quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

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What I'm saying is that I don't believe this is an old historical term that's been used since back in the day. I may be wrong but I believe the term was created in the mid 70's by the CG's public information people

My uncle spent 42 years in the CG, starting in the 1920's. While I was in grade school in the 50's he asked me is I was going to be a "Coastie" when I grew up. My brother enlisted in 1951 and also used the term. I heard it frequently when I enlisted in 1960. So, the term was around long before the 70's.

I never considered it derogatory, only as a shortening of the word "Coastguardsman".

I was in from 67-71. I remember a few deckies in 67 referring to themselves as Coasties. Personally, at the time I kind of cringed when I heard the term. I think I would have preferred "Hooligan" myself but it is what it is!! What can we call ourselves without sounded pretentious or silly?? Coasties is kind of lame, but by the same token, that's what the public calls us so I guess we can deal with it!

Bill

Bill,

Back in the late 60s/early 70s as long as they didn't call me late for liberty I was fine. I didn't think much about it then. I will say that when I went to A School out at Great Lakes, I was the senior Coast Guardsman attending the school. The Master Chief who was the MAA nicknamed me the "Head Coastie" and told all the FAs if they had a problem to see me first. I was only an FN but had been to a duty station.

That Master Chief was not disrespecting me in any way. However, I did get a broken nose solving one guys problem. You should have seen the other guy though.

The first guy to tack on my new crow was that Master Chief. I'm glad he liked me. I think the bruise will go away soon.

I am a Coastie for life.

I've called Coastie's and the service "The Guard" before. It could refer to Nat'l Guard etc... but ussually folks I'm talking to know which branch I was in and refering too, if not I correct them. I was in the Guard, the Coast Guard. You could call me a Coastie!

Yeah...I'm going to say Nay to Guardian...everytime I hear that word I think Ashton Kushner.... Coastie is fine with me.

Who cares? However, it blows my mind that the leadership of this organization has time to deal w/ issues like this when it is VERY obvious that there are bigger fish in the pond to deal with. This might explain many other things going on.

How about Paladin? Sorry, too much time on World of Warcraft (You can find me as Sassenach in the Maelstrom Realm.)

I remember flying in uniform aboard a United flight out of Seattle. As I boarded, a large man in the center of the aircraft cried out, "Make way for the Hooligan Navy." Everyone turned, looked...and made way. The man introduced himself as we deplaned; he was retired Navy Senior Chief and had nothing but good things to say about his experiences with the Coast Guard in Vietnam. Clearly, "hooligan" can be a term of affection and respect.

Similarly, "Coastie" can be expressed as either a term of affection or derision -- just like "squid" or "jarhead."

I'm much more worried about the actual competence and professionalism that generates the respect for Coasties, Puddle Pirates, Hooligans, and Sailors.

"Guardian?" Meh.

quote:

I also wonder if ADM Allen has a nick name as well.... "Thad W. Allen" -- I wonder what it is...

As documented in his class notes in the CG Academy Alumni Bulletin, it's "THADMIRAL."

quote:

Originally posted by PSimon572:
Anyone wanna guess what the name of my fantasy football team is? Hint: Look to the avatar.

Must be 'Puddle Pirates'.

--Jim
Life is good!

This ain't Hollywood, and Coasties don't make movies. Most people in the world know us as Coasties. What is wrong with it. Guardian, Hollywood, hell, we could replace Thad Allen with Sean Penn, or George Clooney or better yet Alex Baldwin. Then we would be politically correct. They we could all be Ashton and Kevin, wouldn't that be swell.

quote:

Originally posted by salviawlb:
This ain't Hollywood, and Coasties don't make movies. Most people in the world know us as Coasties. What is wrong with it. Guardian, Hollywood, hell, we could replace Thad Allen with Sean Penn, or George Clooney or better yet Alex Baldwin. Then we would be politically correct. They we could all be Ashton and Kevin, wouldn't that be swell.

I just threw up in mouth a little bit

Hmmmmmmmm U.S.C.G "Uncle Sam's Confused Group"

Coastie always worked for me.

Tracy

MCGUARDIAN? I DON'T THINK SO!

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Originally posted by DAlcantara:

quote:

Originally posted by salviawlb:
This ain't Hollywood, and Coasties don't make movies. Most people in the world know us as Coasties. What is wrong with it. Guardian, Hollywood, hell, we could replace Thad Allen with Sean Penn, or George Clooney or better yet Alex Baldwin. Then we would be politically correct. They we could all be Ashton and Kevin, wouldn't that be swell.

I just threw up in mouth a little bit

Kushner Ethos????

You guys are missing something in the "Coastie" vs. Guardian" debate, the nickname "Coastie" is due in part because in English "Coast" comes before "Guard" (stick with me). However, for those of you who remember the wildly successful campaign to recruit minorities from the throngs of Hispanics who attend NASCAR races - in Spanish, Coast Guard is "Guardia Costa". So, the current push for us to refer to ourselves as Guardians could be connected to the ongoing diversity campaign, Guardia Coasta = "Guardians".


or it could be because Guardian is more descriptive of who we (as a service) are than Coastie - maybe Coastie is what others refer to us as (the nickname for us they picked) and Guardian is what our Leadership wants to project to others after publishing attitudes, traditions and the spirit of being a Coast Guardsman that have been a part of our service for years.

just a couple of theories

ag

quote:

it could be because Guardian

Ok...i think it's not because of the "Guardia Costa", and depending on what spanish speaking country we are talking about ...it can also be called "Guarda Costa" = Coast Guard....or "Tiburon Blanco" - White Shark (due to our white hull ships that stop immigrants and drug runners). I think most can agree that the whole "Guardian" term was taken into hyperdrive due to the movie that was made not too long ago....or else this whole "Guardian vs Coastie" topic would of never manifest itself on these boards. On a last note..I agree with Salviawlb.

OK, been trying to keep out of this one, but just can't.

1) This isn't something that started from the leadership. Well, not the leadership some people think it did. This is a Cape May based initiative, started up primarily by our mid-grade enlisted folks. They saw some good things other training centers were doing to turn a typical civilian attitude and character into a service attitude and character. It was designed as a Cape May centric tool to help the recruit achieve the right frame of mind. The 'leadership' pretty much stumbled upon it and thought very highly of it, for what it is.

2) It is not intended to replace the Creed of the Coast Guardsman. It is not intended to fully and wholey replace the term Coastie.

Still remembering when a Coastie's money was no good at most fisherman's bars and we were "The Life-Savers" then.

Then, the leadership told us to assume that all mariners were potential dope smuggelers or fish poachers. A self-respecting Coastie didn't dare go near most fisherman's bars after that "little" policy change. We were, after all, the "Smokeys of the Sea".

Following the events of 9/11/01, Coast Guard law enforcement became much more agressive and the service's image deteriorated with the civilian maritime community, both recreational and commercial.

That said, I guess "Guardian" is a more preferable label than "Water Nazi".

l




how about Boatnics?????

funny movie

later

cliff

The late 70's before Seatow and the like, we Coasties at New London, Conn Sar station rarely bought a beer and were bought dinner as well!
Took many a phone #s and invites to our "cases" homes for dinner, never any $$$, had many care packages show up at the main gate.
Yep, Coasties it is (or was)!

Hey Coastie!
Got a beer there sport?

Uncle Sam's Canoe Club?