Kate McLaughlin stood in a wood paneled room at attention. In front of her, the flags of each military branch of the service hung proudly as she raised her right hand and repeated the time honored oath of enlistment

McLaughlin traded in her blue jeans and T-shirts for a crisp new Coast Guard uniform, Jan. 25, one day after being sworn into the service the day before by her father, NAVSTA Everett Executive Officer (XO) Cmdr. Steve McLaughlin. 

The ceremony was familiar ground for the elder McLaughlin who commissioned his first-born son into the Army as an officer last March.

“My son is currently serving in Iraq. This is my second kid going in so I guess we’re now a three star family,” said McLaughlin.

Kate was excited beginning boot camp and following in what may become a long family tradition of military service. Her grandfather, father and brother have all served their country as well.

“I started thinking about joining while I was a junior in high school,” said Kate. “I’m definitely excited now that it’s here and I’m going to boot camp. I’m going to graduate as the honor student.”

Kate’s high aspirations aren’t a surprise to anyone who knows her. The former Washington State University student with a 3.9 grade point average is described as a perfectionist with a history of overachieving by her father. Her dad said he couldn’t be more proud of her for stepping up to serve her country.

“The bottom line is it’s her choice to go serve in the Coast Guard and I solidly support that choice,” he said. “I think it’s a great service for her to go into, they’ve got a great mission to do right now and she’s got some goals she’s set for herself that are worthy.”

During her eight weeks at Training Center Cape May, N.J., Kate will be instilled with the Coast Guard core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty. When she graduates from basic training, her father will be there too. The XO is planning on flying out to Cape May to hand his daughter her certificate of completion for recruit training and personally welcome her into the military on Mar. 18.

After boot camp graduation, Kate hopes to become a rescue swimmer and receive orders to a Coast Guard base in New England where she graduated from high school. She plans on receiving a commission and becoming a Coast Guard pilot once she’s completed her associate’s degree, which the 19-year-old McLaughlin is only a few hours short of. McLaughlin said she’s enlisted for four years, but she hopes to make it a career. 

Next in line for the McLaughlin family is the XO’s youngest son, Jake.

“Hopefully not,” exclaimed McLaughlin at the idea of his 17-year-old son joining the military. “Two’s enough. I need to save one for the Forest Service or something like that.”