San Diego Coast Guard Station

Since my teenager is planning on applying to the Coast Guard Academy during his senior year of high school, we decided we'd arrange a tour of the station in San Diego.  The public affairs officer who led our tour began his career at the Coast Guard Academy.  He left the Coast Guard to see more action as a Marine, and then came back to the Coast Guard.

The tour lasted a little over an hour - that long only because my son peppered our guide with so many questions.  The station is very small.  Unlike bases like Pendleton or Miramar, none of the people who work at the San Diego Coast Guard Station live on site.

This is the Operations Center.  We did not get to go inside because you have to have a special clearance to do so.  Most of the people who work at the station do not have the proper clearance.

Our guide took us inside the hangars, which were huge, and then out on the docks to see the boats.

Unlike other branches of the military, the Coast Guard is charged with working within United States borders in a law enforcement capacity against vessels trying to smuggle drugs, people or other contraband into the country.  The Coast Guard is also involved in searches and rescues of ships that have run into trouble out on the water.  Occasionally, this station also escorts Naval ships into power and provides extra security.