How Coast Guard Surfmen Train For Massive Waves

U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard
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Published 2023-04-03
Coast Guard Surfmen are an elite group of highly-skilled boat operators, known as coxswain, who specialize in operating boats in surf and heavy weather conditions.

Before candidates can earn this distinguished and historic title, they must complete a rigorous training program that culminates with the Surfman Course held at the National Motor Lifeboat School in Ilwaco, Washington.

We spent multiple days with the most recent Surfman class to give you an inside look at their training. During the course, the students were notified of a potential mariner in distress near their location and quickly, their final day of training turned into a real-life rescue operation!

#coastguard #surf #surfmen #uscg #boat #boating #columbiariver #astoriaoregon
All Comments (21)
  • @MW-on1ft
    The rescue shown in this video happened recently. The man on the power boat had stolen the boat. Obviously he was not an experienced boat operator or of much intelligence and was arrested by law enforcement ashore. Had it not been for our Coasties he most likely would be dead.
  • @RevEricHebert
    The Top Gun of Search and Rescue. Bravo Zulu to all Surfman!
  • @donh6416
    Local news covered this rescue immediately after it occurred, and it reminded us all that the best train in our backyard. Thank you USCG.
  • @danielchurchill9004
    As a USN sailor and a guy that loves the ocean I know the coast guard are the best! Thank you!!!
  • @cdrocrossdiscovery
    I was very fortunate to have attended NMLB School. My biggest regret was not attaining Surfman qualification. I loved my career in the Coast Guard.
  • @bobsmalser8304
    Coasties empower their non-coms better than the other services, and it shows. Well done.
  • @c.shoefish
    A quote from Commander Wilkes, US Navy (ca. 1860) sums it up nicely: “Mere description can give but little idea of the terrors of the bar of the Columbia; all who have seen it have spoken of the wilderness of the ocean and the incessant roar of the waters, representing it as one of the most fearsome sites that can possibly meet the eye of a sailor.”. I was stationed at Cape Disappointment, with BMC Tori Hansen and I've seen how beautiful and just how nasty mother nature can be. That bar will turn on you in seconds. I miss it, but my body doesn't.
  • @rp1645
    Thank you for showing this hard training. A person that decides to take on the Columbia Bar at the ocean with a vessel better know how to get through it. Also hats off to Columbia River bar Pilots, who transfer to large ships in these Dangerous waters. I wish I had gone in the Coast Guard to go through this life saving service. The CG is the branch of the American military that's "FIRST" mission is "SAVING" Lives. Thank you Coasties.
  • @james3282
    Everyone in the US Coast Guard is absolutely awesome and thank you all for your service 😎 🇨🇦 🙏
  • @donjones4719
    At the end I thought is was a drill, the last step in training at the end of the course. But no! It was the real thing. The boater was lucky the CG was out there on a training op. Perfect timing for the video crew also, we get to see the power of a wave and how it can overturn a sizable boat like it was a bathtub toy.
  • @browsman2328
    I went to the U.S. Navy photographer’s school in 1970 and we had some Coasties in the school. If I was a young person I would pick the Coast Guard over the Navy. There is a Coast Guard Air Station near where I live in Sacramento. They used to fly C-130s but now they fly C-27s which looks like a baby C-130. I see them flying around and I tell my friends that’s the Coast Guard up there.
  • @OregonDX
    My boy BM2 Kler! Haha Outstanding work guys and gals!
  • @michaeltca3103
    The men who designed and built this boat and the men who drive are amazingly skilled and make our country proud!
  • @joecarlson6428
    I had the honor and privilege to serve in 1977 at Station Yaquina Bay, Newport OR. The 44 ' MLB I was assigned to, 44300, is now In the Columbia Maritime Museum in Coos Bay OR. I had orders for the NMLB school. Instead I accepted an offer to attend OCS. The equipment, boats and training is better. The Pacific is still dangerous. The internal drive and dedication to be the best is still necessary to be a surfman and heavy weather coxswain. Semper Paratus.
  • @markb448
    Great place! I spent four years stationed there in the late 80's. The 47200 was the first 47 footer we received.
  • @joshmccoy1522
    My little brother retired from the CG. I need to talk to him some more about what he did. He was on cutters, mostly on the east coast, although he was stationed at Puget Sound at one time.