Hopefully this will be the first of many photo essays covering "What We Do". I hope to eventually have a full collection showing day-to-day life aboard all types of Coast Guard Units. This can only be accomplished with your help. Grab a camera, take a walk, and photograph the up-close and personal activities of your shipmates. Email me for photo transfer instructions when you have completed your photo essay modeled on the Cutter Valiant Photo Essay below.

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Public Affairs Specialist Third Class NyxoLyno Cangemi (Nyx - pronounced "Nick") presently stationed at the Eighth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office in New Orleans recently spent 10 days aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant, homeported in Miami, Fla., during a Living Marine Resource Patrol in the Gulf of Mexico. Nyx says, "The crew was outstanding, and I was able to amass a wealthy collection of photographs." A BIG thanks to Nyx for sharing his experiences through this excellent photo essay of life aboard a Coast Guard Cutter on patrol. Nyx was awarded the 2004 JOC Haley Public Affairs Award for Photojournalism and is a regular contributor to Fred's Place and Military.com. Visit Nyx's website. All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi.

The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant, homeported in Miami.

PO2 William S. Bryant, 24, of Pascagoula, Miss., rests his head as a boarding team inspects a shrimp boat in the Gulf of Mexico south of Fourchon Pass, La.

PO2 Gabriel Diaz, 24, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, (left) and PO2 William S. Bryant, 24, of Pascagoula, Miss., enter the laundry room where a simulated fire has started. The fire was part of a drill to test the crew on their efficiency in fighting fires.

PO1 Brandon M. "Drew" Andrews, 28, of Santa Cruz, Calif., peers through a steel grate floor today during a basic engineer casualty control exercise (BECCE). BECCEs are performed in order to evaluate the engineer crew's efficiency if an emergency should occur.

(Left to right) PO2 Gabriel Diaz, 24, of Puerto Rico, PO3 Eric Paton, of Boulder, Colo., and PO2 Karl Munson, 29, of Shelter Island, N.Y., await instructions from a boarding team who is inspecting a shrimp boat southwest of Marsh Island, La. The boarding team boarded the shrimp boat and discovered several violations to federal safety and environmental regulations.

PO Eric Paton, of Boulder, Colo., sits on a 26-foot motor surf boat and waits for instruction from a boarding team.

PO3 Eric Paton, of Boulder, Colo., awaits further instruction after fighting a simulated fire.

(Left to right) PO2 Gabriel Diaz, 24, of Puerto Rico, PO3 Eric Paton, of Boulder, Colo., and PO2 Karl Munson, 29, of Shelter Island, N.Y., await instructions from a boarding team.

PO3 Michael A. Perez, 21, of Miami, pilots a 21-foot law enforcement boat in order to conduct a boarding on a shrimp boat south of Fourchon Pass, La. Perez is one of 75 crewmembers stationed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant.

PO2 Karl Munson, 29, of Shelter Island, N.Y., pilots a 26-foot motor surf boat while PO2 Gabriel Diaz, 24, of Puerto Rico, keeps an eye on a boarding team who is inspecting a shrimp boat southwest of Marsh Island, La.

PO3 Michael A. Perez, 21, of Miami, keeps a steady arm as he pilots the 21-foot law enforcement boat he is on to conduct a boarding of a shrimp boat south of Fourchon Pass, La.

PO2 Karl Munson, 29, of Shelter Island, N.Y., pilots a 26-foot motor surfboat to pick up boarding team who completed an inspection of a shrimp boat south of Marsh Island, La.

PO2 Lorenzo Ladaga, 27, of Miami, exits the berthing area in order to help lower the anchor. The crew aboard the Valiant will face rough seas and poor weather during the evolution.

PO2 Jeremy L. Turk, 27, of White Plains, N.Y., cowers behind the coxswain of a 21-foot law enforcement boat in order to protect himself from sea spray as he is transported to board a shrimp boat south of Fourchon Pass, La.

PO3 Michael A. Perez, 21, of Miami, pilots a 21-foot law enforcement boat in order to conduct a boarding on a shrimp boat south of Fourchon Pass, La.

PO2 Gabriel Diaz, 24, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, writes down observations viewed by PO2 William S. Bryant, 24, of Pascagoula, Miss., after they extinguished a simulated fire. The fire was part of a drill to test the crew on their efficiency in fighting fires.

PO2 Gabriel Diaz, 24, of Cauguas, Puerto Rico, monitors an upper control panel in the engine room, during a basic engineering casualty control exercise (BECCE.) Diaz is participating in the exercises as part of his engineer of the watch qualifications board.

(Left) PO2 Joe W. Mills, 31, of Alvin, Texas, and PO1 Ralph D. Kellermier, 39, of Hartwell, Ga., laugh as PO3 Mark A. Hazen, 30, of Columbus, Ohio, reads a community chest card while playing Monopoly on the mess deck.

PO3 Vashon B. Walker (left), 31, of Tallahassee, Fla., and FN Nathan J. Stephenson, 21, of Dayton, Ohio, read over and study the ships damage control emergency power loss plan in the mess deck. The emergency plan in place ensures that if the boat were to lose power, the emergency generators power on and keep the Valiant functional.

SN Felix A. Negron, 19, of Puerto Rico, wipes down a stainless steel counter top in the galley. The Valiant is Negron's first duty station with the Coast Guard. A recent graduate from the Coast Guard's Food Specialist "A" School in Petaluma, Calif., Negron will make Petty Officer Third Class in six months.

SN Tim K. Eckery, 26, of Lincoln, Neb., removes linen from his bed as part of a "field day". During a field day, the crew cleans the berthing and work areas of the ship.

LTJG Chris E. Soto, 24, of West New York, N.J., cuts the hair of CWO Michael J. Derevjanik, 40, of Anaheim, Calif., in his make-shift barber shop "Caribbean Cuts". Soto started cutting hair while in prep school and hopes one day to own and manage his own barbershop.

PO3 Tim J. Mannion, 22, of Southwick, Mass., tightens a brass fitting on a fire main. As the damage control petty officer, it is Mannion's responsibility to ensure that the fire stations aboard the Valiant are in proper working order.

FN Cesar O. Tirado, 25, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, peels potatoes in the galley. Tirado is one of three mess cooks who rotate duty every two weeks in order to assist the galley staff in preparing the daily meals.

LTJG Aaron J. Casavant, 23, of Littleton, Colo., works out on a cardio exercise machine in the laundry room. As the ship's supply officer, Casavant works out three to four times a week to help him better prepare for any challenges which may lay ahead.

CDR Aaron C. Davenport, 42, of Westford, Mass., works out on the stair machine in the workout room. CDR Davenport, Commanding Officer, finds the time to work out about five times a week.

PO3 Benedykt Miller, 19, of Detroit Mich., mans the fire nozzle while PO2 William S. Bryant, 24, of Pascagoula, Miss., follows with a heat detector during a simulated fire.

PO3 Eric Paton, of Boulder, Colo., mans a fire hose while a simulated fire burns in the workout room. The crew practices fire-fighting drills regularly in order to prepare for real-life emergencies.

FN Nathan J. Stephenson, 21, of Dayton, Ohio, climbs a steel stairwell on his way to the flight deck. Stephenson is the newest crewmember aboard the Valiant and will make petty officer third class in about six months.