quote:

The Joke is that the Coast Guard has a
5'2" height requirement; incase the Ship sinks
you can walk back to shore.

Ah, things change, 48 years ago the joke was you had to be 6' so you could walk ashore.

Maybe they modified the joke since many women are less then 6'.

Guardian is just plain stupid.....we are Coasties, we have always been Coasties and we will always be Coasties....someone has too much time on their hands......

This message has been edited. Last edited by: armyjunk,

quote:

Guardian is just plain stupid.....we are Coasties, we have always been Coasties and we will always be Coasties....someone has too much time on their hands......

History may argue with that. What was the service nickname while it was the USRCS?

(Revenuers?)

u might right but it does sound dumb

I wonder what "nickname" the National Guard has?

Wray...

i know what it used to be....in the 60's
but thats all changed

" By deduction, there is only one reason to want to use the word "coastguardian." The word, "coastie" was a strawman; "coastguardsman" was the true target. "

Going back over the posts by LloydTuchman and this little comment struck a chord. A PC solution to eliminating the term Coastguardsman from the service identity.

I am a former Active duty Coastie.I will remain a Coastie untill this old BM stops breathing.
God bless the old Guard and may God watch over the new Coasties Semper Par
C.H. Goodspeed
BM3 USCGC Acacia.

quote:

I remember talking to a Navy guy a few weeks back...there is a joke about the Coast Guard that is commonly known by the Navy Community.

And the comeback is:
Why do squids have good lookin' kids? 'Cause they've got COASTIE dads!

GACK! My father was a 32 year Coastie and even my mother was a Coastie! As were my both my aunt and uncle. And now, I'm Auxiliary and a Ptero - COASTIES, the GUARDIANS of the SEAS!

How about "onionheads" If we are going to be named for a hollywood movie i would prefer Andy Griffith to Costner or the kid. Old coasties will remember the movie.

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
I wonder what "nickname" the National Guard has?

Wray...

Wray, they are called 'Guardsmen'. Women are not called 'Guardswomen' though. They use 'Guardsmen' to be gender neutral.

quote:

Originally posted by disagreed:
Screw this tradition, too! Heck, we should get rid of all seagoing traditions!

I asked the wife. She says, and I quote, "Oh for Pet's sake!" She says we should be called Coasties. She says it's history... and no, I did not coach her! Good woman... great woman!

TJ, your wife is a saint - especially for putting up with you all these years. Do tell her I said hello since it has been - God, it HAS been a L-O-N-G time.

Coastie. Coastie. Coastie. Although I have told people that they can call me anything but later for dinner.

Best to you and the Mrs.

nickap
retired and still having fun

Hi Nick!

quote:

Originally posted by mabwood:
Hi Nick!

Hey Mark, long time no see. I don't get here as often as I need to.

Look forward to reading more of your posts.

nickap
retired and still having fun

I prefer Coastie. Guardian to me is too close to National Guard. I know Ive said online things about the Guard and people think Im refering to National Guard

The Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower (signed by the CNO, USMC COMDT and USCG COMDT) uses "Coast Guardsman".

www.navy.mil/maritime/MaritimeStrategy.pdf

...although that came out in OCT 2007.

GEN Petraeus' farewell letter refers to "Coast Guardsmen" as well...

<http://jeffemanuel.net/files/Petraeus-exit-letter.pdf>

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LetsGoRedSox,

I spent 6 months living in a Marine barracks and was made an honorary "Devil Duck". I agree with whoever said they weren't really concerned with what we are called as long as the paycheck doesn't change. I don't take offense to Coastie.

On the Guardian note, I'd compare it to the Marines. Marines, especially younger ones, pride themselves in being "Devil Dogs". The Marine Corps mentality is you are a Marine first. It's instilled in Marines in basic training. What every your specialty is comes second, so when fighting needs to be done, you fight and worry about what your specialty is afterward.

I don't think the Coast Guard has adopted that mentality, or if so I have never seen it. I have never been told to consider myself a Guardian first and a PA second. I have been told on more than one occasion, "You're a PA, act like a fly on the wall and take pictures." That or, "Choose your rate choose your fate."

Certainly there are folks among us who would fit the name Guardian, but I feel almost as if it would be slight to them to put myself in that same category, or any other support rating for that matter.

In the end, regardless of the name, we'll keep doing what we do because we love to do it, not for what the world wants to label us as.

quote:

Originally posted by 1110:
GEN Petraeus' farewell letter refers to "Coast Guardsmen" as well...

http://jeffemanuel.net/files/Petraeus-exit-letter.pdf

Coast Guardsman is the correct term when writing in AP (Associated Press) style. If he had a speech writer then the entire speech was most likely written in AP style. It's what you'll usually see in the media.