Rear Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara
Commander, Fifth District, U.S. Coast Guard

In the Coast Guard, responsibility comes at an early stage. I’ve had command several times and my favorite post was as commanding officer of a Coast Guard station. I worked with about 40 people, and when your unit is that small, you get to know everyone very well. Significant search-and-rescue cases were bonding experiences; we were drawn together more tightly as a team by virtue of the things we went through together.

I willingly mentor young people just starting their careers. It’s fulfilling to contribute to someone else’s success. As you become more senior, you’re more removed from day-to-day operations. I miss that aspect of service, which is why I enjoy visiting Fifth District units in the field whenever I can. Talking to the crews and observing them at work allows me to get a good assessment of their capabilities. Additionally, it affords me an unfiltered chance to hear about things on their minds.

My ability to shape the Coast Guard’s future was most pronounced when I was the Commanding Officer at Training Center Cape May, N.J. At that time, we were graduating about 5,000 apprentices a year. Those graduates who’ve chosen to remain in the Coast Guard — which is the vast majority — are the service’s work force and future leaders. I know we gave them a solid foundation that instilled our core values, set high standards and motivated them as they began their enlistments.

The stars were aligned during that tour because I was able to influence program managers at headquarters to make long overdue investments in the Training Center. We improved the habitability of the barracks, enhanced the curriculum, and upgraded the appearance of the buildings and grounds. We built museum-quality displays around Coast Guard heroes to help recruits understand our rich heritage. Those important changes definitely made a difference to the recruits in terms of their motivation and quality of life. It validated that they had joined a world-class organization.

To blend a military career with family life, you need a good sense of humor, a supportive spouse and a lot of flexibility. My husband is retired from the Coast Guard, but there were many years when both of us had to worry about being co-located. We managed our assignments so that when one of us had a fast-paced operational position, the other sought a staff job in order to take on a larger share of caring for the children and running the household. We chose to live in smaller houses close to work so that we did not have long commutes. Like most military children, our sons switched schools often and became adept at making friends quickly.

It’s unfortunate that it took the tragedy of the Sept. 11 attacks for the nation to realize the importance and value of the Coast Guard. More and better equipment, as well as additional skilled people, are essential for the challenges we face in protecting the nation’s waterways and maritime regions. We’re moving in the right direction to get the political support and resources we need.

Now, it’s not unusual, when we’re in uniform on the street or in a store, for someone to reach out to shake our hand and thank us for what we do. That just makes us feel great.