My Experience on EAGLE!

Sailing through the Bermuda Triangle was an experience I never imagined I would be able to experience. Seeing the blanket of stars every night was a sight I’ll never forget. My 3/c summer started in New London, Connecticut and took me sailing throughout the Caribbean. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for this experience. Being a 3/c cadet on Eagle is an opportunity that you can only get at the United States Coast Guard Academy. None of my friends at other colleges are climbing 100ft in the air to furl a sail or have foreign port calls like the Dominican Republic and Columbia. Sailing aboard USCGC Eagle is a unique adventure for the development of future Coast Guard officers. I was met with challenges that will strengthen my qualities as a future officer in the Coast Guard.

An event that challenged me significantly was the transit out of Cartegena, Columbia.  Special sea detail was set.  Special Sea detail requires teamwork and focus from the Commanding Officer level down to the cadet level. Special sea details are set when going in or out of port where specific jobs are assigned. However, due to the number of 3/c cadets on EAGLE, not everyone gets a special sea assignment. I was standing on the main deck waiting for an assignment when my division was unexpectedly called up to bridge to assist in taking navigation bearings. We went up to the bridge where all the officers and the pilot were already helping EAGLE get out of Cartegena harbor.  Our task was vital: taking bearings to ensure EAGLE stayed on course through restricted waters. We immediately instructed to relieve the division by taking bearings. Then we divided up and assigned one person as a leader. I was designated as the leader. In a matter of seconds, I was thrown into a job I had never done before. I also had to be a leader on the bridge and amongst my peers.

My first thought was panic- how could I do this when I had no prior experience? Then I remembered all the training I had already received on Eagle. My division members went to their bearing stations, and I stayed put on the bridge. I put my headset on and took a deep breath. I felt the blistering Sun beating down on my neck and the sea spray splashed on my arms.

Every time I was on watch gave me the confidence to tell my shipmates what to do, I stayed on the bridge and gave my shipmates orders to call out their headings. I had to be the voice of confidence when I had never done this job before. EAGLE watches consist of helping the crew with daily tasks to keep the cutter in order. This could be checking engine controls or climbing to the royals to fix a sail. These are some of the lessons 3/c summer teaches cadets. Every watch you stand gives you vital experience and confidence you need to take on more responsibilities aboard EAGLE or during the academic year. The confidence I gained on EAGLE has followed me into 3/c year and going into 2/c summer.