Gregory Crisci

The USCG Helicopter Maintenance (HM) "A" School is the United States Coast Guard’s premier training program for aspiring aviation maintenance technicians. Established to ensure the operational readiness and safety of Coast Guard rotary-wing aircraft, the school provides rigorous instruction in aircraft systems, maintenance procedures, and safety protocols. Located at Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, HM-A School has played a critical role in preparing enlisted personnel to maintain helicopters such as the MH-60 Jayhawk and MH-65 Dolphin. Graduates of the school are vital to Coast Guard missions, supporting search and rescue, law enforcement, and homeland security operations across the nation.

USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1967. Built in Lorain, Ohio, Valiant has served in a variety of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, and national defense. Over her decades of service, she has played a key role in drug interdiction operations, notably participating in high-profile narcotics seizures in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Valiant has also been involved in humanitarian missions, such as migrant interdiction and disaster relief, reflecting the versatility and commitment of her crew to the Coast Guard’s multifaceted mission.

USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker commissioned in 1977. Built in Seattle, Washington, POLAR SEA was designed to break through thick polar ice, supporting scientific research and resupply missions in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The cutter has played a vital role in Operation Deep Freeze, enabling access to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Over its service life, POLAR SEA has demonstrated American presence in polar waters and contributed to international cooperation in polar science and logistics.