What Gear Does a US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Carry? - Smarter Every Day 279 

One of the main reasons I wanted to make this video is so young people would know that this career field exists. Can you imagine how cool of a job this would be? Thank you to everyone who supports at www.patreon.com/smartereveryday ! My goal is to keep being authentic, and your support allows me to do that without trying to please sponsors. I look forward to sending you these sweet holographic stickers! Thank you!

Great video. Have a request if possible. I am a retired Rescue Swimmer and in your video you have a swimmer on an iceberg. I am that swimmer. I have still photos of that flight but was not aware there was a video. Was wondering if there was a way to get a copy of that video or where you got it. Thanks again. Appreciate your time.

Rescue swimmers have got to be some of the most badass individuals out there. Proud to have grown up with a guy who became one.

I love how excited Destin gets about random engineering things. “Is that a torque screwdriver?!?” Love it!

I can REALLY appreciate how well this video is put together. It really feels like a learning journey, you did a great job!

I’m a retired USCG HH-65 pilot. I used to travel to various CG Air Stations and teach CRM, Crew Resource Management. Along with having incredible rescue stories of my own to share, pilots, Flight Mechanics and Rescue Swimmers would share their experiences. These experiences were and are so incredible they defy description. Night, bad weather, raging ocean, surf, cliffs, caves, ships, you name it. Each case involves the crew working together to be creative and figure out exactly how to prosecute the rescue and recovery.

As a former Navy rescue swimmer instructor - I really appreciate this video shedding light on our program. Thank you, Destin, for putting this together! ***So others may live***

Semper Paratus coasties! Thank you all for your service! You all deserve more recognition than you get!

You know what? I have very strong opinions on mostly anything related to the US Military as a whole, but your videos show these people in a way that makes me feel nothing but respect for them. I won't talk about the institution as a whole, but the individuals you meet in these deep dives? Absolutely brilliant, hardworking and competent people. I admire their resourcefulness, humility and discipline. Thank you for showing us this angle! Amazing videos, keep them coming. Your content has been getting WAY better recently, and that bar was already high.

I have a shitton of respect for not only the rescue swimmers that go out there into the danger to rescue people, but also the pilots that can manage to hold the aircraft in position in all different types of conditions to make sure everyone gets out

I worked as a civilian for the USCG in the 80s for 4 years. This small service is unique and very specialized. I am glad such a small, very competent group of heros is getting recognized. I am extremely proud to have worked with such elite people.

I would like to extend a thank-you to all the patrons who support this channel. I personally can't afford to financially support Destin, so I'm grateful that others can so that I can keep enjoying wonderful videos like these. I love in-depth breakdowns of technical stuff, especially survival-related. And as a (former) rescue diver, this series has an extra meaning for me.

This has a real impact. Mad respect for these extremely brave and skilled people. Thanks Destin!

Imagine not having watched The Guardian and learned all about these crazy dudes from Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher's amazing perfomances

Hey Destin, this is one of my favorite series of yours by far. Looking forward to the rest of the vids to come.

I'm absolutely loving these USCG videos! I'm a Coast Guard brat myself, and it's been a part of our family's life since before I was born. They don't get anywhere near the appreciation or awareness they deserve, and I really love that you're making these videos spotlighting them. I didn't know about the sewing, but it makes sense, for more than one reason. The Coast Guard is the smallest branch of the military by a wide margin, and they have a matching-size piece of the budget as well. As a result, kind of like the USMC, they have to use quite a bit of resourcefulness in obtaining and maintaining their equipment. Doesn't help that a lot of their ships are pushing 40-50 years old. The creativity of the crew to repair sudden equipment failures aboard the very-showing-her-old-age USCGC Polar Star actually made the news a few years ago. I might be conflating a few specific examples, but I seem to recall a story of someone repairing the trash incinerator with a surfboard and duct tape.

Here in italy we have a branch of similar aviation techs dedicated only to Alpine, Speleological, Fluvial, and more generally Remote/Mountainside Rescue operations. It's called CNSAS. It's really interesting to see the many small changes into equipment, techniques and training models in the heli-ops both on air and on their respective warehouses (could we use the word "doctrine", in this case?). Absolutely amazing video, Thanks!

What I always found interesting is that (in theory and by training standard) you can take any swimmer and any aircrew and combine them without having met before. Their language and procedures are so standardized and well trained that they just click. Something that is a powerfull asset during big floods or hurricanes as often personell comes together from all over.

There is nothing better than working to help others and save lives. Mad respect. I served 22 years in the Army; these survival techs are very impressive.

Dustin, as a mariner myself, this is among our greatest fears, CG is such an important institution like you said many have no clue how critical it is to marine safety

Destin's inexhaustible enthusiasm for learnin' is enviable and inspiring.

It really makes me emotional to see these people so dedicated to saving peoples lives.

My great uncle was a helicopter pilot for the navy doing rescues and later on was a trainer for the coast guard. He had so many great stories. He also kept a tally of souls saved [463]

I love this series! I’m leaving for Basic on January 10th. Very interested on the Aviation side of things of the coast guard

"The Bering" on Audible is a GREAT example of what these guys (and gals!) do out there. Its's heroic and heartbreaking at the same time and I highly recommend it. Unsure if there is an actual book about it but the Audible had some actual survivors and USCG narration and it's very good.

Dustin, you should really learn more about that knife. It’s called the Spyderco Rescue knife. Has an emergency whistle, glass breaker, blade has a half stop to help cut rope, the blunt tip is great to cut material off a victim without risk of cutting them with the knife meant to save them. Really really cool!

I used to be an Aircrew Flight Equipment specialist for the Air Force. Pretty much the same job, but I wish I'd have went this route. Super cool to see what my brothers and sisters are doing on the water. The level of excitement that you get about it is the level of excitement I walked in to my job with every day. I miss it so so so much. Thanks for the deep dive, love all the videos you do, Destin!

I couldn't help but think during the video that there can't be many people who have met and interacted with as many elites in their fields as Destin. The expertise if you lined up every single person interviewed on this channel is just staggering.

My name is Douglas Winston Kilgore. I was stationed at the US Coast guard air station Sitka Alaska. I remember seeing these guys train, and they trained hard! I had and have admiration for all they've done and continue to do. Semper paradus!!

I was good friends with a Swimmer. I went to boot camp with him. Rest in Peace AST1 David Skimin. I miss our time together in the surf and sun of Hawaii. Also the rest of the crew of the 6505 and all fallen Coasties.

Awesome, thank you. My son is a rescue swimmer in the NAVY and super proud of him. He is an inspiration to me, his mom and his siblings. Thanks for doing this :-) God Bless

Easily one of my favorite series on the channel. Right next to the submarine series.

Thank you Destin for this amazing series! It shines the light on spectacular people with phenomenal jobs.

Probably the single greatest Coasty Recruiting video ever made!!! Excellent work and awesome that they let you see behind the curtain.

See, I have heard of this title. My dad was one back in the day but a lot has changed since he jumped out of choppers. He has so many cool stories about what he did and the souls he saved while serving in Cape Cod. This series has been extra special for me because of my dad's past experience with the CG. He's disabled now because the repeated jumps damaged his spine after many years. I'm so glad you've done this series to show the rest of the world what these guys go through. The other armed forces get all the attention but many forget about the CG.

I love how many little models of ships and aircraft Destin has. They are so cool.

I've lived on the coast of Lake Michigan for 30 years and have seen countless rescue operations done by USCG but this video puts their activities in a different perspective.

By @5:22 I was in tears. Idk. I hold a special place in my heart for rescue personnel. It genuinely all started with the movie The Guardian. That movie, as a young man when it first came out changed my perception of what life is.

Honestly these are the real heros that most people will never know about. These people are why we have the word brave

BZ to the USCG for opening up their shop like this. Great series! Transparency...taxpayers learning of the services provided with their funds is a good thing.

I so greatly appreciate the videos you make! I am an upper elementary teacher and my classes always love to watch your videos. Thank you for creating (like you said) respectful and educational content that is thought provoking and entertaining! My students and I love when you have your giddy science wonder moments during a video and when you get super excited about something. All your videos are so well done, please keep them coming!

For a while now, some of Destin's videos have been the best ads for the US military they could ever hope for.

I feel the coast guard is the most under estimated branch of the US military. They are the ones constantly in action during the peace time. Good job with the series.

I’m getting my DLRG silver lifeguarding qualification so this is super interesting to see how far “swimming to save people” goes! And fun fact - the German word for lifeguard is Rettungsschwimmer, so taken literally, in Germany technically all lifeguards are rescue swimmers! My grandpa was also in the USCG, wish I could ask him whether he knew anything about the rescue swimmers…!

Thank you, Destin, for everything you do! LOVED the 80’s themed voice-over stuff

Okay the sewing part was super cool. That's a seriously underrated skill! These guys could make a killing on the cosplay market with their experience sewing so many different materials and items. I would love to see a rescue swimmer and a professional fursuit maker compare notes.

Destin, I LOVE these deep dive videos!!! I have always respected the military and especially the men and women serving our country. But, seriously, you have helped me to see, especially with this video, how unselfish and truly heroic these men and women are!! I was touched watching the rescues at the beginning. I am filled with an immense gratitude for the coast guard, and other first responders that have dedicated their lives to helping the helpless. We, in general, may not agree on many points of todays arguments, but who can argue when they are hanging off a cliff with a broken foot and someone is coming to save them...🥹 Well done coast guard! 👏🙌👏🙌🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 Thank YOU Destin for bringing this knowledge to all of us! Can't wait for the next episode!! 🤗🤗🤗

Interesting. The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Association) in the UK go to great lengths to keep them and the people they're rescuing OUT of the water. They are very much boat-centric in their view. I'm guessing the US coastguard and RNLI are on very friendly terms. I wonder why there's this HUGE difference in operating procedure.

This is awesome, my kid's cub scout pack had an event at the USCG station here next to the airport here and I really had to restrain myself with questions about everything since it was "all about the kids" but this series totally is making up for it.

USCG Vet here. Thank you for showing what we do. Most people have no idea what we do and these videos are extremely well made and informative. Looking forward to more.

I tell everyone I know and people I don't know to come watch your page. I never feel like I wasted a minute of time and I always learn something new every time. Thank you for producing your work.

First...happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Second, thank you for continuing this series on the USCG. As the proud father of a CDR cutterman stationed in Key West I appreciate learning more about the mission and work these brave Guardians perform every day.

Destin love what you're showing us, always wanting to learn what you're teaching, cause you always have the charisma to make everything interesting.

I spend literally all day, every day on youtube. I can say with genuine heart that nobody makes me more excited to click on a video than you do. I share your channel with all my friends and family! Thanks for being you

Just want to say I have been loving this series - it brings me back to watching Discovery channel as a kid, back when it was just full of well made, educational content.

You're awesome, Destin! I hope you know how much you deserve to be cherished! We're thankful you exist, and make such awesome videos!!

I am amazed by these brave women and men who chose a career that is dedicated to saving us when things go south. The gear and techniques they employ in their work is incredible. A couple of years ago My family and I took a walk across the Newport Oregon bridge one day to find that the coast guard station there had an open house. Of course we had to go in and I really enjoyed seeing the boats and equipment, but mostly talking to those men and women who keep us safe. Thanks, Destin, for shining a light on what the coast guard does for us everyday and thank you women and men of the coast guard for all that you do!

You are the only youtuber where video quality really matters to me that 1080p is bussin

This was a really good video. It's really interesting to watch as an air rescue specialist for the mountain rescue and the similarities and differences between the two organisations

Just when I thought the submarine series was going to be my all-time favorite...Boom! Destin one ups himself with the Coastguard.

Hard to not tear up watching these amazing people rescue those in need.

Fabulous! Great job Destin. I love that the rescue swimmers can sew! As you said, makes perfect sense.

This series is remarkable! I really appreciate your willingness to go deep and respect your viewers’ intelligence

More respect for the USCG thanks to your channel, Destin. I appreciate your work!

This is so great! My nephew is a Coastie in the helicopters. I love learning about his job. I'm grateful for all who serve.

@Destin - I would recommend visiting Seattle’s coast guard museum and their massive ice breaker boat. The conversations with the museum volunteers are priceless

These deep dive series, both this and the submarine ones, have been absolutely amazing! Keep it up :)

Much respect to these living heroes. Great video Destin!

I was stationed at small boat station New Orleans for three years. I loved my time in the Coast Guard and I am loving these videos.

Anyone that can drag another person in the water is a beast to me lol. 😂😂 And that sewing part is super cool lol ❤

I subscribed just for this Coast Guard series. Seriously excellent content. Thanks Destin. And boy is the Coast Guard under rated.

Great video! I love learning about how the coast guard saves lives and how much they do when they’re not actively saving lives.

I hope to see a lot more on this series from you Destin - the helicopters, fixed-wing assets, cutters of all shapes and sizes, tugboats, ice breakers, and especially the Maritime Safety and Security team, aka Coast Guard SWAT. The Coast Guard is my favorite of the branches. Give everyone you've seen and interviewed a big ole "SEMPER PARATUS" from me because I love what they do. Saving lives. Firefighting, police work, EMTs, engineering work... they do it all. The Coast Guard is the best of all worlds when it comes to rescue work and law enforcement, the cream of the crop, the best of the best, the elite of the elite! When they say "Semper Paratus" they mean it. ALWAYS PREPARED, and ready for anything. Absolute legends in the rescue front.

@Smarter Everyday as the son of a Coastie. Can I say thank you? This entire series is like being a kid again for me. It reminds me of how incredibly proud I was an am of the Coast Gaurd. The Branch of the Armed forces with more missions and task than any other. But with the lowest budget and least recognition, yet they do their jobs everyday.

I love this. Every video you do is concise, important and to the point; irrespective of the subject matter. And engaging with the folk you meet, you're the star. I love the engineering and aviation content, but others should love the precision to which you apply yourself (like the wrong-way bicycle for example).

Absolutely love the series that cover different branches of the US armed services. I have a very specific job in the Army and have a base awareness of what these other branches do but these videos really illuminate just how diverse and special the different teams and missions are. Thank you for all your effort with these videos.

This brought back a memory of one day at my elementary school, the Coast Guard landed their helicopter outside the school and talked to all of us about what they did in the Coast Guard. It was so cool

I appreciate your content and your passion and enthusiasm for what you do. You are a rare person and I wanted to thank you and let you know that you are appreciated

5 months later and the coast guard itch has not been resolved. Destin, release another video

A killer 5 first minutes! Thanks for the amazing video. I recently started watching a series about the completely voluntarily and donation based rescue service in the Netherlands. They are amazing people and drop their work immediately to go save lives.

Great video! I’m former Navy and thought the Coast Guard were below the Navy but I was wrong. They’re a great group of people once i got to know them. I’m glad you were able to showcase them. Thank you!

It would be incredible to do one of this series with the NOAA airplanes. Doing the Hurricane chasing and flying the awesome modified airplanes.

I really think this is the best deep dive series you’ve done so far. Every time one of these gets uploaded it’s an instant click for me 👏

In 2006 or 2007, my mom got hurt on her dirt bike in the woods of northern Michigan (we thought she broke her leg, but was only a blown knee). It was a pretty remote location. They were no able to get an ambulance or helicopter close enough to land. They called in the coast guard. They hovered over a small clearing, we had to carry her 100 yards to the clearing and they lifted her up and took her to Traverse City. It was my first experience with the coast guard and this video brings it all back.

I am almost crying seeing these real life superheroes do their job. My utmost respect to these people.

Love seeing all my friends on your channel! Also love how you’re diving deep into what we do every day in the CG!! Keep up the great content 😁

This is super cool, hopefully you can do a video on Pararescueman (PJs), they're rescue specialist in sea, air and land that have an even higher attrition rate than the rescue swimmers

I know the feeling of being helpless and facing death and then someone shows up in the nick of time. Highest respect to any rescue team risking their lives to save others.

The HH-65 Dolphin is my favorite heli of all time, can't wait for the video on it.

Super cool! As a pilot and EMT I really like this deep dive. New office? I feel like I’ve seen this setup in an older video but didn’t know if it was just a remodel of the old place or a completely new one.

Man! Your videos are always so educational! And I really enjoy your content! I can't believe I'm so lucky as to live in a age where all this is available at my fingertips! And for free none the less! I wish I was capable to support all my favorite content creators, but alas! That painted intro at 2:11 was really cool! Do you make those yourself? Thank you for all the great content Destin!

Love the videos on the USCG! I was USMC, who are great at publicity, but the USCG as you are showing us are much more than the general public gives them credit for, if they even think of the Coast Guard. Thank you.

Thanks Destin! I think the most telling part of the courage it takes to be a rescue swimmer, is that they stay behind when the basket goes up. Thats the only safety they have, and they make sure the rescuees are safe before they can return to the bird. Thats huge, and is a calling, not just trained. Thanks again. I hope I never need a rescue swimmer, and Im glad theyre on callin case I do.

Love your content dude, keep up the great work!

Thank you for all the effort you put into your videos, I’ll be supporting you on patreon

Never heard of this profession. True unsung heroes every single one of them!

When I was really young my Aunt was in hurricane Katrina, and after seeing the USCG response there this was my dream job. I'm a software engineer now, somewhere along the way my passions shifted. But 6 year old David would have loved this series even more than I already do, and I'm sure that's true for many kids in your audience. Great work Destin!

Love the content man. Thanks for your hard work to show us all this cool stuff.

Love what you're doing! Looking forward to the rest of this series! Can't wait for the JWST stickers!

Shoutout to The Guardian movie years ago for informing most of us about Rescue Swimmers