Coastie Update

Occasionally I try to give a brief update on our life in the Coast Guard. It's mainly because people always ask "Now what is it exactly that your husband does?" And when I answer they respond with "And what does that mean?". So without further ado, here is my attempt at answering those questions for all my avid readers... Mom? You there? Okay perfect.
Right now we are in Yorktown Virginia. Riley is attending A School to become a Boatswain's (pronounced bo-sin) Mate, which means that previously he was a Seaman, and didn't really have a specific job. He just worked wherever needed. A School lasts approximately 12 weeks (sometimes more, sometimes less depending on which job you choose), and when Riley graduates in February, he will be a BM3, or Petty Officer Stewart.
As I understand it, Boatswains Mates pretty much handle everything on the boat except the engine. When you close your eyes and picture a member of the Unites States Coast Guard on the job, you are probably picturing a Boatswains Mate. Or Ashton Kutcher jumping out of a helicopter. And to add a little trivia, The Guardian takes place at AST (Aviation Survival Technician) A School. Are you impressed with all my acronyms yet? What a Coast Guard wife I am becoming!
Another question we have been getting a lot lately is "Where will you go after A School?" And the answer is, we don't know yet. Our next station is based on two things. First, where BM3s are needed, and second, how well Riley does in the class. The Coast Guard issues a list of stations or cutters (big ships) that need Riley's job, and the first in their class gets first pick off of that list. Riley is in the top five of his class (that hottie pants genius!), so we should be able to get a station that we want. Fingers crossed! Anyway, the list will be released next week, so we should know where we are going within a couple of weeks.
I hope that wasn't too confusing... Riley really should be the one doing these kinds of posts. He is far better at explaining the whole thing than I am.
Anyway, I absolutely love being a small part of the Coast Guard family. If you had told me five years ago, or even 3, that I would be married to a military man and living out of state, I would have laughed in your face. It was just not something that was ever on my radar. But I have to say how incredibly grateful and proud I am of where Riley, Mason, and I are in our lives.
I love the Coast Guard. I love that it is so family oriented, or at least tries to be. I love how much Riley loves his job, and how great he looks in his uniform. I love that he goes to work everyday and makes a difference, and then comes home and tells me all about it. I love the community and family the Coast Guard provides. No matter where we are, there is always a group of women (and a couple men) whose spouse is out doing the same thing mine is, and we are there to support one another.
Stay tuned for news on our next station.. Pray for West Coast folks!
In the meantime, here are a few more Coastie pics!
Xoxo