U.S.C.G. Chief Petty Officer Academy - Class CLXI

11/19/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: It’s the Holiday Season!!! And while it is a time meant for joy, happiness, peace on earth, good will, celebrating with family and friends, and hope for the future; for some the holiday season can be a difficult time, a time of sadness and loneliness, a time where our hearts are heavy for those that are not with us/that we have lost, a time of self-evaluation and reflecting on past accomplishments and failures, and a time of anxiety about the future year.

I write this as a matter of awareness to reach out and be a friend to someone who may be dealing with some stress, anxiety and/or sadness during this holiday season. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world, and you can’t measure the impact of one small gesture of kindness and/or caring.

For those struggling through the holiday season – Just like the moon, we all go through phases of darkness and phases of light, and everything in between.

And even though you may not always appear with the same level of brightness…you are always whole, you matter, and you are loved.

11/12/2025

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: The approaching holiday season, often portrayed as a period of universal joy and celebration, can unfortunately be a source of profound sadness and anxiety for many. Unrealistic expectations to get the perfect gift(s) or to experience the perfect family gathering often clash sharply with the realities of financial stress, logistical challenges, and the painful absence of loved ones. These situations can amplify feelings of loneliness, self-reflection, and overall emotional distress, effectively negating the proclaimed "most wonderful time of the year" sentiment for a significant amount of people.

Instead of contributing to the stress and anxiety, often associated with the holidays, consider offering the "BEST GIFT EVER" – the gift of genuine connection and heartfelt appreciation. Take the time to actively check in on friends and family members, offering a listening ear and a supportive presence. A simple phone call, a handwritten card expressing your gratitude, or a heartfelt conversation reminding someone of their value can be far more impactful and meaningful than any material possession.

This year, I challenge everyone to prioritize emotional support and connection. You may find these simple acts of kindness can make a big difference – in you and others – and help people feel loved and supported during a time that can sometimes be tough.

05/08/2024

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: You are responsible for you actions towards yourself and others, and for the way you approach life. YES, life is not perfect…but a positive attitude creates the opportunity, the space, and the availability to welcome and accept positive energy coming back to you.

Negative energy – in people – is easily identifiable. No one wants to be around that person; being around that person is highly stressful (physically and mentally), and their energy can/may “infect” your moment, day, week, etc.

So you have a choice…which side of the ‘energy spectrum’ will you reside in???

03/29/2024

Today I recognize (and I ask you to join me in recognizing) National Vietnam War Veterans Day – observed every year on March 29th.

The United States Vietnam War Commemoration (VWC) was authorized by Congress, established under the Secretary of Defense, and launched by President Obama in 2012. The purpose of the VWC is to thank and honor our Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation, with distinct recognition of former prisoners of war and families of those still listed as missing in action.

Today we THANK, HONOR, and RECOGNIZE our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. There are five objectives with Vietnam Commemoration and the other four are:

• Highlight the service of our Armed Forces and support organizations during the war.

• Pay tribute to wartime contributions at home by American citizens.

• Highlight technology, science, and medical advances made during the war.

• Recognize contributions by our Allies.

Today we recognize the service and sacrifices of those U.S. Armed Forces personnel who served between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, regardless of location of service which includes:

• Nine million Americans serving during that time.

• 6.4 million Americans living today.

• 2.7 million U.S. service members who served in Vietnam.

• More than 58,000 whose names are memorialized on a black granite wall in our Nation’s capital.

• More than 304,000 who were wounded.

• More than 1,200 Missing in Action (MIA) heroes who have not yet returned to American soil.

• The more than 2,500 who were Prisoners of War (POWs)

The commemoration makes no distinction between veterans who served in-county, in-theater, or were stationed elsewhere during those 20 years.

06/27/2023

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT WAS 14 YEARS AGO???

Several U.S. Coast Guard Guard Chiefs, a few United States Air Force Master Sergeants, and two foreign military officers convened at US Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma.

Today, members of U.S.C.G. Chief Petty Officer Academy - Class CLXI are mostly retired, but a few are Master Chiefs 😃.
Some returned to TRACEN to be CPO Academy Instructors.

Hope everyone is doing well. Drop a status check/picture in the comments. 🇺🇸

09/14/2021

People, animals, property, and environment...we provide assistance to ALL!!! 🇺🇸

08/15/2021

We are ALWAYS READY and (once again) the first agency when someone is in distress. to ALL of the men and women that are responding to assist Haiti.

08/06/2021

When another day in the Coast Guard IS NOT just another day.

The Coast Guard announced, Thursday, that the Cutter James crew offloaded approximately 59,700 pounds of co***ne and approximately 1,430 pounds of ma*****na.

05/12/2021

INCREDIBLE seizure...BZ to the Navy and Coast Guard crews!!!