Rebekah Seifer

I have had amazing mentors and friends and colleagues' family that have just always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. I feel like I have a million brothers and sisters in the Coast Guard. That's my favorite part about being, wearing the uniform, is that we just... that's the best part of it, honestly, is being able to have those connections. I could go anywhere the Coast Guard where we're stationed and say, hey, can I couch tonight, stay at your place, and they would open up their door to me. We all have very close relationships with people that you're built together, right? Like, you're going through all the hard things together, and so there's that comfort of just knowing you're going to always have one another when things get hard. I have two brothers. Both my mom and dad are very supportive of me and just everything. I remember my dad once told me, I don't care if you want to take garbage out for a living, as long as that's what motivates you, you should go after it. That really stuck with me, is it doesn't matter ever how much money you're making. The thing that makes the most sense is to go after something that your heart's in on. And my mom is just an incredibly hardworking woman who's still, approaching age 70, just has, like, a million jobs, and works in the Virgin Islands for HIV AIDS prevention. I've been definitely shaped by the people in my life that have been hard workers. My grandfather is about to be 93 and he's a docent at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Smithsonian, so he was in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel. I've definitely had amazing people who've told me their stories and they were inspiring to me and made me want to have an exciting journey of my own. And then, of course, the friends outside of the Coast Guard as well that I've been able to make through WAI and these other organizations. They're invaluable, for sure.

I don't care if you want to take garbage out for a living, as long as that's what motivates you, you should go after it. That really stuck with me, is it doesn't matter ever how much money you're making. The thing that makes the most sense is to go after something that your heart's in on. My dad told me this, and it's been one of the most important pieces of advice I've carried with me throughout my career.

I would say never stop learning. You know, it's one of those things, the second you think you know it all, you just haven't gone outside your comfort zone. That's what's great about aviation, aerospace. There's so much to know. I remember when I was in Miami, you know, you get very familiar flying Coast Guard routes, and one weekend, I went up with a man who was a glider instructor, and I realized, wow, this is a whole different type of aviation that I know nothing about, and it was humbling, right? And then, when I learned how to fly the next aircraft after I'm flying up above 40,000 feet regularly, whereas you have to fly low over the water, there's just nothing... there's never a dull moment in aviation between the weather, the people, you know, just world happenings. I remember flying out west for multiple fires. You're basing your flight plan based off of where the ash is not going to be, so that you don't have engine issues. So, it keeps it interesting. For people that are interested in this profession, this industry, I would just say just keep asking questions and follow your passions, because whatever you're passionate about, you're gonna do really great at it, right? Because your heart's in it, and you're gonna be excited every day to wake up and go do whatever it is. So, I would just say follow your passion, and keep learning, and don't give up when it gets hard.