These stick figure comics will change how you see the Coast Guard

[douglas9]

If you ask Brian Runion what he thought of his time at the Coast Guard Academy, he’s not going to sugarcoat his answer.

“I hated it bitterly,” he told Task & Purpose. “It definitely improved me as a person, but it’s a difficult place to be. It has a very regimented lifestyle, and when you listen to all your friends talk about having a great time in college while you’re sitting in the barracks shining your shoes, it’s not the best time.”

So it’s surprising that now, 14 years after graduating from the academy and nine years after leaving the service, Runion still works for the Coast Guard as a civilian. And when he’s not working, he’s trying to start a small revolution in how Americans, other service members, and even fellow Coasties see the country’s smallest, most-forgotten, and most-chronically-underfunded military branch.

What caused this change from disaffected cadet to tireless advocate? Turns out all it took were a few history lessons.


https://taskandpurpose.com/mandatory-fun/coast-guard-memes-claw-of-knowledge

[sarge43]

1. The US Coast Guard's unofficial motto

"You have to go out; you don't have to come back."

[captain queeg]

2. I remember meeting a coast guard guy back in the 70s when I was hitchhiking around the country.

I had a generally low opinion of the armed services back then, but I came close joining up after meeting him. He stopped at some tavern and bought me a beer and told me all about them. He’d have been a great recruiter.