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Radio Boat Forces offers essential discussions on maritime operations, professional development, open-source policy updates, and field insights from around the country. All views expressed are solely those of the hosts/guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Nevertheless, Radio Boat Forces provides exclusive content with leading experts, offering operational and leadership insights, as well as special guest interviews addressing mission-critical topics such as search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation, and other Coast Guard mission areas.
Whether you serve in the Coast Guard, a maritime partner agency, or consider yourself a military or maritime enthusiast, Radio Boat Forces delivers practical knowledge, historical insights, and other engaging content with a touch of light-hearted fun along the way.
47 Episodes
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In this episode, BMCM Adam Bure, Officer-in-Charge of Coast Guard Station Kenosha, walks us through what it takes to lead a Scheduled Mission Station (SMS) and a Forward Operating Location (FOL). From seasonal ice rescue to law enforcement and search-and-rescue, the operational demands are steep...especially on Lake Michigan’s unpredictable water and weather. Extra historical context: Station Kenosha began in 1879 under the U.S. Life-Saving Service, responding to over 2,300 calls by 1935. One...
In this episode, we sit down with LCDR Steven Ober (ret)., whose career reflects both the traditions of Boat Forces and the evolution of Coast Guard aviation. Beginning his service on small boats, he advanced from crewmember to coxswain before transitioning into aviation, where he became the first Coast Guard rescue swimmer. His service extended far beyond aviation. Over a 26-year career, his contributions in operations, inspections, and national response policy helped shape capabilitie...
After getting multiple requests, we’re answering the call. This week’s episode is your one-stop shop for the music you’ve been hearing throughout the episodes. So, whether you’re driving, just need a boost, or getting ready for your PFT - we’ve got you covered. Teaser: did you know the very first aviation rescue swimmer was a BM? Stay tuned, and as always, be stay safe out there. Send us a text
When a story is too good to leave on the cutting-room floor, you make room for a second run. In this follow-up episode with CDR Michael Bennett, USCG (Ret.), we share the candid, unscripted parts of our conversation that went beyond WWII boat forces and into the broader legacy of Coast Guard intelligence and operations. From the Revenue Cutter Service conducting ISR in the 1800s, to the evolution of intelligence practices that shaped modern missions, this episode reveals the deeper puzzle pie...
When the mission calls, some stories are too extraordinary to stay classified. In this episode, we sit down with CDR Michael Bennett, USCG (Ret.), founder of the website Guardian Spies and one of the leading voices in modern Coast Guard intelligence. From the daring missions of OSS maritime units in World War II to today’s intelligence-driven boat forces, CDR Bennett unpacks a hidden history of small-boat capability in WWII. Listeners will hear how lessons from the Coast Guard’s earliest inte...
This episode welcomes CDR Noel Johnson, Chief of the 2-side (CG-7312) in the Office of Boat Forces, for a deep dive into the Coast Guard’s small boat community. From managing fleet readiness to tackling the challenges behind the scenes, CDR Johnson offers valuable perspective on how policy decisions translate into operational capability. He shares updates relevant to units across the service, highlights successes that keep the mission moving forward, and provides insights useful for anyone tr...
In this episode, CDR Leo Danaher (CG-7311) walks us through his firsthand experience with an OIC screening panel. He shares invaluable advice on strengthening your panel package, from highlighting mission-aligned competencies to framing leadership accomplishments effectively. CDR Danaher ultimately unpacks the OIC panel process, offering clarity on what review panels expect and common pitfalls to avoid. He also offers guidance for mentors and supervisors: encouraging early preparation and tho...
In this episode, CAPT Matthew Fine offers a flyover of CG-741’s role in connecting with Boat Forces programs. From ensuring readiness through data-driven training initiatives to deepening reserve integration under the Shore Forces Reserve Management Plan, CAPT Fine explains how CG-741 is the connective tissue behind every SAR case, flood response, and patrol. He tackles the operational impact of staffing shifts, challenges in field-to-HQ communication, and the need for greater situational awa...
This is an Unofficial Podcast. All views expressed are solely those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Office of BoatForces. We shift the lens from deck-plate operations to the broader national security picture. Drawing from a recent Atlantic Council report, we explore how Coast Guard missions, especially those in Boat Forces, fit into evolving defense strategies shaped by global competition, emerging threats, and interagency cooperation. It’s ...
Today we’re breaking down how workforce transparency and talent management shape your career, and how they might tie into Force Design 28. We unpack the RAND report Workforce 2040: Better Management Through Transparency and explore its suggestions for assignment fairness, operational flexibility, and career clarity. From deck-plate experience to data-driven decisions, we ask: are we rowing in the same direction? Or drifting apart? This episode looks at how structure and people mus...
This week we sit down with Mr. Dave Shepard from the Office of Boat Forces, a key figure behind some of the Coast Guard’s most iconic platforms. From the early days of the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat to the development of the Response Boat–Medium, Mr. Shepard shares insights on how these boats came to define modern missions. We also get a look at what’s ahead for his portfolio as the Office of Boat Forces continues shaping the future of operations. A must-listen for anyone who’s ever trusted their...
We're joined by LT Chris Fuentes from the Office of Boat Forces 1-Side to discuss Electronic Asset Logbook (EAL). LT provides insight on the system’s role in capturing operational data, new changes to the way we capture information, and highlights some upcoming training opportunities. EAL, part of the Coast Guard’s broader data environment that includes OORS, AOPS, ALMIS, and MISLE, helps record mission activity vital for planning, resourcing, and staffing. When data isn’t captured digitally,...
We dive into the critical role of medical readiness in Coast Guard small boat operations. From heat casualties to trauma care in rough seas, we explore how EMT skills keep missions on track and save lives. We discuss medical gear, improvisation, and what crews can do to enhance their medical readiness capability. Our guest, HS1 Vinny Carracio of the White House Medical Staff, joins us to share insights from his recent role in the Coast Guard medical world. This one’s all about readiness when ...
In this episode, we sit down with CDR Leo Danaher from CG-7311 to gain sharp, firsthand insight into the evolving landscape of Coast Guard operations. With a wealth of experience from recent tours, CDR Danaher reflects on key lessons learned, the operational tempo facing Boat Forces today, and how strategic decisions at the program level ripple down to the deckplate. From policy shifts and resourcing realities to readiness challenges and leadership takeaways, this conversation is packed...
Outgoing ME Rating Force Master Chief Ryan Patterson sits down with us to reflect on his tour as the enlisted leader for Maritime Enforcement specialists. With approximately 7,000 certified boarding officers and boarding team members across active and reserve components, he shares lessons learned, discusses workforce evolution, and explains what it means to advocate for ME personnel at Headquarters. Then we enter an alternate universe where the Coast Guard never left the Department of the Nav...
This week, we dive into Hurricane Season 2025 with insights from designated Coast Guard flood response members preparing to meet the potential mission head-on. We recap a recent multi-unit training exercise featuring expert partners from SPEC Rescue International and spotlight how these collaborations sharpen operational readiness. Special guests Mr. Rick Mach, Mrs. Brook Serbu, and Mrs. Angie Vallier provide a mission overview for the upcoming season, outlining expectations, challenges...
In this episode, we explore the future of marine propulsion with Dr. Michael Kass from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Kass shares his expertise on alternative fuels, electrification, and the practical challenges of integrating new technologies into Coast Guard operations. We discuss fuel efficiency, the viability of electric and hybrid systems, and the potential benefits of quieter, more sustainable vessels. We then visit Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) Eufaula, located on the scenic Lake E...
In this episode, we sit down with VADM William "Dean" Lee, a distinguished Coast Guard leader whose 36-year career culminated as Commander of Atlantic Area. Known not just for his command over vast operations but for his deep commitment to servant leadership, Admiral Lee shares timeless insights on trust, humility, and the evolving nature of leadership. From his earlier days in Boat Forces to his reflections on decision-making at the highest levels, he offers hard-earned lessons for leaders a...
Ever finish a patrol alert but later realize you don’t remember half of it? That’s not just exhaustion; it’s fatigue silently sabotaging your performance. In this episode, we dive into the neuroscience of fatigue with Dr. Allison Brager, U.S. Army officer and sleep expert, who breaks down how chronic sleep disruption rewires our brains, especially in high-stakes roles like SAR. We tackle sleep fragmentation, SAR tones, and whether “banking” sleep actually works. From brain fog to biometrics, ...
CAPT Jason Aleksak (CG-731) presses send one last time, marking the end of a chapter few get to write, and even fewer reflect on publicly. In this episode, he unpacks what it’s like to lead in ambiguity, make decisions with consequences miles away, and carry the weight of change with steady intention. From early surprises to lessons that rewrote his playbook, CAPT Aleksak offers a raw, thoughtful look at leadership under pressure. Whether you're at the helm of a unit or just stepping in...
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