dispelling common misconceptions, an exercise in futility

I would like to start off by laying down a few basic facts about the Coast Guard and also looking into some incorrect assumptions people seem to have about the service:

We ARE a branch of the armed forces (that makes five total). Although we are not used often in a "combat" role, we DO have Coast Guard men and women deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In fact, that's where I am currently deployed.

We ARE NOT all rescue swimmers. They are a critical component of our service but when looked at in size compared to the Coast Guard as a whole, they comprise a small part of the Coast Guard. Their rescues tend to be a lot more TV friendly than the ones made by let's say small boats or cutters. I have nothing but respect for ASTs (rescue swimmers) and only mentioned this fact because it seems like a lot of the prospective future Coasties have the impression that ASTs make up more of the service than they actually do.

Our motto, catchphrase, slogan or whatever else you might want to call it is "Semper Paratus" not "So Others May Live". This is Latin for always ready.

I could go on (my next target would be everyone calling the 47' MLB "the unsinkable one from TV") but I'm going to call it quits out of fear for sounding bitter. Or is it too late already?