My Coast Guard News

A coast guard member is in body armor at a firing range with his weapon level and pointed at the targets during a qualification course.

Dec. 5, 2023

After 20 years the Coast Guard is changing their Personal Defense Weapon

Here’s when you can expect to see the change.

Janet Irwin and Scott Irwin receive 1st Lieutenant Frost’s Purple Heart Medal from Captain Michael Kahle of Sector St. Petersburg, which hosted the ceremony. Note the Tampa mural on the wall in the background. (U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office)

Nov. 23, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Happy Thanksgiving! — The Tampa Trunk artifacts and legacy of the lost World War I cutter

Tampa’s brief, but illustrious, story is one of selfless service, valor, and ultimately human tragedy amidst the destruction of war. It was the nation’s single largest naval combat loss of World War I. Because of the Tampa Purple Heart Project, we now know more about its crew.

3 Cost Guard Academy cadets in their football uniforms posing in front of the camera showing off their new uniforms.

Nov. 9, 2023

Coast Guard Academy unveils new football uniforms in honor of Douglas Munro

The uniforms will be worn for the first time at the annual Secretaries Cup football game this Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2023.

Nov. 6, 2023

Healthcare Open Season, Nov. 13-Dec. 11, is a time for military and federal civilians to review healthcare coverage

Help navigating the Federal healthcare process is available through virtual webinars.

The Judge Advocate General publishes a periodic Good Order and Discipline (GOAD) Report of statistics and narrative descriptions of discipline to inform the Coast Guard community and reinforce Coast Guard standards.

Oct. 20, 2023

Good Order and Discipline 2.0

Harassing behavior data, descriptions included to bolster accountability.

A 1983 Coast Guard Academy yearbook photograph of Deborah Winnie, one of the first two Latina graduates of the Academy. (CGA Tide Rips)

A 1983 Coast Guard Academy yearbook photograph of Jacqueline Ball, one of the first two Latina graduates of the Academy. (CGA Tide Rips)

Lt. Cmdr. R Marilyn Melendez Dykman, the first Latina aviator in the U.S. Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Rear Adm. Jo-Ann Burdian, first Latina flag officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Oct. 6, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Latinas in the Coast Guard—trailblazers of service

The first Latina women to don a Coast Guard uniform served in World War II

The Coast Guard-manned USS Albuquerque (PF-7), patrol frigate responsible for patrolling Alaskan waters in World War II. (U.S. Navy photo)

Lt. j.g. Juan del Castillo sitting for formal service photograph. (photo courtesy of the del Castillo family)

Sept. 29, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Lt. Juan del Castillo - Guardian of thousands, savior of millions

Juan del Castillo, Coast Guard officer, war veteran, self-taught scientist and humanitarian.

The new Intelligence Professional (IP) Insignia recognizes the professional qualifications of active duty, reserve, and civilian specialists in the intelligence field.

Sept. 19, 2023

Coast Guard intelligence professionals gain new qualification insignia

Uniformed servicemembers, civilian intelligence specialists can earn recognition

A change in fabric manufacturing processes means many Coast Guard members may experience difficulties finding their operational dress uniform (ODU) size at the CG Exchange (CGX).

Sept. 1, 2023

Can’t find your ODU size at the CG Exchange? Here’s what’s going on.

A change in fabric manufacturing processes means many Coast Guard members may experience difficulties finding their operational dress uniform (ODU) size at the CG Exchange (CGX).

Color photograph of the author, then Lt. Wayne Wheeler, on the bridge of Ironwood (WLB-297) in its home waters of Alaska. (Courtesy of the author)

Aug. 7, 2023

The Long Blue Line: The Ironwood—wartime ATON in Vietnam

"Back then it was less expensive to repair a ship in Japan than in a U.S. shipyard."