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Coast Guard
It is 05:30 and I am awake, expecting to hear the door to the squad bay swing open and hear "reveille, reveille, reveille" belted out by deep, pounding voice any second. It never comes. I am home. Warm and comfortable in my own bed. For two weeks after attending REBI I awoke on or about 05:30 every morning with no alarm clock.
It was a dream of mine to join the Coast Guard. Something I had been thinking about for many years since my high school mentor Brad Moore told me about his time at sea.
After meeting PA3 Judy Silverstein on a civilian assignment I went to the recruiters office. There Senior Chief Satchwell, with a big smile, signed me up to be a Public Affairs Specialist for the United States Coast Guard Reserves!
In December 2002 I attended the Reserve Enlisted Basic Indoctrination, (REBI) at the Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey. Yes, December, I hear it is better than January and February.
I can do anything for 2 weeks I thought. It was a great experience. A physical and mental challenge that only scratched the surface of information that I will need to know for my new job. A dip in Coast Guard blue according to Chief Griffin who was our leader.
Our class, REBI 0303, was a mix of ages and job experiences. Twenty-four men and four women with opinions, ideas and their own reasons for joining the Coast Guard.
More to come?
