Semper Paratus: Celebrating the Coast Guard Birthday
By Christina Clarke
Jennifer Waldo’s small boat station at Station Ponce de Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. A small group of dedicated and hard working Coasties man this station, including a working dog.
When most people think of the military, they picture desert boots, aircraft carriers, or massive tanks. Go a step further and ask a civilian about the U.S. Coast Guard and they’ll probably picture search-and-rescue crews pulling stranded boaters from the water.
Ask Jennifer Waldo, a 20-year Coast Guard Veteran, and that image quickly morphs into someone who is a jack-of-all-trades protecting America’s coastlines, conducting search and rescue missions, interdicting drug traffickers, enforcing maritime law, maintaining navigation systems, responding to natural disasters, and safeguarding our nation's ports and waterways - just to name a few.
“People see the maritime branch and think ‘lifeguards,’” Jennifer says. “In fact, a lot of folks don’t even know the Coast Guard is part of the military! And while we do save lives, we’re also a full military branch with massive, high-stakes missions.”
August 4, 2026 marks the 236 birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard - its members fondly referred to as “Coasties.” To celebrate the branch established by Alexander Hamilton, Jennifer peeled back the curtain to show just how vast an impact the Coast Guard has.
Behind the Racing Stripe
Jennifer was drawn to the Coast Guard because of its humanitarian, life-saving mission. In fact, in 2025 alone, the Coast Guard saved 5,220 lives (approximately 14 people per day), assisted over 19,437 people, and preserved or assisted more than $1.02 billion in property.
“I joined the Coast Guard because I wanted to save lives,” she says. “I was a Boatswain and began my career in the Great Lakes. At my first duty station in Sandusky, Ohio a lot of our missions were search and rescue both during the summer and in the winter performing ice rescue operations.”
Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, located in Essexville, Mich., approach a man who had fallen through the ice with his snowmobile on Saginaw Bay near Pinconning, Mich., March 16, 2015. The crew rescued the man, who was in the beginning stages of hypothermia, and took him to shore where he was evaluated by emergency medical services and released. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Air Station Detroit).
A day in the life of a Boatswain runs the gamut. Due to the small size of the Coast Guard, its members must be well versed in all aspects of their duty station. A small boat station could have fewer than 65 people.
“Whether at a small boat station, or even a cutter, we were doing it all,” said Jennifer. “Each morning we had to do vessel checks, ship yard maintenance, painting, we were even mowing the lawn. It’s not like you can just hire a cleaning lady to come take care of things!”
A Common Misconception
Every branch has its tropes and not-so-insider jokes. But the Coast Guard might be the most enigmatic of them all. Unlike the other military branches, the Coast Guard operates under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rather than the Department of Defense (DOD). While this doesn’t impact their mission, it does impact the funding.
“When I worked in recruitment, we always laughed because the other branches had these really cool, high-end swag items to hand out and there we were with our pens and coozies,” Jennifer recalled. “But we always got the best people. The Coast Guard requires the highest ASVAB of the branches due in part to all the cross-training that occurs. It has been really rewarding to see people I recruited rise through the ranks and have a flourishing career as a Coastie.”
A typical day in the Coast Guard isn’t spent waiting for a mayday call or natural disaster to strike. Every member must become qualified and stand watch duty, similar to a 911 operator. And a typical shift mirrors that of a fighter - members work at their station for two days straight and then have two days off. When not responding to real-world situations, Coasties are performing drills for scenarios they would actually respond to, such as drug interdiction, migrant operations, and coastal security.
Prior to the establishment of the Space Force, the Coast Guard was the smallest branch. But that doesn’t negate its impact. Any waterway not privately owned is likely to have some sort of Coast Guard presence. If you’re a boater and have relied on the green and red buoys to help you find your way, you can thank a Coastie. If you served in the Navy, the Coast Guard ensured your safe passage through many waterways. And if you have ever enjoyed a cruise ship, you can yet again thank the Coast Guard for assuring safe crew and guest conditions.
A team from U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and the U.S. Coast Guard Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise conduct a Certificate of Compliance (COC) exam on the 1,036-foot Maltese-flagged cruise ship MSC Bellissima on its first-ever U.S. port call at the Port of Guam, on Jan. 3, 2024. The U.S. Coast Guard conducts COC exams for new or existing vessels that are embarking passengers from a U.S. port for the first time, carrying U.S. citizens as passengers with initial port calls at U.S. ports, or have undergone significant modifications or alterations including changes that affect structural fire protection or means of egress, in order to ensure these vessels, meet required safety and regulatory standards. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Thomas)
Continuing the Mission
When Jennifer left the Coast Guard after 20 years of honorable service, it wasn’t an easy decision. She had completed several tours underway and wanted to be there for her children as they were growing up.
“I loved my time in the service. I loved every minute, I have zero regrets,” she reflects.
Left: In 2000, a terrace at the Lonz Winery on Lake Erie collapsed, killing one and injuring 75. The Coast Guard was first on the scene as part of a massive multi-agency rescue. Jennifer was fresh out of bootcamp and managed the triage while ensuring all medical supplies were stocked. Right: Ken Waldo (Coast Guard Reserves), Jennifer Waldo, and her brother Shawn Zawistowski (Army, retired).
The strong community that comes with the Coast Guard is what drew Jennifer to Team RWB. Similar to the tight-knit camaraderie she experienced for 20 years, Team RWB has offered the same team environment. As a cyclist and soon-to-be empty nester, Jennifer looks forward to activating even more with the Team RWB Daytona chapter.
Always Ready
From ocean shores to the Great Lakes, the Coast Guard is a diligent, formidable, and - arguably - quiet defense of our nation. The next time you travel to Japan, Alaska, or even Detroit, know that the Coast Guard is there, keeping a watchful eye on our waterways.
As we celebrate the 236th birthday of the beloved “Coastie,” take time this month to thank the brave service members who protect our seas and the people on them. While not as boastful as other branches, the Coast Guard continues its legacy of Semper Paratus - Always Ready.