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‘Always ready’ are words to live by
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Before they can live by the motto “Semper Paratus” — Latin for “Always Ready” — members of the U.S. Coast Guard must prove it.
“We’re looking for people who have good character, good physical aptitude and who are eager to serve their country,” said Capt. Steve Vanderplas, Coast Guard recruiting command officer.
“We can teach them how to swim at boot camp.”
During an eight-week session, the Coast Guard’s training center in Cape May, N.J., molds 50 to 60 recruits into “Coasties” through rigorous courses in first aid, firefighting, weapons handling and practical seamanship.
Along with developing mental acuteness, Coasties are physically pushed to the extremes they will face in search-and-rescue missions.
Daily physical fitness and water survival classes prepare them for graduation, which can require treading water for five minutes and jumping off a 5-foot platform and swimming 100 yards, said Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony Strosnider, who walked into a recruitment office in Glen Burnie 10 years ago looking for focus in his life.
“There’s a saying in the Coast Guard, ‘Choose your fate,’ ” Strosnider said. He chose to be an officer.
Many young adults turn to the Coast Guard for its combination of good academics and military service, he said. Recruitment is continuous with a heavy influx in the spring.
High school graduates can enter into four years at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
The cadets earn a modest paycheck and get their education free.
From there, they can take several program paths to becoming an officer, including 17 weeks at Officer Candidate School.
This is a slightly different training regimen than boot camp for enlisted members, said Chief of Officer Programs Greg Carter.
The Coast Guard is celebrating a recent highlight — its average score on the Armed Forces Qualities Test rose by 66.8 percent. “Higher than any of the other services,” Vanderplas said.
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:44 AM MST on Fri., May. 23, 2008 re: "For many women, this school is a perfect fit"
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10:19 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 23, 2008
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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7:54 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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7:53 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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11:52 AM MST on Mon., Nov. 5, 2007
re: "Be in demand; become a nurse"
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2:53 PM MST on Sun., Oct. 28, 2007
re: "Promises aside, read the contract"
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1:19 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 22, 2007
re: "Join up, go to war, get a degree"
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6:15 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007
re: "Loyola teaches with outside service"
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5:53 AM MST on Mon., Sep. 10, 2007
re: "UMES is a model of diversity"
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6:00 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 9, 2007
re: "A passion for ‘more education’ is key"
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2:29 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "McDaniel College: Real-world learning"
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2:12 PM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
re: "Campus growth is Coppin’s focus"
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9:58 AM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
re: "Campus growth is Coppin’s focus"
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10:10 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 23, 2007
re: "Love to read? This college is for you"
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Examiner Reader said:
The institution is a fraud. They treat employees unfairly and they have forgotten the roots of the institution- the undergraduate women and the communal attitude. The school has become driven by profit and has turn into an old boys club. Higher-ups chum it up with each other while "lesser" staff are walked all over. The students enjoy their time, but with limited resources and budget- the school is having a hard time providing for their campus members.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
my question is at the end of your statement you said that you don't want the most quilfied nurse to take care of you. why that just don't make sense. I just retired from the military and am looking to become a nurse and if I was some old person laying bed I would like to know that there was someone that was well quilified to take care of me. thank you for your time in reading this note
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
177 agree | 188 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
185 agree | 188 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the RN Associates degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete. Compared to 18-24 months for BSN. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.
177 agree | 183 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If the military truly wanted to have potential recruits understand the enlistment contract it would simply reduce the entire bogus contract to the following infamous 40 words from Section C, Paragraph 9: "Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces regardless of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document." - Pat Elder
171 agree | 198 disagree
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Don said:
I tried to join up they told me I was too old. I'm 64 I think I'll file papers for age discrimination.
217 agree | 193 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Any plans in the works to overthrow the Vatican again or is that something you can't talk about?
209 agree | 184 disagree
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Diversity? said:
What diversity? The article talks only about blacks.
353 agree | 210 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great article...My 2 kids went there and it was the best 8 yrs anyone could ask for. Both have since gone on to great jobs and both value their days at SMCM.
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Examiner Reader said:
Glad to see you acknowledge McDaniel College. I am a grad ( Class of "61 ) and a Trustee--and very proud to be both. George Varga
476 agree | 304 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Over the last 20 years or more "Baltimore City School System," has been under the microscope of Judge Garbish (Special Education). Morgan, Johns Hopkin, Coppin, all have had opportunities as research institutions to address this major educational problem and the poverty rate, un-employment, single mothers crime. Coppin has had its misfortunes, and attracted low quality of instructors whom are not concerned with the social economical, educational, problems that plague the Urban Inner City youth. Poverty is a key element in Baltimore City. Politicians does not give a hoot of the demographics nor the incidents of poverty across the city. The fourth count census 2000 is a clear in measuring how people live. African Americans are left out of the loop "Johns Hopkins are the main architect to disenfranchise the poor, disadvantaged. They are the major research institution in Maryland from all indications the African American community is ignored by the major players.
263 agree | 310 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Coppin State should be proud that it focuses on academics and not sports. Who cares if the baseball team lost 44 games in a year. The students who earn a degree will have more power than any hitter on a baseball diamond.
449 agree | 304 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Excellent and informative series that parents and students can use to decide on a Maryland college or university. Thanks!
509 agree | 356 disagree
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