Surfman is the highest qualification for small boat operations in the United States Coast Guard. Originally, surfmen were members of one of the Coast Guard's predecessors, the United States Lifesaving Service. [1] [2]
Coast Guard Surfmen are rated to operate the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat in its most extreme operating conditions after undergoing training at the National Motor Lifeboat School.
The Surf Station designation is reserved for locations where wave conditions exceed 8 feet (2.4 m) for 36 days or more per year. [1]