Below is a joint statement from Vince Patton and Skip Bowen, the 8th and 10th Master Chief Petty Officers of the Coast Guard.
Skip Bowen - 1978
Vince Patton - 1972
“For us, attending Coast Guard recruit training was a major life event that pretty much defined all life events that came after.... both professionally and personally. We believe that to be true for almost all alumni that ever entered the gates of either Alameda California or Cape May New Jersey. More than 80 percent of the Coast Guard started their military careers as enlisted members. Some left the service after only a few years and went on to a successful civilian career, while others stayed in as long as the Coast Guard allowed us to... but in all cases we believe there is a strong link back to where it all began.
This Alumni group exists to connect all of us back to our roots and with each other. It also serves as a fundraising tool to support the current Recruit Training Center through our partnership with the Coast Guard Foundation and the Chief Petty Officers Association. As you all know, the Coast Guard budget usually falls a little short of all that is needed to enhance the recruit training experience. Funds collected through this effort will be directed through the Coast Guard Foundation to meet the highest unfunded needs on the Training Center.
We are excited to be a part of this initiative and we hope that you will take a step back in time and come on board this group. Collectively we can make a positive difference at Training Center Cape May that will have impacts far into the future.”