to 184 wins and an ECAC Champion...

This episode takes us to Training Center Yorktown, where Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mates are forged through 14 weeks of hands-on training in seamanship, navigation, and small boat operations. Set near the historic grounds of Yorktown, where a decisive American Revolution victory helped shape the nation, today’s mission continues a legacy of readiness and service. We sit down with BMCM Joey Bucciero...

Operational demands don’t pause, and neither does the responsibility to lead when conditions shift without warning. This episode features Mr. Eric McNulty , Associate Director of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University and co-author of You're It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When It Matters Most. His work draws from major crises to explain how leaders think, d...

What started as Coast Guard ribbing, “puddle pirates,” the tongue-in-cheek nickname for near-shore ops, became something else entirely. Puddle Pirate Gear celebrates that spirit with quality tees, hoodies, and accessories that honor Coast Guard legacy, resilience, and pride while poking fun at itself. Join us as we talk to the person behind the helm about building a brand that ships Coast Guard cu...

In the Season 1 finale, we welcome the newest members of the Office of Boat Forces team: YN1 Katie Mayer and LTJG Tommy Vroman . We learn who they are, where they’ve been, and what drives their commitment to the fleet. Then we sit down with CG-731 Actual, CAPT Michael McCarthy , for a high-level look at his path to the Boat Forces helm and his perspective on the mission ahead. He offers a preview...

Ever hear a BM say, “Why don’t we just use this boat I found online?” Turns out, there’s a bit more to it. In this episode, Lieutenant Kevin Flood from the Office of Boat Forces, Platform Management (2-Side) walks us through what really happens before a new Coast Guard platform ever hits the water. From identifying operational needs to testing designs, vetting performance, and navigating the maze...

We sit down with BMCM Kraig McCellan and BMCM Thomas Hines , OICs of the Coast Guard construction tenders Cheyenne and Gasconade , based in St. Louis. Their stories bring to life the critical but often unsung role these river-borne platforms play in sustaining our nation’s infrastructure and economy. Inland waterways carry hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually, alleviating congestion on h...

When two of the Coast Guard’s Specialty Force Managers sit down together, you know you’re in for more than just policy talk. In this episode, CWO Robert Birdwell and CWO Robert Devoy take us inside the world of warrant officers where experience meets leadership, and every decision can ripple through the fleet. From sea stories that sparked their call to the warrant ranks to candid insights on shap...

In this episode, Radio Boat Forces heads north to the rugged beauty of Sitka, Alaska, where the Officer in Charge, BMC Dean Buckler and his team from ANT Sitka keep mariners safe amid some of the most challenging waters in the nation. From shifting currents and icy channels to winds that test both seamanship and resolve, this team keeps the aids to navigation shining bright across Southeast Alaska...

In this episode, we sit down with CDR Ryan Koroknay , U.S. Coast Guard liaison to the Naval Warfare Development Center in Norfolk, VA. He provides insight into how the Coast Guard contributes to the Navy’s efforts in shaping joint doctrine and advancing maritime operations.  Our conversation traces his career path leading to this unique assignment, explores the importance of Coast Guard/Navy colla...

In this episode, BMCM Adam Bure , Officer-in-Charge of Coast Guard Station Kenosha, walks us through what it takes to lead a Scheduled Mission Station (SMS) and a Forward Operating Location (FOL). From seasonal ice rescue to law enforcement and search-and-rescue, the operational demands are steep...especially on Lake Michigan’s unpredictable water and weather. Extra historical context: Station Ken...

In this episode, we sit down with LCDR Steven Ober (ret)., whose career reflects both the traditions of Boat Forces and the evolution of Coast Guard aviation. Beginning his service on small boats, he advanced from crewmember to coxswain before transitioning into aviation, where he became the first Coast Guard rescue swimmer.  His service extended far beyond aviation. Over a 26-year career, his con...

After getting multiple requests, we’re answering the call. This week’s episode is your one-stop shop for the music you’ve been hearing throughout the episodes. So, whether you’re driving, just need a boost, or getting ready for your PFT - we’ve got you covered.   Teaser: did you know the very first aviation rescue swimmer was a BM? Stay tuned, and as always, be stay safe out there.  Send us Fan Ma...

When a story is too good to leave on the cutting-room floor, you make room for a second run. In this follow-up episode with CDR Michael Bennett , USCG (Ret.), we share the candid, unscripted parts of our conversation that went beyond WWII boat forces and into the broader legacy of Coast Guard intelligence and operations. From the Revenue Cutter Service conducting ISR in the 1800s, to the evolution...

When the mission calls, some stories are too extraordinary to stay classified. In this episode, we sit down with CDR Michael Bennett, USCG (Ret.) , founder of the website Guardian Spies and one of the leading voices in modern Coast Guard intelligence. From the daring missions of OSS maritime units in World War II to today’s intelligence-driven boat forces, CDR Bennett unpacks a hidden history of s...

This episode welcomes CDR Noel Johnson , Chief of the 2-side (CG-7312) in the Office of Boat Forces, for a deep dive into the Coast Guard’s small boat community. From managing fleet readiness to tackling the challenges behind the scenes, CDR Johnson offers valuable perspective on how policy decisions translate into operational capability. He shares updates relevant to units across the service, hig...

In this episode, CDR Leo Danaher (CG-7311 ) walks us through his firsthand experience with an OIC screening panel. He shares invaluable advice on strengthening your panel package, from highlighting mission-aligned competencies to framing leadership accomplishments effectively. CDR Danaher ultimately unpacks the OIC panel process, offering clarity on what review panels expect and common pitfalls to...

In this episode, CAPT Matthew Fine offers a flyover of CG-741’s role in connecting with Boat Forces programs. From ensuring readiness through data-driven training initiatives to deepening reserve integration under the Shore Forces Reserve Management Plan, CAPT Fine explains how CG-741 is the connective tissue behind every SAR case, flood response, and patrol. He tackles the operational impact of s...

This is an Unofficial Podcast. All views expressed are solely those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Office of BoatForces. We shift the lens from deck-plate operations to the broader national security picture. Drawing from a recent Atlantic Council report, we explore how Coast Guard missions, especially those in Boat Forces, fit into evolving defe...

Today we’re breaking down how workforce transparency and talent management shape your career, and how they might tie into Force Design 28.  We unpack the RAND report Workforce 2040: Better Management Through Transparency and explore its suggestions for assignment fairness, operational flexibility, and career clarity.  From deck-plate experience to data-driven decisions, we ask: are we rowing in th...

This week we sit down with Mr. Dave Shepard from the Office of Boat Forces , a key figure behind some of the Coast Guard’s most iconic platforms. From the early days of the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat to the development of the Response Boat–Medium, Mr. Shepard shares insights on how these boats came to define modern missions. We also get a look at what’s ahead for his portfolio as the Office of Boat Fo...

We're joined by LT Chris Fuentes from the Office of Boat Forces 1-Side to discuss Electronic Asset Logbook (EAL). LT provides insight on the system’s role in capturing operational data, new changes to the way we capture information, and highlights some upcoming training opportunities. EAL, part of the Coast Guard’s broader data environment that includes OORS, AOPS, ALMIS, and MISLE, helps rec...

We dive into the critical role of medical readiness in Coast Guard small boat operations. From heat casualties to trauma care in rough seas, we explore how EMT skills keep missions on track and save lives. We discuss medical gear, improvisation, and what crews can do to enhance their medical readiness capability. Our guest, HS1 Vinny Carracio of the White House Medical Staff, joins us to share ins...

In this episode, we sit down with CDR Leo Danaher from CG-7311 to gain sharp, firsthand insight into the evolving landscape of Coast Guard operations. With a wealth of experience from recent tours, CDR Danaher reflects on key lessons learned, the operational tempo facing Boat Forces today, and how strategic decisions at the program level ripple down to the deckplate.  From policy shifts and resour...

Outgoing ME Rating Force Master Chief Ryan Patterson sits down with us to reflect on his tour as the enlisted leader for Maritime Enforcement specialists. With approximately 7,000 certified boarding officers and boarding team members across active and reserve components, he shares lessons learned, discusses workforce evolution, and explains what it means to advocate for ME personnel at Headquarter...