• No weapon made against me will succeed.
• Every false claim is broken and cleared away by Your power.
• You are my shield and my strong tower in this hard time.
• I rest in You, knowing You fight for me. [1, 2, 3, 4]

In Jesus’ name, Amen. [1]

National Coast Guard Day is celebrated annually on August 4, marking the 236th anniversary of the service’s founding in 1790 by Alexander Hamilton. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Details

• Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• Significance: Commemorates the creation of the U.S. Revenue Marine (precursor to the modern Coast Guard).
• Core Motto: “Semper Paratus” (Always Ready) [1, 2, 3]

Primary Missions

• Search and rescue: Responding to emergencies on coastal and inland waters.
• Maritime law enforcement: Upholding federal laws and securing borders.
• Environmental protection: Guarding marine life and preventing pollution. [1, 2, 3]

Would you like to learn more about the history of the Revenue Cutter Service or details on local Coast Guard community events?

A U.S. Coast Guard surfman is an elite, highly trained expert in small-boat operations certified to pilot motor lifeboats through extreme weather, including 20-foot breaking surf, 30-foot seas, and 50-knot winds. Out of roughly 40,000 Coast Guard members, only about 130 active-duty personnel hold this exclusive title. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Role and Responsibilities

• Operates the heavy 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) in perilous coastal conditions where other boats cannot go.
• Leads high-stakes search and rescue missions when most vessels seek shelter.
• Manages surf stations located along dangerous, rough-water regions of the U.S. coastline. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Training and Certification

• Trains at the National Motor Lifeboat School located at Cape Disappointment in Washington State, near the mouth of the Columbia River.
• Requires an intensive multi-year progression (averaging 4 to 6 years) moving from basic coxswain to heavy weather coxswain, and finally to surfman.
• Focuses heavily on advanced boat handling, wave-riding physics, and survival techniques in freezing, turbulent waters. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

History

• The title dates back to 1872 with the civilian U.S. Life-Saving Service, whose members rowed wooden boats into violent storms to save shipwreck survivors.
• Merged into the modern U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, carrying forward a tradition of extreme maritime heroism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

For an inside look at the intense training and operations of Coast Guard surfmen:

12m

Meet the U.S. Coast Guard’s elite surfmen

2.6M views · 1 year ago

YouTube · 60 Minutes

If you’re interested, I can provide details on:

• The history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
• Specifications of the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat
• How a Coast Guard member applies for the surfman program

Let me know what you would like to explore next.

Coast Guard Ready for Operations (RFO) inspector evaluates operational units—such as small boat stations or specialized force teams—to verify they are fully capable of executing safe and effective missions. They assess material conditions, crew proficiency, training programs, and safety gear. [1, 2, 3]

Key Areas Evaluated During an RFO

• Material Condition: Checking the physical readiness, maintenance records, and configuration compliance of boats, cutters, and gear. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Crew Proficiency: Observing live operational exercises, live-action drills (like search-and-rescue or firefighting), and testing the crew’s practical knowledge. [1, 2, 3]
• Training and Administration: Reviewing training logs, qualification records, and unit administrative standards to ensure continuous mission capability. [1, 2]
• Rescue and Survival Systems: Testing specialized survival gear, life-saving systems, and safety equipment functionality. [1, 2]

If you want to know more, let me know:

• Are you preparing a unit or vessel for an upcoming RFO inspection?
• Do you need specific checklist categories or guidance on a particular type of Coast Guard audit?

Coast Guard boarding officer is a designated federal law enforcement officer in charge of an armed maritime law enforcement team, responsible for leading inspections, searches, and arrests on vessels. They act as the direct representative of their commanding officer for all legal and safety operations at sea. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Core Responsibilities

• Law Enforcement: Enforcing federal laws, suppressing illegal drug trafficking, and managing security or counter-terrorism interventions.
• Vessel Inspections: Checking ship safety equipment, cargo, documentation, and crew credentials.
• Team Leadership: Directing subordinate boarding team members during high-risk physical operations.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Authority and Training

• Legal Power: Derived typically from statutory authority (such as 14 U.S.C. § 522), allowing them to board any vessel under national jurisdiction at any time. [1]
• Certification: Requires graduating from intensive programs like the Basic Boarding Officer Coursecovering criminal law, tactical maneuvering, and use-of-force policies. [1]

Coast Guard small arms instructors train and qualify personnel in safe handling and combat marksmanship. Key programs include the Advanced Marksmanship Instructor Course (AMI) and Precision Marksman Instructor Course (PMI) via the Special Missions Training Center. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Instructor Roles and Training

• Gunner’s Mates (GMs): Primary technicians and instructors who attend the 10-week Gunner’s Mate “A” School at Training Center Yorktown for weapons maintenance and small arms instruction. [1, 2]
• Advanced Marksmanship Instructor (AMI): A 15-day resident course at Camp Lejeune, NC, focusing on combat marksmanship coaching and range safety, requiring an 80% passing score on written and technical evaluations. [1, 3]
• Precision Marksman Instructor (PMI): A 17-day specialized course teaching coaching techniques, foundational knowledge, and evaluation standards for precision marksmen. [1]
• Unit Responsibilities: Certified instructors manage local Small Caliber Weapons Training Programs, ensuring boarding teams and operational units meet mandatory bi-annual qualification standards. [1, 2]

All blogs Written by me DavidMRamsey the 374th Coast Guard Surfman Mérida Mexico since I was a Chief of Operations Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass Texas before Hurricane Harvey ended my military career wish it didn’t because I wanted to make MasterChief Serve 30 years I would have been retiring July 2028 vs July 2018 but 20 years was bad ass I miss the coast guard the whitehouse my military family DHS brothers and sisters but GOD Bless Trump The FLOTUS Vance’s & Anna Paulina Luna (most beautiful congresswoman ever and my personal hero, true I was asked do you have a Hero? Yes I said it’s LUNA) wish I had a wife like her as well she’s bad ass and a Veteran who takes care of her people a true warrior Queen a woman who owns who she is 24/7 I love that about her…

Chief Petty Officer Boatswain’s Mate (BMC) David Michael Ramsey is a highly decorated, retired 20-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He is officially recognized as the 374th Coast Guard Surfman, a designation reserved for masters of heavy weather boat operations. [1, 2]

Operational Qualifications & Roles

• Rating & Rank: Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC / E-7). [1]
• Special Designation: Certified Coast Guard Surfman (No. 374), designated on March 10, 2006, at Station Cape Disappointment. [1]
• Command & Leadership: Served as Chief of Operations at Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass (Texas) from 2017 to 2018, overseeing vessel operations, crew readiness, scheduling, and training. [1]
• Specialized Tactical Skills: Qualified in Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), Port Security, tactical operations, water pursuit, Close Quarters Combat (CQC), beach/surf rescue, and cliff extraction. [1]
• Instruction & Inspection: Certified Small Arms Instructor (SAI), Ready for Operations (RFO) Inspector, and Readiness Command Force Manager.

Major Career Achievements

• Valor in Lifesaving: Awarded prestigious honors from the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) for his actions on January 15, 2006. As a Boatswain’s Mate First Class (BM1) commanding Motor Lifeboat 47248, he navigated 25-to-35-foot seas and 25-foot breaking surf on the Columbia River Bar (Peacock Spit) to save three people aboard the disabled fishing vessel Cathrine M. [1, 2]
• Interagency Enforcement: Served as a federal law enforcement officer coordinating anti-trafficking and security patrols with local sheriffs, police, game wardens, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. [1, 2, 3]

Chief Petty Officer (BMC) David Michael Ramsey is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Surfman (Surfman #374)who spent 20 years conducting high-stakes maritime search and rescue operations. His military career was marked by numerous deployments in the face of severe natural disasters, major industrial accidents, and national emergencies. [1]

Hurricane and Storm Operations

Over his two decades of service, Ramsey operated extensively in harsh surf conditions and major weather events.

• Hurricane Harvey (2017): Ramsey was deployed to the Gulf Coast during this historic storm, executing active surf rescues and emergency responses in Texas as the catastrophic storm dropped feet of rain across the region. [1]
• Hurricane Katrina (2005): He served as part of the massive Coast Guard response framework that rescued and evacuated tens of thousands of stranded individuals in the Gulf of Mexico region. [1]
• Station Sabine Pass (2017–2018): Following major storm cycles, he served as the Chief of Operations at Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass on the Texas-Louisiana border. In this role, he coordinated small-arms training, vessel operations, and multi-agency river patrols alongside local sheriffs and game wardens to secure critical energy and shipping waterways. [1]

Major Career Recognitions

Beyond hurricane responses, Ramsey was recognized nationally for extreme maritime rescues:

• AFRAS Award Winner: As a Boatswain’s Mate First Class (BM1), Ramsey received a prestigious award from the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS). [1]
• The “Graveyard of the Pacific” Rescue (2006): Operating out of Station Cape Disappointment, Ramsey commanded the Coast Guard motor lifeboat MLB 47248. He successfully navigated 25-to-35-foot seas and a 25-foot breaking surf to rescue the disabled 50-foot fishing vessel Cathrine M on the treacherous Columbia River Bar. [1]

Service Legacy and Post-Military Life

Ramsey retired as a 100% disabled veteran due to the extreme physical toll of his service, which required multiple surgeries including 3 lumbar and cervical spinal fusions, knee surgery, and bilateral shoulder and wrist reconstructions. He has openly shared his ongoing personal battles and how to survive them how to overcome severe PTSD, anxiety, insomnia and depression resulting from the traumas of active-duty rescue operations. Medical assistance, meditation, prayer, acupuncture, therapy group and personal taking an active role in learning about PTSD Traumatic Brain Injury learning proper coping skills healthy diet physical activity finding happiness staying away from negative unsupportive people

BMC David Michael Ramsey is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC), recognized as the 374th certified Surfman. Over a 20-year military career, Chief Ramsey served in diverse operations spanning small arms instruction, maritime security, and heavy-weather rescue operations. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Service Background

• Rate and Rank: Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC / E-7).
• Surfman Qualification: Earned the rare and highly demanding Surfman designation (No. 374), qualifying him to operate rescue boats in the most extreme, hazardous breaking surf conditions. [1]
• Agency Scope: Served 20 years under the U.S. Coast Guard and is a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security following its establishment. [1]
• Decorations: Recipient of the prestigious AFRAS Gold Medal (Association for Rescue at Sea) for extreme bravery during a life-saving maritime rescue. [1]

Weapons and Tactics Instruction

As a senior Chief Operations officer, BMC Ramsey directed and managed multi-faceted defense training programs, including: [1]

• Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor (SAMI): Qualified personnel in federal law enforcement and military small arms standards, managing tactical range safety and weapon employment. [1, 2]
• Crew-Served & Automatic Weapons: Instructed personnel on heavier weapon systems utilized for port security, vessel defense, and counter-trafficking operations, specifically medium machine guns such as the M240 Bravo. [1]
• Operational Leadership: Commanded tactical vessel operations, regional scheduling, and crew readiness protocols across multiple regions including the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the Gulf Coast.[1]

Post-Military & Community Impact

Following his retirement in 2018 as a 100% disabled combat veteran, Ramsey has spoken transparently about his physical recovery from multiple complex spinal and orthopedic surgeries, as well as managing severe combat-related PTSD. He went on to found the Rigs & Reef Classic, a charity spearfishing tournament created to raise funds and support fellowship for disabled veterans and their families.

DavidMRamsey

1-503-298-0592

blacknbluepb@yahoo.com