A Week in the Life: Coast Guard Training Center Cape May Wednesday

Photo By Lt. John Edwards | Jeff King, a member of the Facilities Engineering Department at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., simulates chest compressions on a CPR dummy, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. King and other training center staff members underwent CPR training as part of the requirement for their jobs. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards)  

CAPE MAY, NJ, UNITED STATES

09.30.2015

Story by Chief Warrant Officer John Edwards 

U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May

CAPE MAY, N.J. - While no day could be said to be “ordinary” on board the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, N.J., some days are mostly about the business at hand.

Last night, we had our newest recruits arrive, and after a long and stressful night, they will begin their forming week. Today, they will be issued brand new uniforms and other essentials that they will need during the course of their training. Additionally, the males will all get their hair cut in the all-too-familiar military-recruit style. By tonight, you will already begin to see a team beginning to take shape. They will still be bouncing as opposed to rolling heel to toe when they march, they may even be slightly out of step, but you can see that they are already learning, already adapting.

Meanwhile, other recruits, who have been here for the last week or more, are engaged in training. Some will be sitting in classes learning rates and ranks, Coast Guard history, or customs and courtesies. Others will be in more “hands-on” evolutions like firefighting and line handling, which is usually regarded by the recruits as “fun.” Regardless of where they are in their levels of training, each day is a long day filled with lots to do and lots to learn.

The recruits, however, aren’t the only ones who will receive training today.

This afternoon, members of our Coast Guard Fire Department held CPR training for permanent party members. The fire department, here, conducts this training every two years as part of a requirement to keep certain employees on staff up-to-date on their CPR certifications. The training is four hours long and includes presentations as well as hands-on training with CPR dummies.

“It’s a great certification that everyone should have. You never know when you might have to use it to save a life,” said Chris Walters, the chief of the Coast Guard Fire Department at the training center.

We are halfway through the week and we’ve seen a lot so far. You’ve been here for morning colors, workout routines, swimming evolutions and training for both recruits and active duty. We’ve also watched as our newest recruits arrived and are getting settled in to their new lives. As you can tell, we are building a good momentum toward Friday, which means more than just the weekend around here. It’s going to be graduation day, and if you’ve ever been here for the ceremony, you know what I mean when I say you can feel the pride in the air.

Thank you for following along on our Week in the Life series, and I’ll return tomorrow with even more from the training center!

• Date Taken: 09.30.2015
• Date Posted: 09.30.2015 15:49
• Story ID: 177656
• Location: CAPE MAY, NJ, US