Commissioned on Sept. 5, 1991, the team, made up of seven officers and 28 enlisted personnel, responds to oil spills and hazardous-material releases as one of the Coast Guard's three strike teams.

Response, training and planning are the primary missions for the Atlantic Team, which covers the 1st, 5th and 9th Coast Guard Districts and federal regions I, II, III and V for the Environmental Protection Agency.

First and foremost in these mission areas is response to pollution incidents- whether it's oil off the coast or a hazardous-material release in Iowa.

Holding a close second in missions is training units for major pollution incidents. Finally, the teams are involved in planning, such as area contingency plans.

When responding to incidents, strike team members join local emergency-response forces in eliminating the source of a discharge, collecting and storing spilled material, preventing impact to sensitive environmental areas and mitigating shoreline impact.

Working for local forces and monitoring contractors on site gives the team a unique opportunity to work a variety of jobs in many locations. Our team members travel extensively in order to meet our missions in a zone covering the eastern seaboard north of South Carolina and westward through the Great Lakes region.

Response to a major incident can be via Coast Guard or commercial aircraft, or over the road by tractor trailer, pulling strike team response gear.

Once off the base there are numerous communities with all the small-town charm one could ask for. Restaurants, shops, churches, parks and lakes are all readily accessible.

For the more adventurous, we are surrounded by places to go and things to do. Atlantic City, about an hour and a half to the south, offers casinos and night life. Historic Philadelphia, an hour to the west, offers such sights as Independence Hall and Benjamin Franklin's old home - not to mention its famous cheese steak sandwiches.

New York City is a mere two hours north. And to the east, the beautiful beaches of southern New Jersey are only 45 minutes away. For those unwilling to drive so far, Six Flags Great Adventure has a theme park less than 30 minutes away.

Overall, the team offers a unique blend of opportunities for Coast Guard personnel- at home and on the job. Whether responding to an environmental emergency, conducting response-equipment training, or taking the family for a weekend at the beach, exciting opportunities abound here.

Government housing is available within minutes - in some cases within walking distance of the unit. But, if you're looking for housing in the local community, the average rent ranges from $500 for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment to $812 for an unfurnished three-bedroom house.

Numerous educational opportunities exist for our members and their families. The local community college is accredited and offers associate degrees in areas like computer science and business studies. Nearby Princeton and Temple Universities offer full- and part-time bachelors-degree programs.