Polar Guardians: Coast Guard Icebreaking in the High Latitudes

For the past two years, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Center for Arctic Study & Policy (CASP) has worked to record “sea stories” from previous generations of icebreaker sailors and captains. The result is a 27-minute documentary showcasing original sea stories, high-quality photography, and a unique narrative of the challenges faced on ice-covered oceans from the 1950s to the 1970s. Not only will this documentary provide context to the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest members as they embark on their first icebreaker tours, but also communicate to the public the critical importance of the polar regions and the sailors who patrol their waters.

On December 18th, please join the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute and CASP for the first public screening of the documentary, “Polar Guardians: Coast Guard Icebreaking in the High Latitudes.” The film will be introduced by the Admiral Karl L. Schultz, the 26th Commandant of the Coast Guard, who will address both the legacy and the future of Coast Guard missions in the polar regions. An expert panel to follow the documentary's release will feature Fran Ulmer, former chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, and Admiral Thad Allen, 23rd Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.