Coast Guard Personal Statement

I want to be an officer in the Coast Guard because I see it is a vital service, one that recognizes the important links between maritime security, environmental protection, and socioeconomic well-being. Considering this, I believe that the Coast Guard’s multifaceted purpose is incredibly engaging and that it contributes greatly to the welfare of our nation. Since I associate maritime environments with life, community health, and economic empowerment, I feel that the protection of these [sites] and the people that depend upon them that the Coast Guard provides is [essential]. Being an officer in this distinctive service would allow me to pursue a meaningful career in which I could serve my country and help further the protection of marine environments that I so love. Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay inspired my love and respect for marine environments, as my location allowed me to see how vital America’s maritime [ecosystems] truly are. Healthy, protected waterways and the sustainable

For generations, working on the water allowed some leeway for social mobility and the income eventually made educational pursuits possible. Although many of my forebears were not very educated, they recognized that sustainability and sufficiency tread a careful balance, and that this particular marine environment was integral to their identities and survival. Like them, I acknowledge that marine [environments] are essential and must be carefully managed and studied in order to promote the mores of sustainability and sufficiency. And because of them, I also recognize the importance of protecting those that venture out on the water. Due to these perspectives, I believe the Coast Guard’s many missions are incredibly impactful and are closely tied to my own aspirations, studies, and