As a proud dad of an active duty “coasty” master chief, please let me tell you a little story:

One day “daddy’s little girl” said, “I want to join the service.” Daddy said, “I think you should consider the Coast Guard.

That was all most 27 years ago. The name “coasty” has earned great deal of respect from this army family.

Please for give this old army warrant officer and proud “coasty” dad for butting into this thread.

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

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

When I was in we were known as "Life Savers" as well as "Coasties"!

Good grief,
A guy stays away for a while and the next thing ya know, someone is trying to change your name.
Lets see if I can say this without offending anyone. Oh hell, I dont care. I became a Coastie July 25th 1965. I retired Aug 1st 1993 but, I will remain a Coastie until the day I die. Since when did we become so cheesey that we watch a movie (I repeat, MOVIE) as in Hollywood production, and decide to change the name that Coasties have fought and died for, for more years than any of us have been alive. When I was a kid I was inspired by all of John Waynes war flicks but I didnt change my name, nor did I name my kids John Wayne. That, sounds like it came out of a box of corn flakes...
Now while I am at it, What in the hell is wrong with the Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman?? If any one of you can say that you can honestly sit down and read it without getting goose bumps, or feel a lump in your throat, then you came from a different Coast Guard than I did, and I feel sad for you because you have missed the point of our being. But hey, It's your Coast Guard now. Do with it what you will. But, don't talk to me about how much you care about those who went on before you, or tradition or any such thing. I think I'd barf.
Have a great Coast Guard day. Dave

THANK YOU, Dave.

Wray:

Exactly. "Coastie" is short for Coastguardsman. It rolls off the tongue better, its endearing, and I for one am proud to be a Coastie until I breathe no more. Could be the cubicle syndrome, but I think it is important to point out that no matter how much leaders believe they are "changing" the organization, the people in it are the REAL catalysts. Pure ego.

Hope you are well. Drop me a line.

quote:

Originally posted by dduren:
Good grief,
A guy stays away for a while and the next thing ya know, someone is trying to change your name.

Since when did we become so cheesey that we watch a movie (I repeat, MOVIE) as in Hollywood production, and decide to change the name that Coasties have fought and died for, for more years than any of us have been alive.
...Have a great Coast Guard day. Dave

You want to see cheesey?

Check out this Cheesey Movie CGHQ made to go with the "New Coast Guard"

It appears that a certain E-10 wants to be a "Hollywood Movie Star"!


I wonder how much money stations and Cutters are not going to get in fallout funding for new equipment and other needs that got spent on this crap.

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

Dave - Well Done! I could not have said it better. I am sure it reflects the feelings of all the Old Guard Coasties

"bath tub sailor", it takes a real sailor to head out to sea in a bath tub!

I hope that it reflects the feelings of more than just the old guard. Else it means we have failed not only the younger generation of Coasties but, also those who gave us their Coast Guard. Dave

i saw the propagnda flick, good thing i didn't have a can of corn i would have broken my compooter!!!!

later coasties,

cliff

Who wouldwant to change this???

I am proud to be a United States Coast Guardsman.

I revere that long line of expert seamen who by their devotion to duty and sacrifice of self have made it possible for me to be a member of a service honored and respected, in peace and in war, throughout the world.

I never, by work or deed, will bring reproach upon the fair name of my service, nor permit others to do so unchallenged.

I will cheerfully and willingly obey all lawful orders.

I will always be on time to relieve, and shall endeavor to do more, rather than less, than my share.

I will always be at my station, alert and attending to my duties.

I shall, so far as I am able, bring to my seniors solutions, not problems.

I shall live joyously, but always with due regard for the rights and privileges of others.

I shall endeavor to be a model citizen in the community in which I live.

I shall sell life dearly to an enemy of my country, but give it freely to rescue those in peril.

With God's help, I shall endeavor to be one of His noblest Works -A UNITED STATES COAST GUARDSMAN.


later

cliff

quote:

Originally posted by UnknownCoastie:

quote:

Originally posted by dduren:
Good grief,
A guy stays away for a while and the next thing ya know, someone is trying to change your name.

Since when did we become so cheesey that we watch a movie (I repeat, MOVIE) as in Hollywood production, and decide to change the name that Coasties have fought and died for, for more years than any of us have been alive.
...Have a great Coast Guard day. Dave

You want to see cheesey?

Check out this Cheesey Movie CGHQ made to go with the "New Coast Guard"

It appears that a certain E-10 wants to be a "Hollywood Movie Star"!


I wonder how much money stations and Cutters are not going to get in fallout funding for new equipment and other needs that got spent on this crap.

I always wondered what goes in at CG HQ... Honestly, who sits around and has meetings about what we want to be called.

Wow I can't believe where and how far this discussion is going and has gone. If you want to know the real power of The Guardian Ethos then you should hear it as it is recited by a group of our newest members as the stand proud at their boot camp graduation.

Since I was one of the main players in the development of The Guardian Ethos I'll jump in here with a couple of points. Although I should know better, but then again I am still a Boatswains Mate.

First topic, the term Guardian has been around for a lot longer than a movie. If you pick up a copy of Coast Guard Publication 1 (dated 1 January 2002, second printing) it's on the front cover for starters, U.S. Coast Guard: America's Maritime Guardian. And that's just the first time it's in there. Now you say that we can't pick a nickname, and I agree. But you also don't hear the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs calling Marines "Leathernecks" in speeches. It's more like Soliders, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and (now) Guardians. We can and will forever be Coasties in informal conservations. But I like the sound of Guardian for a more formal designation.

Second, The Guardian Ethos

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/tracencapemay/recruit/Ethos.asp

isn't replacing anything, it's is an addition to our heritage and legacy, since it words can fit into any period of our service tenure. We still and will always have the Creed of the Coast Guardsman and our Core Values. But both of those documents are more of a personal charge that our members have chosen to accept and live by. The Guardian Ethos is supposed to define the "soul" of our service. When we cut away all of the multi-tasking that we are famous for, what is the bottom line of what the Coast Guard means? That's where The Guardian Ethos fits into our culture. Just like saying that "every Marine is a rifleman", the Ethos says what every Guardian is in the service to their country.

Now if you're looking for someone to take shots at, it should be me. We started this all here at Cape May as part of the basic training modernization. But The Guardian Ethos took hold in the millennial generation of Guardians and spread quickly around the fleet. The flags took notice of the power of it and the Commandant formally adopted it. Now I'll be one of the first to admit that today's Coast Guard is not the same service that I joined 31 years ago, it's a better one and getting better every day. But even with all the changes, we still do and will continue to teach our history and legacy to our newest members. So no one is saying anything less of the past, just building upon it's great foundation.

CMC Bruce Bradley
Training Center Cape May

Bruce: This is confusing to me. Would you clarify the term "Guardian" is not replacing "Coastguardsman"? First you talk about the more formal term the JCS would use when he is referring to the members of the armed forces: "Now Guardian", then you say "it isn't replacing anything.

If you were to replace "Guardian" with "Coastguardsman" in the ethos statement, it would mean exactly the same thing. With the new name comes great potential to move ahead without the benefit of those things in the past that define our heritage, and remind us as individuals what our true spirit and soul really is - never to forget. Sorry, but it is clear that "Guardian" is indeed replacing something much more than just a nickname.

I actually used the term "Guardian" today in a LOA that I presented to a departing member vs "Coastie". It flowed nicely and sounded professional...I think I'll keep using it!

quote:

Originally posted by Ropeyarnsunday:
Bruce: This is confusing to me. Would you clarify the term "Guardian" is not replacing "Coastguardsman"? First you talk about the more formal term the JCS would use when he is referring to the members of the armed forces: "Now Guardian", then you say "it isn't replacing anything.

If you were to replace "Guardian" with "Coastguardsman" in the ethos statement, it would mean exactly the same thing. With the new name comes great potential to move ahead without the benefit of those things in the past that define our heritage, and remind us as individuals what our true spirit and soul really is - never to forget. Sorry, but it is clear that "Guardian" is indeed replacing something much more than just a nickname.

Keith, how ya been?

We have for awhile been struggling with the PC'ness of Coastguardsman. Like it not, but Coast Guard men and women was too much. The term Coastie was more akin to Leatherneck in my comparison. Guardian just covered it all, short and sweet in my opinion.

And yes there will be many that grew up with Coastie that will and do feel the same way as you. Much like the old 180 WLB sailors looking at at the 225 WLB. We still manage to do the same job, just maybe a little better have remembered and learned from our past.

Life is good Bruce. Like you, I'm still hanging around blue suiters..although in a much different way than when I was active. Still a Cutterman though.

You know, this will probably be OK in the long run if it catches on. Having it catch on within our organization is easy-its an order, but most importantly, it has to catch on with the general public as well - & you know our track record for this. My reluctance to accept this could be based on the old 180 sailor in me, but there really is alot at stake IMO if this goes sour and we find ourselves even further lost with our service identity.

I like how we jumped on the PR bandwagon based on the success of the movie. There was nothing wrong with Coastie. The Navy is trying to bring back "shipmate" because it was degraded into being a bad thing. Guardian is going to end up the same way at a much faster rate. I am proud to be a Coastie and will still continue to use that term referring to myself and my fellow "coasties".

When I first heard it, I hated the "Coastie" moniker. It seemed diminutive, and it reminds me of the robot toy the Aux uses for PR:


But "Coastie" is far better than "Guardian."

...gjd