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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
CPO Brian Hosking, U.S. Coast Guard (2001-Present)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
 I moved to the US from New Zealand in 1998 and I wanted to use the opportunity to start a new career. After talking to an Ex Navy friend I decided that the Coast Guard was the fit for me. I first tried to go active but was above the cut for the age requirement. I immediately looked into the reserves and was extremely excited to be accepted.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
Upon enlisting I joined PSU 307 who at the time were based in St. Petersberg Florida. This was January 2001. When the world changed later that year it was the start of many deployments for me. 307 was immediately sent to Boston, then to Cuba, Kuwait and New Orleans. In 2006 I took an assignment with CEU Miami for 18 months and immediately after, did a 1 year tour at Kings Bay Georgia with the Maritime Force Protection Unit. I then returned to 307. By this time I had advanced to MKC and was then deployed to Haiti after the earthquake struck. Upon my return from there I got caught in the new assignment process and found myself as the SERA at station Ft. Myers Beach.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
 The closest I came to a "combat operation" was my deployment to Kuwait. Our unit was part of the Harbor Defense Command responsible for protecting all of the shipping supplies coming into theater. While the mission there put our unit at risk it was still in the rear so I never experienced what front line troops had to go through. I never had to fire a weapon in anger so I do not describe myself as a combat veteran. I was just proud that I was able to contribute to the effort and do my part.
WHICH, OF THE VESSELS OR DUTY STATIONS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
This is tough to answer because I have great memories of them all. If I have to commit to one than I must say the PSU due to the volume of people I met from all branches and the places I was sent to. Working with such a diverse set of people is where my fondest memories come from. While I have forgotten some of the names, the faces are always there when I look back on what we did together.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
 I will have to list a few as I cannot point to one in particular. Seeing the destruction from Hurricane Katrina and the Haitian earthquake certainly stand out. The welcome we received upon arrival in Boston after 9/11. Walking through Camp Delta in Guantanamo Bay. Doing a Helo basket lift on the deck of an OSV in Kings Bay. The Desert heat of Kuwait and dining next to a young Marine in the galley and wondering if he will make it back home or not. I think these are the kind of memories that never go away.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
I think earning the Port Security Pin was the most meaningful. To me it was something that was only earned by those reserves who left there lives behind to answer the call. Something that is never easy to do.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 I would have to say BMC Peacock. He was our instructor at what was then called REBI, my first introduction to military life. Of course there have been many since but he was one of those Coasties who bled the blue and he certainly inspired me to make the most of my career in the guard.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
During our down time at Kings Bay, MK1 Billy Ward and I would go cycling around the golf course were we were living and this soon turned into a competition on who collected the most golf balls. Seeing Billy waist deep on Georgian swamp mud showed true dedication toward being the king of the golf ball. Whenever he comes to mind, that is the picture I see.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
 I spent almost 20 years as a machinist and welder before I joined the Coast Guard reserve. Due to the deployment requirements of the PSU I was fired from this work just as I was being deployed to Kuwait. I decided then that I needed to find a more secure job than the fickle manufacturing industry, so I am now a rural mail carrier in Florida.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Chief Petty Officers Association. I attend CPO meetings whenever I can fit them into my schedule and TWS.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
 It has been huge for me. I was like the lost sheep bouncing around different countries and jobs. Being around so many people with a professional attitude has definitely rubbed off on me and kept me focused on how I conduct all aspects of my life. It is something I will always look back on and say it was the best decision of my life to enlist and be part of something bigger.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
My advice is mainly for my fellow reserves. While it can be extremely difficult at times to juggle your civilian job with the demands of the service, I encourage you all to take advantage of active duty whenever you can. The experiences I have had in just 11 years I would never trade away. There is so much to gain personally and professionally being a Coastie every day. So many cool things to do and the best people to work with. And you get paid pretty well too. So get out there and apply for those T10 and ADOS orders. NOW!!!
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
I like being able to create and maintain my personal service record on TogetherWeServed and for finding and keeping in touch with those who I have met and who helped me along the way.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
This edition of CoastGuard Voices was supported by:
CoastGuard.Togetherweserved.com
For current and former serving Members of the US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Reserve, TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource enabling Coast Guardsmen to re-connect with lost Shipmates, share memories and tell their Coast Guard story.
To join CoastGuard.Togetherweserved.com, please click HERE.
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