Hello~ My son is currently interested in the Coast Guard. He is only 12. So, I know that he has a few years to decide on his career. However, for the past few years he has been set on being a rescue swimmer for the coast guard. I hope that he can achieve his dream. My question is this... Are there any events that the coast guard puts on for the public? He would love to come and watch everything they do. We live in Illinois, so I would have to make a vacation out of it. Thanks for your help! Sara
Illinois is within Coast Guard District 9; you can find units within D9 online. I don't know if your son wants to be a helicopter rescue swimmer or not (there are rescue swimmers that deploy from cutters/boat) but there are two air stations and two air facilities in D9.
Your son may be interested in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets. This will give him the opportunity to work directly with Coast Guard personnel and to learn about their missions and duties. I was very fortunate to spend time at a USCG air station, at a small boat station, and onboard a cutter while a Sea Cadet in high school.
Sara, glad to hear your son has already shown an interest in the USCG and good for you for supporting him in his USCG education even at 12 years old! I spent 18 months as an SA/SN on the Acacia on Lake Michigan. I would suggest checking out some of the summer festivals along Lake Michigan, at the time I was in (and it may have changed) there was always a USCG cutter open for tours at the summerfest in Milwaukee and some of the other festivals down on Navy Pier. I'm sure the new Mackinaw will be doing some PR this summer so that would be a great chance for your son to get a tour of one of the USCGS newest assets. I would also suggest a trip to Grand Haven Michigan for the Coast Guard Festival were he and you would have the opportunity to see a good many of the USCG cutters on the great lakes all in one place, sometimes they'll also do what's called a "static display" which is a demonstration of USCG helicopters and small boats working together and may involve a "rescue swimmer". Hope the link helps! -Jeff
So, I know that he has a few years to decide on his career. However, for the past few years he has been set on being a rescue swimmer for the coast guard. I hope that he can achieve his dream. My question is this... Are there any events that the coast guard puts on for the public? He would love to come and watch everything they do. We live in Illinois, so I would have to make a vacation out of it. 
