Coast Guard cutter begins summer cruise

ATLANTIC OCEAN — Lt. Cmdr. Michael Turdo, the executive officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, coaches Ens. Joseph Della Rosa in the affects that crosswinds can have on the ship, April 6, 2012. Della Rosa is training to become a qualified deck watch officer. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, a 295-foot barque homeported here, sail the ship from its homeport to the Atlantic Ocean, April 6, 2012. The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is a platform to train future officers of the service. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

ATLANTIC OCEAN — Bo Hale, 28, of Savannah, Ga., an officer candidate school member relays bearings shot with an alidade to the ship's plotters, April, 6, 2012. The ship's plotters use the bearings to triangulate the ship's current position and plot a course for the ship to follow. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

ATLANTIC OCEAN — Two crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, a 295-foot barque homeported in New London, Ct., use a parallel motion plotter under direction of Petty Officer 3rd Class Manuel Perez, 33, of Los Angeles, Calif., April, 6, 2012. Throughout the underway trip aboard the Eagle from New London to New Orleans, officer candidate school members will be trained on the fundamentals of sailing. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, a 295-foot barque homeported here, carry the ship's shore tie from the pier to the boat in preparations for getting underway, April 6, 2012. The Eagle is sailing from New London to New Orleans to train officer candidate school members for their career as a Coast Guard officer. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Capt. Eric Jones, the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, speaks to the crew during muster, April 6, 2012. The Eagle has 63 officer candidate school members aboard for their two-week cruise from New London to New Orleans. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

Click on the photos above for more specific caption information and to download the high-resolution version on the Coast Guard's visual information site.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — A Coast Guard cutter began its summer cruise Friday, to train future officers of the service.

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, a 295-foot barque homeported here, embarked 63 officer candidate school members for a two-week underway trip from New London to New Orleans.

Throughout the trip, the cutter's crew will teach the OCS members the fundamentals of sailing through classes and on-the-job experience. Upon their May 2 graduation, the OCS members will be commissioned as ensigns in the Coast Guard.

###

Developing Leaders of Character since 1876.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.