Flying high and shooting straight: AUP FTX at USCG Station Elizabeth City, NC

Spring FTX 2023 for the VMI US Coast Guard AUP was a great success, as the Cadets had an opportunity to travel to USCG Station Elizabeth City in North Carolina. The active-duty personnel at the station provided valuable insight into their daily missions and operations, and the Cadets were able to stay in Thrun Hall Barracks and eat in the galley for the three days they were there. On the first day, the Cadets toured the engineering hangars where every single helicopter in the Coast Guard goes every four years to be taken apart, repaired, and reassembled. Later in the day, they visited the small boat station and spoke with the enlisted personnel who are always ready to respond to any situation at a moment's notice. The second day was an exciting one for the Cadets as they were taken up in a C-130 for a ride over the Outer Banks. Each Cadet had the opportunity to sit in the cockpit, steer the plane, and sit on the opened loading bay for a view of the Outer Banks from the sky. Later in the day, they saw a static display of an H-60 Jayhawk and were able to ask LCDR White '06 questions about flying and operations. During the third day, the Cadets visited the Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), where the instructors showed them the facilities and equipment used to train AMT, AET, and AST rates. Finally, on the fourth day, the FTX concluded with a day at VMI's North Post Firing Range. The Combat Shooting Team coached the AUP through parts of the USCG Firearms Training & Evaluation - Pistol (FTE-P) manual. This allowed the Cadets to familiarize themselves with a weapon many will use during their time in the Coast Guard. Overall, Spring FTX 2023 was an enriching experience for the VMI US Coast Guard AUP, as they were able to gain valuable knowledge and insight into the daily operations of the US Coast Guard. This will undoubtedly aid them in their future careers as Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel.