St. Regis native builds career as Coastie

How does a St. Regis graduate, landlocked by majestic mountains, end up earning sea legs while serving in a maritime branch of the military? For recently promoted Chief Warrant Officer Tyler Goss, from Haugan, it all started with a trip to the Pacific coast and from there it was amplified by his conviction for civic duty.

“To be part of something bigger than myself,” remarked Goss. “I joined the Coast Guard at a time when our nation was in the beginning part of our global war on terrorism. So, the patriotic side of me drew me toward military service to my country, and my passion for life-saving, and public service, drew me to the Coast Guard specifically.”

Looking back, he added, “It also helped that I toured Station Yaquina Bay, Oregon when I was in eighth grade with Mr. Feasel and the search and rescue alarm went off and station personnel flew out the door and raced off to save a life. That was the beginning for me.”

During that formative middle school trip, Goss observed firsthand the Coast Guard's service motto: Semper paratus. Always ready.

After leaving Mineral County and enlisting in the Coast Guard in 2005 Goss has been stationed across the country with various command posts, and new adventures at each waterfront. He began at USCGC Alex Haley, in Kodiak, Alaska. Then while at USCG Station Neah Bay, in Washington in 2007, he met his wife, Heather. As newlyweds, they headed north to Alaska, then on to Wisconsin, and back to Alaska again before swapping cold waters for a hotter climate and being based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Goss is currently enjoying the Golden Coast at USCG Station Vallejo, in Vallejo, California.

He shared, “Each unit provides unique challenges and opportunities. So, it’s hard to pick just one place because each spot has been so different, and different parts of my family’s life. For example, in Neah Bay, I met Heather, my future wife. In Seward, we got the opportunity to learn to be a married couple and learn how to live life together. In Sturgeon Bay, we bought our first house and had both of our kids.”

Goss continued, “With Petersburg, Alaska I had a newborn and a 3-year-old. It's such a remote island with only one flight a day that it makes things hard to get things in and out. Then being on a cutter made it extremely challenging because I had to leave my family for periods at a time. But this experience allowed my family to develop values and strength that we never knew existed. We grew so strong during that period because of all the different things we had to overcome as a family.”

Relocating down south, Goss said, “In Texas, we took a chance on a location that we never knew we would come to love. Our kids started school there and got really involved in sports. So, each place holds a special place in our family’s story.”

“As far as my favorite job,” Goss contemplated. “Being the commanding officer of Station Vallejo has been the greatest honor of my career. I have such a great crew here. They are truly the finest men and women I have had the privilege of working with.”

Over the 19 years of his Coast Guard career, he’s held numerous positions. He explained, “I was the first lieutenant on Cutter Anacapa, where I was responsible for the overall maintenance of the ships, boats and buildings.” 

Then Goss served as the operations petty officer on Cutter Mustang and at USCG Station Sturgeon Bay where he managed operations. He also worked as the ready for operations inspector, with duties ensuring 13 units followed Coast Guard policy and federal laws.

And now, Goss is the current commanding officer of USCG Station Vallejo, where he supervises every facet of this unit from search and rescue to law enforcement and training. 

Goss detailed, “For all the primary duties I have explained and collateral duties, and command assignments, as the CO, those members now report to me. So, as you can see, for me to get to these positions I have worked for the last 19 years to get here.”

At boot camp he was considered an E1, then he became a chief petty officer, and finally Goss applied to become a chief warrant officer. He said, “Once I became a CWO I am no longer an enlisted member but now part of the officer corp.”

Day to day, his responsibilities vary. Goss acknowledged, “I like to spend as much time on the water with my crew as possible doing training and missions. But most of the time younger BMs get to run and execute search and rescue, law enforcement cases, and training operations.”

Now he spends a lot of time behind the scenes overseeing the administration of how a Coast Guard unit operates. 

“To keep it simple, I spend a lot of time removing barriers that come up so that my crew can complete every mission assigned," he said. "Some of those barriers can be funding challenges, training challenges, or maintenance and construction projects at our facility. I also partner and interact with other government agencies and local agencies to complete operations within our maritime community.”

Some roles in the Coast Guard include being a coxswain, (boat driver), ship driver, and a maritime law enforcement boarding officer. Goss described, “As a boatswain mate, BMs are responsible for a lot of different jobs. We have primary duties and collateral duties. My collateral duties throughout my career have been the weapons petty officer, supply petty officer, navigation petty officer, training petty officer, and rescue and survival petty officer.”

There were two career paths Goss could have taken when he joined the Coast Guard, one was to become a chief warrant officer, which he is now, or to become a master chief.

“Becoming a CWO is simple for me,” expressed Goss. “First, my first mentor in the Coast Guard as a young BM3 while stationed at USCG Station Neah Bay was a CWO. I looked up to him so much that from that day on I knew that was the path I wanted to take. I wanted to be that person that could inspire a younger generation of petty officers to be a part of something larger than oneself, just like I was inspired.”

This mentorship and encouragement ultimately led him to reenlist in the Coast Guard and make it a career. Goss also conveyed, “As a CWO, the career paths that I can pursue will provide me with so many different choices and opportunities depending on the open positions. I can pursue command tours or staff tours that will put me in the best position for me to make the most positive changes for our Coast Guard and its members.”

On a personal level, Goss has met several CWOs in the Coast Guard. Each rating or job in this branch of the military has CWOs. He noted, “CWOs are considered the subject matter experts of their rating. So as an enlisted member, I was a Chief Boatswains mate. As a CWO I am a BOSN.” There are around 200 BOSNs within the Coast Guard.

As he was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer being a subject matter expert in your field of expertise. Goss said, “Mine would be cutter and boat forces, law enforcement, and search and rescue.”

Goss could be retirement eligible next September, at his 20-year mark. But to earn maximum retirement benefits, he would need to complete at least three more years. “My goal though is to make it to the 30-year mark before I retire. But there’s a lot that goes into that decision and a lot can change with my kids getting older and family getting older,” mentioned Goss.

For recent high school graduates debating on the path of higher education or joining the military Goss has some recommendations. 

“I would tell any young person I know to give the Coast Guard a look," he said. "The education benefits are tremendous.”

Goss attended school over several years when he wasn’t onboard a Coast Guard cutter. He graduated cum laude from Ashford University with a bachelor’s degree in social and criminal justice.

“I have a college bachelor’s degree that I paid exactly zero pennies for and still have my GI Bill benefits, which I have passed down to my kids. So, in essence, both my children have at least two years of college paid for,” Goss exclaimed.

He continued, “The opportunities are boundless and you can really explore the country and world while being paid to do so. Plus, you learn how to become a leader of young men and women. You learn trades and jobs that apply to the civilian workforce. You also receive the discipline that will allow you to make the most in life.”

Lastly, Goss esteemed, “I would offer the military benefits of being a veteran is a lifelong reward that once you become one, it can never be taken away. There are so many veterans benefits out for anybody who completes a tour of duty in any branch of service.”

As a Coastie, he is still an avid outdoorsman. Fishing, hunting and camping with his family are a big part of his life.

“I try to get back to Montana every hunting season over the Thanksgiving holiday to hunt with my family,” he said. 

His children, Emitt and Isabella, play several different sports, and in addition to being a sports dad, he also referees. 

He adds, “I’ve been a high school basketball official for the last 18 years and a high school football official for the last five years.”

With his dream promotion to CWO, Goss will have a change of command on July 10, and starting on July 24 he will become the surface operations division assistant chief for USCG Sector Humboldt Bay in California. His main responsibility will be to be the station/cutter manager and the subject matter expert for all boat forces and cutter forces issues for the commanding office of the sector.