Carole Ryder, above, never considered a path in cooking, but has found the experience to be one of the most rewarding in the Auxiliary.
"I never thought I'd be cooking. My mother cooked for the Navy, but I never thought I'd be a cook. But now I'm here and I'm cooking, and it's an art form. "We create something beautiful that the Coasties can eat, and that makes us feel good and makes them feel good." Ryder continued by offering words of encouragement to other Auxiliarists considering the AUXFS qualification, saying "The reason we're in the Auxiliary is to help the Coast Guard, and If you have the opportunity to serve directly with Active Duty Coast Guard members, you'll see the organization in a totally different way.
You get a whole different perspective on the Coast Guard Auxiliary and it energizes you. To work with the younger people on the [active duty side] is wonderful."