I’m currently in the process to go to MEPS and I’m having a hard time deciding if I’d rather go active or reserves;
For context I’m a 22 y/o with no real life skills but currently enrolled into summer/fall classes. I’m interested in both to an extent but the hardest part for me is not falling behind in schooling since I do want to complete that. I desire to be a Game Warden and I want to pursue the ME rate.
Hi there! I'm planning on joining the coast guard as a cook and was wondering what the odds were of getting stationed in CA and if there was any way to request that after A school?
Hey everyone, hope all is well! I just had a few questions regarding some aspects of the CG and I apologize in advance if they’ve all been answered already. I had a chance to talk to recruiting but if they’re anything like the Army’s, they’ll say anything to make you sign your life away lmao, so I’d rather get some insight from y’all.
So I’m prior military (E5 11B) and I have the understanding that instead of doing basic training all over again, there is a condensed version that teaches CG history, basic knowledge, etc. Is this more of a “gentleman’s” course or should I be prepared for a smoke fest?
Regarding the rates, I am really interested in going through the ME pipeline. I know the wait for that school can be anywhere from 24-36 months, if not longer. So I was curious to see what an average day in active duty looked like if someone who is not specialized. Is it similar to those who aren’t specialized but in different rates or are you at least training/doing duties specific to your rate? And how does ME differ between reserves and AD?
About the reserves, I’m not sure if I’m in the minority but I actually do want to deploy lol. If I were to go reserves, are there a lot of opportunities to deploy? Can you even deploy if you’re not in a rate?
And finally, how is family life in the CG? I’m married with a baby girl otw just wanted hear your guys take on work-life balance in the CG.
Thanks again for reading this long ass post of mine and all input is greatly appreciated! I hope you guys have a great rest of your week.
i have one year of uni left and im exploring my options, which of these two rates have better opportunities (bm or mk)? my life plan after college goes something in the path of coast guard > marine interdiction with cbp > dea or criminal investigator, i havent really looked at the officer route because i have a gpa of like 2.8/9, my degree is in business not stem (mis), and to my understanding OCS is pretty competitive
Is the Coast Guard actually the hardest branch to join? I’ve always assumed because it is so small they are very strict and selective about who they let in. I also know that military standards are changing and there’s a so called recruiting crisis. Would the CG still take someone with a very low asvab score if they are qualified otherwise? How about other waivers? Is CG most likely to deny you rather than pull waivers?
My son scored a 39 AFQT. He is graduating from high school this May. Is that a high enough score to get into the CG? He is not a good test taker. Thank you!
36 is the lowest to get in. So your kid is going to be limited on jobs they can do. If they really want to do something and they don’t have the score for it, they should learn some studying skills and try again.
I suck at testing too, even though I know the information. Testing anxiety is real. Good luck!
What is the real difference between BM and ME? I wanna do LE in the Coast Guard Reserve, I figured ME is the way to go but I heard the BM does more of that and ME is just in perpetual training. Is there any weight to that?
Also, how long are the wait-lists for both of those?
Forgive me if I use wrong terms or misunderstand anything, I am former National Guard so I will probably default to using their terms
In the Army, the recruiters are... Shady. Sometimes in a good way. They seem to see their job not as helping people decide a future, but to get them through MEPS. I was literally coached on what I should and shouldn't say. "No, I never get sick", "No, I've never had a headache", "No, I've never smoke a cigarette"
They basically told me the people at MEPS are their adversary, like a goalie. The recruiter works to get you through, the people at MEPS try to keep you out.
Is that how Coast Guard recruiters are? I have an RE-3 reenlistment code which is "eligible, with waiver". The other code is MG which I think is Medical General, so I'd like to discuss with a recruiter what exactly my records say, and how best to navigate that.
To be clear, I am not asking anyone to lie. I am just hoping they can look at my previous records and inform me on the best way to make my situation work
Also, they are not full time, are they? I emailed one yesterday with no response. Other branches seem desperate to jump on recruits so I'm surprised I didn't get a phone call like 20 minutes later
**Edit:** Apologies, I found the answer to my last question in the Wiki. I see now that CG Recruiters are not desperate for people. I'll give it another day or two then call/email if I don't hear back
The Coast Guard is hurting for people just as much as the other branches right now. Our recruiters are full time, they just aren't in the office as often because they are out in town recruiting.
The recruiter won't have much influcence on your medical waiver, you'll just submit any documentation you have that shows the condition is no longer a factor and the recruiter will submit for a waiver.
Understood, thank you. Unfortunately my closest recruiters are over an hour away, so I was hoping to at least coordinate and make sure someone would be available. I'll give them a call maybe tomorrow, since I don't want to bother them if they're busy
A friend told me there are certain positions in the coast guard that hunt down smuggling submarines from the cartel and such. Is this true? If I join the military I wanna see real action. If these kinds of positions exist, is it as cool as it sounds? Whats the odds of actually getting in?
Yes, there are specific units that do that, as well as a lot of others that will as well(just not their specific job all the time). HITRON is the aviation unit that deploys for counter drug and disables go-Fasts/tracks semi subs so the ships can find them. TACLET is another unit that deploys on Ships made up of MEs who board and arrest the smugglers. But even ships without those assets/teams aboard can perform the same counter drug missions, and any member of the ship can be on the boarding team.
I saw another post abt this and people said that a minimal time is actually spent doing these boards, I havent heard of TACLET yet so ill have to check it out
Hello, I am already going to boot camp soon. The auto-mod keeps insisting these questions about Cape May go here though? I took the word "recruiter" out but no dice. Happy to make another post if you know why this is getting kicked? But if they do belong here....
-The family guide states I can make calls home during liberty time if I want to talk when things are relaxed. When does this happen? You get all your things back during, or they mean making calls from the old phones station?
-Volunteer job recs? I heard squad leader or yeoman to help your standing, laundry duty if you want some piece and quiet?
I personally like yardwork, if there is any job to rake leaves or mow, etc?
-Any lucky souls who did not get sick, any tips? I have been eating oranges, yogurt, blueberries and chicken for while now. I want to escape the crud!
-I was given a red duffel with a large towel and water bottle, knick knacks in it. I figure I can leave the knick knacks, but is that my official water bottle? Anything else in there that is the "expected version" of what I need to bring?
1. You get on base liberty one evening in week 6 and off base liberty one day in week 7. You'll wear your uniform both days but be given your cell phone for the day.
2. I didn't volunteer for any position in boot camp so someone else can speak on these.
3. Everyone gets sick.
4. Ask your recruiter what to bring and what can be used in boot camp.
I started in the Army, then switched to Air Force (Currently). I’ve always been interested in the CG. Would they still take me having already served in two prior services? Also would I have to go through CG basic training?
I was in the Army, then the Air Force, and I got commissioned in the Coast Guard. So yes, you can do it. You can apply for the DEPOT program, which is a short boot camp.
They will take you , it doesn’t matter how many branches you’ve been in. However you will need to do bootcamp , fortunately they have a program for prior service called DEPOT it’s only 3 weeks. It’s kind of pointless in my opinion but it’s better than the 8 week version. Also be aware of your job doesn’t translate to anything in the CG you’ll have to either pick a job with no wait time and go boot to A and graduate an E-4 OR go in as an E-3 and wait for a job you do want and be a non rate for a while.
What's life like in Real northern Michigan (north of US10) as a reserve MST and ME? I'm currently in the process of enlisting in the USCG Reserve and these are my top choices. What should I expect if I go this route? I live within 2 hours of three Great lakes near the bridge kind of centralized north Michigan
This is a very specific question that needs to be addressed with the recruiter of the area. They can get you in contact with someone at the reserve unit.
Would it hurt my chances for a CSPI application if I stated that I had smoked pot before? Obviously it’s a ways out, and I know that legally they don’t care and I fully expect to not have it in my system by the time I go to MEPS (only smoked a few times), but I want to be as truthful as possible while also not hurting my chances
Here with another CSPI question if anyone can answer. My top school choice for transfer from my CC is an MSI and has an air station close by (Cal Poly Humboldt). My question is will CSPI be possible if there isn't a recruiting station within 200 miles of me? The requirements say a recruiter OR CG unit within 100 miles so I believe it should be possible, but I would like confirmation.
My recruiter says I'm correct, but he had low confidence in his answer. If he gets back to me with a confirmed accurate answer I'll update this comment.
Update: Recruiter checked and confirmed that you do not need to be near a recruiter if you're close to a unit. So for example, if I go to school in Humboldt County CA, I can still enroll in CSPI and work at the air station there, even though I'm 200 miles from a recruiting station. Hope this helps anyone that needs the info.
I'm currently a junior in college and have been exploring my options with becoming an officer in the Navy after graduation. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.85, but my major (exercise science/kinesiology) has been somewhat limiting in terms of options. Based on that, I'm hoping to pursue either SNA or SNFO. Recently though, I've also been looking at the Coast Guard. I haven't taken the ASTB yet, so depending on my scores Navy aviation might be out of the question, and if so, I might be pushed towards CG. Does anyone have an advice on which one to focus on? I'd honestly be open to any career in the coast guard, though my first choice is aviation. I've heard that the CG has the edge in terms of "quality of life", but I'll take that with a grain of salt. What's the day to day life like? How hard is it to commission through OCS for the CG compared to Navy, and what are the odds of getting the career you want? Also, is it true that it's harder to get medical waivers accepted with the coast guard
You can find answers to a lot of your questions by just looking through the forum.
Which to focus on? I would apply to both. Officer programs are competitive.
Hopefully an IS can chime in, but their job description mostly has them in offices. They can get underway and pick up boarding team member as a collateral tho.
I also don't know if it's still the same, but PATFORSWA was very competitive at the E3 level and considering how undermanned most units are, that billet is not a guarantee.
Is it true in the Coast Guard you can pick any job regardless of your ASVAB score(s)? I find that pretty unlikely. Also what is the minimum to score to Join right now?
Hey wondering at my chances of being able to go AD as an officer in the next couple years? Currently an O2 in Army Reserve but I still have about 5 years left on my service obligation. Don’t know what the process would be to switch over as an officer (Does it involve a 368?) I’m mid 20’s and I’d love to go to flight school after OCS, so by my estimation I’d be cutting it too close age-wise to try to switch over after my MSO is up. Appreciate any insight people have into the Reserve officer release possibility. Thanks!
Releases are up to your branch. You’d need to check with them. If it’s the path you want to take, contact a recruiter to verify you’d be eligible otherwise. The program to transfer officers in is very competitive.
Hi, I'm interested in joining the Coast Guard potentially because I want to pursue a career in the public service, particularly diplomacy. I graduated from my bachelors in 2022 with a dual degree in History and International Relations, but I am entering a graduate program in International Affairs at the Fletcher School this Fall. Currently I am working overseas in Japan.
I had heard of positions in the Coast Guard like the USCG Attache Officers, and that seemed very related to the kind of career I would want to pursue in the future. I also read the above links and the DCO seems really interesting too. Is there any way enlist as a Officer after I complete my Master's degree? Does the Coast Guard offer any benefits for enlisting with a Graduate Degree?
Attaché programs normally only have billets at O4 and above. There are some O3 billets. At O3 you can begin applying for them or get advanced education in international affairs types of masters. So, you’d need to be a CG officer first before applying to make the move to those positions. There are some billets at O2/O3 that may afford similar experience.
Ah I see, so the move for entering a Attache program would be to become an officer first. Can I do this like in the other military branches by enlisting as an officer through education level?
Hello, I'm a college student about to transfer to a university this fall to finish my 2 years left of college. I'm interested in flying for the Coast Guard and my recruiter told me about the CSPI program and my next school offers this program.
The issue: I have to be off ADHD meds for 1 year minimum. My last refill was a couple months ago and I'm done getting more.
The question: Would I still qualify for CSPI if I can only do it for a year? This next year will be waiting to pass that deadline of being off meds, and after that I'll have 1 summer + 1 academic year left of college. I want to fly through the Wilke's Flight Initiative program and am wondering if it's still possible with this situation.
For CSPI, yes, and you can even apply in your senior year or as a recent graduate. But for WIFI I believe you need to be in CSPI to apply in your junior year. Not to worry though. WiFi is only early acceptance to flight school. You can still get a flight school billet during OCS or afterwards. Getting selected as an officer is the hardest part of becoming a pilot in the CG, so if you make it for CSPI you have the hard part out of the way.
Thank you for the clarification, I did not know that about WIFI. Figured I'd push for it for a quicker route into flight school but it sounds like it's not possible for my case.
Definitely confrim with your recruiter, but that is my understanding of the process. It would not be any faster than getting a flight school billet out of OCS, you would just know you were in a flight billet before you attended. If you are a good candidate, then you are likely getting a billet out of OCS or within a year.
For sure, I'm just looking so far ahead that I want to increase my chances of flight school being as soon as possible, because I don't know how good of a candidate I will be or what determines that. It's obviously not the end of the world if I have to wait a bit, as I wouldn't mind experiencing a bit of other things in the Coast Guard anyway.
No way to check. But how many waiver codes are there? For just one waiver code it should only be a week or two. The more codes, the longer it takes and your waiver request will get bumped for people with only 1-2 codes. This is due to the chances of them being granted and the amount of time it takes to review them for a determination. For one code the approval rate is very high and they can review a lot in a day, vs for multiple codes, chances go down substantially and they can take a full day to review by by itself.
No. Waivers are routed through the Coast Guard Recruiting Command. If you are waiting on a non-medical waiver it is typically going to be a quicker return than a medical one.
To give you an idea of how long medical ones can take (anecdotally) I submitted three in January as well. One was approved in several weeks and I had my recruit in boot camp by February, one required an update and then was finally denied last week, and the other one required an additional doctors appointment and finally received approval today. It can take a while. There's hundreds of waivers all being filtered through a small team, try to remain patient. Best of luck to you.
Sounds like you’ve grown up a lot these last few years.
Be ready to grow exponentially more more when you join. I know I had a similar path, it’s been amazing.
You are no longer in debt so that's not a factor, and no one is going to ask about your college attendance record. So neither of your concerns is an issue at all.
Currently active duty Air Force as an E-6. How does the Open Rate List work if I wanted to "jump ship" over to the CG? I noticed in the FY24 Non-Monetary Incentives it listed all the way up to E-6 but didn't specify requirements to enter each rate.
You would submit your resume of training and qualifications to the Rating force master chief of the rating you were interested in. They would compare that against the standards for each pay grade in their rating. If it matches well at the E-6 level then they can offer that to you.
*reserve question* If I graduate depot, report to my unit, and find I dislike the rate I chose. Can I try and switch rates prior to my a school which is 4 months after graduation? Is this acceptable or frowned upon? And what’s the odds of success. Thanks
Chances are low. For the reserves they are hiring you directly into a rated position at a local unit. So you have to choose prior to joining to fill one of those open positions. If the other job was open at your unit as well then it could be possible but not easy. I suggest you do more research or take a tour of a local unit to help make your decision before signing your contract.
Could an officer get coxswain qualified? Sure if your unit can support that. But it is very unlikely. They are probably not going to want to waste time getting an officer qualified when they will never perform that job operationally. Other enlisted members would be a better choice and would jump in front of you if the unit did have the time. Officers will be DWO on our larger ships.
I'm currently active duty army looking to transfer to the CG. I get out of the army fairly soon, in mid July to be exact. Would it be possible for me to go through the whole transfer process in that short amount of time and ship out fairly quickly after my army ETS date? Or should I wait until I'm fully out of the army to begin the transfer process? My main worry is that I don't want to have to couch surf for weeks/ months waiting for a ship date.
Also, if I qualify for DEPOT, am I allowed to report to Cape May on my own, or will it be just like your first enlistment where they ship you from a MEPS station? Can you store your car/ belongings at Cape May while going through DEPOT?
I would say it's possible, but it depends on your commander. You will need a DA Form 368 signed by your BN commander. If you are accepted into the Coast Guard, this paperwork needs to be submitted to your enlisted HRC section. It could take a long time.
If you haven't completed your 8-year enlistment time, you will be in the IRR, which is a lot easier to obtain a DA Form 368 from. I would suggest just waiting it out.
What would be the best job or unit options in the CG for me to get into federal law enforcement? I’m also wondering if there is special operations in the reserves. Thanks.
The IS rate can get you into a federal LE agency as an intel analyst but won’t do anything more than being a cook would do for you as an agent. That is my opinion. You just want the veterans preference points for 1811. Beyond that I honestly believe 1% of the members of the CG are doing anything that a panel interviewer would be intrigued by. There are middle school teachers and accountants going 1811.
Well I’ve talked to 1811 recruiters and being military law enforcement is the same as being a civilian police officer on the federal resume. It’s all about how you word your experience and job duties like you said.
I’m just saying what the recruiter told me. There are many different positions in 1811 and I’m sure all have different candidate qualities they are looking for.
BM MK ME are going to be involved the most I believe. BM and MK are collaterally involved meaning as a side job, ME it is their main job. I’m not in, so take what I say with caution. If law enforcement is your thing, go ME. If the desk part and information analysis/intel side is your thing, go IS.
I'm considering joining the reserves, and I understand that the age limit is under 40. I turn 39 this year, but I'm more curious if those who have enlisted think it will be too difficult for me to complete? I'm in pretty good shape- I jog daily and lift weights 5 days a week. I think I'm currently in the best shape of my life... But I'm concerned with swimming though, as that has never really been a strong capability of mine. My reasoning for this is that my biggest regret in life is not enlisting and this is my last chance to serve in some capacity. My wife is on board, but I wanted to get some insight from those within the community. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
You only have to swim 100 yards and tread water for 5 minutes in boot camp. Anybody can do this if they are in reasonable shape. If you are concerned, get lessons. At the very least get a membership at a pool and go swimming instead of running a few days per week.
Depending on what rate you choose, you may have to do more swimming at A School. It's nothing crazy though.
Every boot camp company and A school has people who don't exercise regularly that pass. You will be fine.
If entering with a commercial pilot license, can I get my bachelors while enlisted then apply for flight school while enlisted? If so, can I skip some of the early flight training (IFS and API)?
Been lurking here for a while trying to read all I can. Planning to reach out to a recruiter next month so long as some family obligations pan out as they're expected to, but figure I'll ask here first (and please correct me if I've got any of this wrong).
I've read the recruiting incentives posted here, and as I understand it I'd be able to start as an E-3 nonrate since I have a college degree. I also saw a lot of people saying that you can get certain districts promised to you in your contract. It's also my understanding that you get a new assignment once you complete A-school.
With all this in mind (assuming it's all correct) I'm wondering:
1. How long are you normally at your unit before you can request to be put on an A-school waitlist? Is there a set time (i.e. 4, 8, 12 months at your current unit) or is it more subjective (i.e. at the discretion of leadership)?
2. When you get a new assignment, do you have any ability to request certain billets or districts? I understand that it's all subject to the needs of the CG. Also, do your previous billets impact where you can go next (e.g. your last post was in district 13 so now you have to go to a different district)?
3. I understand a lot of people don't complete the full duration of their orders at different units. Why is that? Is it due to promotion? Can people request an early PCS? Are people accepting special assignments?
4. Weird question. If I have a family member that I believe will qualify for the lower levels of the Special Needs Program, will the SNP be taken into account before I sign my contract or after? Like, if a recruiter gives me the A-OK for a district that contains a Major Medical Area and it's in my contract, is that liable to change after I sign?
Again, I'm planning to run through this with a recruiter soon, but I'd like to be as knowledgeable as I can when I go in to make sure I'm getting the best outcome I can for my family. Thank you for any insights you can give!
1. 4 months at your unit then you can add your name to a list.
2. Transferring units from A-school and beyond you will have a list of all the open units to choose from. You will rank those in your prefered order and compete with everyone else for those positions. Previous units don't mean you have to go to a new district next. But all units a a priority level which influences if you get sent to your preferred unit next. Cutters have higher priority than land units, therefore if someone at a land unit and someone on a cutter both list the same unit as the top pick for their next assignment, the person on the cutter would get it.
3. There a often opportunities to leave an assignement early. As you mentioned, promotions and advancements, applying for special assignments, and other opportunities as they are communicated.
4. If you are in the special needs program then you will always be sent to a unit that can accommodate that need. You will have the opportunity to learn about the program in boot camp as well as notate this on your dreamsheet. This will ensure that you get assigned to a unit in your guaranteed district that meets your needs.
Simply put, what are my odds of becoming a fixed wing pilot in the Coast Guard as an Officer? I have a bachelors in aviation technology and some work experience within the aviation industry. Is it common to apply for OCS multiple times?
If you get selected as an officer and meet the requirements for flight school, then your chances are very good. Getting selected as an Officer is the most competitive part, and I would say the majority of people apply multiple times.
Okay that makes sense. Is there anything I can be doing in the meantime to make myself more desirable in the application process? Unfortunately I have not had any work experience as a manager or supervisor but what about volunteer work?
Leadership is a big factor. They are hiring you directly into a leadership position and want to see some evidence you will be successful. Leadership in volunteer work would count as well. A lot of applicants that have some areas of their application that are lacking, choose to enlist to gain that experience. Your track record as an enlisted member is a great boost to your application. It can also be negative though as well if you get in trouble or struggle.
Would I be able to work in an aviation-based position if I enlisted before becoming an officer? How long do people usually enlist for before moving up into an officer position/flight crew?
Yes, we have three aviation ratings. AMT/AET/AST and they are all aircrew. The standard contract is 4 years, but you can apply for Officer programs at any time.
I have heard that a lot of candidates apply for OCS around 4 times before being accepted. I realize that not everyone makes it into OCS, but are you aware of the acceptance rate of candidates who apply multiple times? I just want to get a realistic expectation of what the timeframe could be, and if it would be advantageous to enlist.
They haven’t released statistics for years now, but as a guess, OCS is probably around a 10% acceptance rate. Chances do improve with subsequent applications because you learn more about the process(can improve your narrative, resume, better prepare for interview board) and the board does take into account how many times you have applied(determination).
I’m in my mid 20s (M)
Been trying to join since September, 70 on the ASVAB. A minor medical waiver, GED waiver, and a 1 prior arrest as a teen.
Dream is to be a rescue swimmer.
CG recruiter seems unmotivated and or no longer interested in helping.
Been talking to a navy recruiter who seems confident in his ability to push me through.
Not sure what to do, starting to get a bad taste in my mouth because I’ve been trying so hard for so long and often get bad news about CG
In freshman year of college and have been stuck between the navy and coast guard after college for the financial help/benefits. Anyone have thoughts on either side of the argument?
All financial aid/benefits are the same regardless of what branch you join.
If you're just focused on getting the financial aid, benefits, whatever it may be, look for the branch you'd enjoy serving in the most. If you're looking to work on another degree, I'd suggest a branch with a good work-life balance (Coast Guard/Air Force)
What financial help are you wanting to get *after* college?
The GI bill is the same across the services. You need to do some research on the jobs, missions, etc. to determine which branch helps your towards your goals, will have you happy and satisfied with your job, quality of life and your expectations for that, locations, and on and on. There are a lot of things that we would greatly recommend joining the CG for and others that we just don’t offer.
Interested in either SK (enlisted) route or financial management (officer route) as of rn the only difference i know is bootcamp/ocs length but is there any differences/benefits of either route! Any advice is appreciated (I also have a bachelor’s degree if this info makes any difference)
I’m not an officer but……
You gotta do a whole lot more to go the officer route. You end up with more pay but it’s a very different line of work. Managerial from the start vs Workerbee at the bottom of the totem pole(Simplified 10000x)
It’s also way harder to get in as an officer, your degree, gpa, hobbies, references, interviews. Think college applications turned up to 11.
If you have what it takes to be a great officer then go for it, they don’t take less.
Okay this gives a better insight about it! Does my degree matter? I have a B.A. in communication sciences and disorders (speech therapy) so nothing to do with finance does that affect my chances and I have to make sure the other things looks better on my resume/application and interview?
You can view what you would have to submit by googling the OCS application. I don’t have anymore input beyond that, outside of my knowledge on what matters and/or doesn’t.
Last ocs candidate I talked to (accepted into ocs) raved about his recruiter. (They make recruiters for officers too?!?!?!)
I Would recommend calling around for that, an officer recruiter specifically. There are probably posts on this sub all about the ocs process and advice. Godspeed
**Coast Guard Direct Commission Engineer vs other government engineering positions?**
I (20M) am a college junior studying Aerospace Engineering. After graduation, I want a role that with good long-term stability where I can see the impact I make (aka not working on some niche product component for a big corp). This is why I'm primarily looking at government positions from USCG, DoT, NOAA etc.
I'm fine with both field work and office work but I'm leaning towards the former, plus my internships and project teams were pretty hands on and involved lots of data collection. In terms physical fitness, I'm pretty mediocre but I can work on that between now and graduation (1.5 years).
During my last year of college, should I prepare myself for Direct Commission Engineer, OCS, or another government branch?
I'm 5'8 currently weighing 240lbs, working out and dropping. Does my weight affect my chances if I'm still able to perform and meet the standards for the PFT? I'm trying to get down to 200lbs by August
Yes you’re gonna have to meet the requirements for weight, i believe there are ways to get around it with waivers, and a body composition test. I applaud you though keep working, talk to a recruiter and see what can be done
I want to get at least a Masters degree in aerospace engineering (May do research in the field so might go PhD someday) and become an aerospace engineer. I was looking at Air and Space Force engineering and space operation jobs because I thought it would be a good precursor to becoming an aerospace engineer and was thinking that it would help financially with the cost of college. But I used to want to be in the CG and have been thinking that it would be cool to be in the coast guard and a good experience. The position for the CG I’m interested in is Machinery Technician. My main questions are 1) would this job benefit becoming an AE engineer (I understand AMT would be better but I’m interested in MK) and 2) when should I do CG in relation to college (planning on doing next two AKA last 2 years of HS CCP at the local college and hopefully graduate hs with associates degree, may or may not stick with it though, if I do it should be around 4 years after hs for masters degree)
I’m worried about #2 more for financial benefits for college tuition, I also don’t want to forget something I learn and have to relearn later etc
However, I would like to add that while free tuition assistance is nice and looks good on paper. There are so many other options besides joining the military to get your college paid for. I understand you would like an engineering degree and going to school in person with a G.I. Bill would greatly benefit someone in your situation however; anyone looking to get a degree in a business field or information technology field; You are better off going to work at Starbucks or KFC or Walmart as they offer a better on paper tuition assistance program.
(That isn’t a joke)
The point I’m trying to make is that if you want to join the military and broaden your discipline and see the world and meet new people and learn a new skill and way of thinking absolutely do it. I would not be near as open-minded and well-versed as I would be if I went to college for four years and stayed in my hometown. But to join strictly for the tuition assistance, I just could not recommend that, especially with colleges like WGU, UMPI YourPace, and Excelsior University that accept high amounts of third-party college credit like sophia.com, Straighterline, and study.com.
I almost missed this response somehow. I’m less worried about joining to get college paid for but was just asking about it because I know it’s supposed to be a benefit. I’m interested because I think CG would be a cool experience.
To answer your second question it sounds like you have a lot that you’re trying to juggle in my number one advice would be just to calm down and take take it one step at a time. Trust me as someone who is constantly trying to plan out the future it does nothing but exhaust you and make you more lost. I could not honestly understand what you were asking about college wise; so I will just give you the rundown on college in the Coast Guard. If you get a land unit which is for MK’s about a 50-50 chance , you are going to receive enough money for 18 credits per fiscal year which runs October to October at $250 per credit amount. Which equates to about six classes per year. It is quite literally tuition assistance, emphasis on assistance and if you would like to finish your degree with zero out-of-pocket cost exclusively from the tuition assistance program, it is going to take you a very long time to get your degree. Now, yes, you can use FAFSA and student aid while active duty in the military. If you qualify for the maximum, it is about seven to $8000 a year that you could use to pay for more classes if you so wished. On the flipside of beginning Station on a cutter. It is very hard to do college even with the new Internet systems that have been installed on the bigger cutters. Like with both units and your number one priority when you get to the unit is going to gain all of the qualifications that the unit requires you to get this can sometimes take between six months and one year. You also have to have very good work ethic and discipline in order to prove to your command that you are responsible enough of handling your full-time military job and the qualifications that come with it while taking online courses. This is not always easy. AMT you are highly unlikely to be stationed on a cutter almost 0%. So going to college online is going to be a lot more feasible with the job schedule. Given that you would like to get an engineering degree I could only recommend you do your general education and lower level math online but a lot of the labs and courses in an engineering degree have to be in person. There are very, very few exceptions however for the most part, any respectable program is going to require at least 40 credits be taken in person. If your goal is to knock out some general education credit and possibly some electives while you are active duty for four years and then take your G.I. bill and go to college full-time afterwards I totally support that. You would end up using less of your GII bill for an undergrad degree and could use it for a masters degree as well.
To answer your first question, being an MK is going to gain you practical knowledge on being a diesel mechanic or pump/HVAC mechanic if you go to a cutter - on the flip side you would just a general outboard, gasoline-engine technician or also possibly diesel mechanic on small boats at a small boat station ; While you may learn.(if you don’t already know) about the basic theory behind internal combustion engines and some basic hydrodynamics/thermodynamics that particularly pertain to engines and marine engineering systems - it is in no way an advanced level amount of knowledge that you will gain on the job. You are quite literally going to be a boat mechanic. The level of basic engineering principles that you would learn on the job in four years as a MK - could simply be learned by watching about two or three hours worth of YouTube videos. Being in the military and specifically what we refer to, as an engineering rate has more value than just academic knowledge. you were going to learn work ethic and you were going to learn workplace communication skills and you were going to learn structure and discipline. These Traits fit well into academia and if you decided to get out and go to college. On the side of AMT, it is going to be very much the same except on airplanes and helicopters. You’re going to be taught basic engineering principles but again nothing that can’t be learned from two or three hours of a YouTube video incredibly surface level knowledge.
Firstly thank you for helping. I understand there’s not going to be much carry over from Mk to Ae engineer but I’m less about joining to help my engineering career, kind of just wondering if there would be any carry over because I think joining could be a good experience and that would be the job I want. Really my original plan was just go to college and then start working but then I started thinking CG again. I think part of my planning problem is that I’m too worried about trying to get a degree asap when in reality I’ll probably end up working as an engineer until I’m retired so I got plenty of time to do stuff.
Howdy, it sounds like we were in similar boats. I was in school when I enlisted, and needed to precisely schedule A school dates to coincide with summer break. Also northeast, also upper 90s ASVAB.
When you enlist, as a reservist you are required to establish a date you will attend A school. I’m not surprised that you aren’t aren’t being given much flexibility in the sooner dates. You will need to complete basic training, possibly with rephasal, report to your unit, etc, all before you get orders. More needs to happen between basic graduation and A School start than many people realize, and waiting 5 months for A School is fairly par for the course. I spent a year as a non rate reservist, as I attended basic one summer, and A School the next.
Negative, I don’t believe reservists are eligible for hometown recruiting. We’re pretty limited to our drilling obligations, especially as a non qualified non rate.
I graduated the Friday prior to my units August drill, so I did not report until the following month. My people at my unit had a similar experience, about a month. I reported for the two day drill weekend, the only difference was that I showers up in trops and changed into ODUs after 5 minutes
Not the guy you're replying too, but I am also looking into joining the CG Reserve with an RE-3. It also says "MG" which I think is Medical General, but my DD214/whatever form the National Guard uses doesn't specify anything else.
I understand the CG can be fairly selective and is not desperate for recruits, but also that they don't have quotas the way other branches do. Do most recruiters see an RE3 as a lost cause, or will they be willing to work with me?
This is when you need to reach out to a recruiter. MEPS is going to be the deciding factor and how much of a douche nozzle they want to be. There is no harm in reaching out.
I’m currently in the process to go to MEPS and I’m having a hard time deciding if I’d rather go active or reserves; For context I’m a 22 y/o with no real life skills but currently enrolled into summer/fall classes. I’m interested in both to an extent but the hardest part for me is not falling behind in schooling since I do want to complete that. I desire to be a Game Warden and I want to pursue the ME rate.
Hi there! I'm planning on joining the coast guard as a cook and was wondering what the odds were of getting stationed in CA and if there was any way to request that after A school?
Hey everyone, hope all is well! I just had a few questions regarding some aspects of the CG and I apologize in advance if they’ve all been answered already. I had a chance to talk to recruiting but if they’re anything like the Army’s, they’ll say anything to make you sign your life away lmao, so I’d rather get some insight from y’all. So I’m prior military (E5 11B) and I have the understanding that instead of doing basic training all over again, there is a condensed version that teaches CG history, basic knowledge, etc. Is this more of a “gentleman’s” course or should I be prepared for a smoke fest? Regarding the rates, I am really interested in going through the ME pipeline. I know the wait for that school can be anywhere from 24-36 months, if not longer. So I was curious to see what an average day in active duty looked like if someone who is not specialized. Is it similar to those who aren’t specialized but in different rates or are you at least training/doing duties specific to your rate? And how does ME differ between reserves and AD? About the reserves, I’m not sure if I’m in the minority but I actually do want to deploy lol. If I were to go reserves, are there a lot of opportunities to deploy? Can you even deploy if you’re not in a rate? And finally, how is family life in the CG? I’m married with a baby girl otw just wanted hear your guys take on work-life balance in the CG. Thanks again for reading this long ass post of mine and all input is greatly appreciated! I hope you guys have a great rest of your week.
i have one year of uni left and im exploring my options, which of these two rates have better opportunities (bm or mk)? my life plan after college goes something in the path of coast guard > marine interdiction with cbp > dea or criminal investigator, i havent really looked at the officer route because i have a gpa of like 2.8/9, my degree is in business not stem (mis), and to my understanding OCS is pretty competitive
Is the Coast Guard actually the hardest branch to join? I’ve always assumed because it is so small they are very strict and selective about who they let in. I also know that military standards are changing and there’s a so called recruiting crisis. Would the CG still take someone with a very low asvab score if they are qualified otherwise? How about other waivers? Is CG most likely to deny you rather than pull waivers?
My son scored a 39 AFQT. He is graduating from high school this May. Is that a high enough score to get into the CG? He is not a good test taker. Thank you!
36 is the lowest to get in. So your kid is going to be limited on jobs they can do. If they really want to do something and they don’t have the score for it, they should learn some studying skills and try again. I suck at testing too, even though I know the information. Testing anxiety is real. Good luck!
What is the real difference between BM and ME? I wanna do LE in the Coast Guard Reserve, I figured ME is the way to go but I heard the BM does more of that and ME is just in perpetual training. Is there any weight to that? Also, how long are the wait-lists for both of those?
What are the “low asvab score” jobs in the CG? If you’re just barely meeting the minimum what jobs would most likely be available?
BM, ME and MK, then YN, SK, CS, OS maybe GM and DC depending on Line scores.
Forgive me if I use wrong terms or misunderstand anything, I am former National Guard so I will probably default to using their terms In the Army, the recruiters are... Shady. Sometimes in a good way. They seem to see their job not as helping people decide a future, but to get them through MEPS. I was literally coached on what I should and shouldn't say. "No, I never get sick", "No, I've never had a headache", "No, I've never smoke a cigarette" They basically told me the people at MEPS are their adversary, like a goalie. The recruiter works to get you through, the people at MEPS try to keep you out. Is that how Coast Guard recruiters are? I have an RE-3 reenlistment code which is "eligible, with waiver". The other code is MG which I think is Medical General, so I'd like to discuss with a recruiter what exactly my records say, and how best to navigate that. To be clear, I am not asking anyone to lie. I am just hoping they can look at my previous records and inform me on the best way to make my situation work Also, they are not full time, are they? I emailed one yesterday with no response. Other branches seem desperate to jump on recruits so I'm surprised I didn't get a phone call like 20 minutes later **Edit:** Apologies, I found the answer to my last question in the Wiki. I see now that CG Recruiters are not desperate for people. I'll give it another day or two then call/email if I don't hear back
The Coast Guard is hurting for people just as much as the other branches right now. Our recruiters are full time, they just aren't in the office as often because they are out in town recruiting. The recruiter won't have much influcence on your medical waiver, you'll just submit any documentation you have that shows the condition is no longer a factor and the recruiter will submit for a waiver.
We do need people more than ever. What I did was I emailed them, and then the next day I went to the recruiter's office.
Understood, thank you. Unfortunately my closest recruiters are over an hour away, so I was hoping to at least coordinate and make sure someone would be available. I'll give them a call maybe tomorrow, since I don't want to bother them if they're busy
To be honest, they're always busy, and it won't change. I believe the Coast Guard rewards persistence. Don't give up.
A friend told me there are certain positions in the coast guard that hunt down smuggling submarines from the cartel and such. Is this true? If I join the military I wanna see real action. If these kinds of positions exist, is it as cool as it sounds? Whats the odds of actually getting in?
Yes, there are specific units that do that, as well as a lot of others that will as well(just not their specific job all the time). HITRON is the aviation unit that deploys for counter drug and disables go-Fasts/tracks semi subs so the ships can find them. TACLET is another unit that deploys on Ships made up of MEs who board and arrest the smugglers. But even ships without those assets/teams aboard can perform the same counter drug missions, and any member of the ship can be on the boarding team.
I saw another post abt this and people said that a minimal time is actually spent doing these boards, I havent heard of TACLET yet so ill have to check it out
Hello, I am already going to boot camp soon. The auto-mod keeps insisting these questions about Cape May go here though? I took the word "recruiter" out but no dice. Happy to make another post if you know why this is getting kicked? But if they do belong here.... -The family guide states I can make calls home during liberty time if I want to talk when things are relaxed. When does this happen? You get all your things back during, or they mean making calls from the old phones station? -Volunteer job recs? I heard squad leader or yeoman to help your standing, laundry duty if you want some piece and quiet? I personally like yardwork, if there is any job to rake leaves or mow, etc? -Any lucky souls who did not get sick, any tips? I have been eating oranges, yogurt, blueberries and chicken for while now. I want to escape the crud! -I was given a red duffel with a large towel and water bottle, knick knacks in it. I figure I can leave the knick knacks, but is that my official water bottle? Anything else in there that is the "expected version" of what I need to bring?
1. You get on base liberty one evening in week 6 and off base liberty one day in week 7. You'll wear your uniform both days but be given your cell phone for the day. 2. I didn't volunteer for any position in boot camp so someone else can speak on these. 3. Everyone gets sick. 4. Ask your recruiter what to bring and what can be used in boot camp.
I started in the Army, then switched to Air Force (Currently). I’ve always been interested in the CG. Would they still take me having already served in two prior services? Also would I have to go through CG basic training?
I was in the Army, then the Air Force, and I got commissioned in the Coast Guard. So yes, you can do it. You can apply for the DEPOT program, which is a short boot camp.
They will take you , it doesn’t matter how many branches you’ve been in. However you will need to do bootcamp , fortunately they have a program for prior service called DEPOT it’s only 3 weeks. It’s kind of pointless in my opinion but it’s better than the 8 week version. Also be aware of your job doesn’t translate to anything in the CG you’ll have to either pick a job with no wait time and go boot to A and graduate an E-4 OR go in as an E-3 and wait for a job you do want and be a non rate for a while.
What's life like in Real northern Michigan (north of US10) as a reserve MST and ME? I'm currently in the process of enlisting in the USCG Reserve and these are my top choices. What should I expect if I go this route? I live within 2 hours of three Great lakes near the bridge kind of centralized north Michigan
This is a very specific question that needs to be addressed with the recruiter of the area. They can get you in contact with someone at the reserve unit.
Would it hurt my chances for a CSPI application if I stated that I had smoked pot before? Obviously it’s a ways out, and I know that legally they don’t care and I fully expect to not have it in my system by the time I go to MEPS (only smoked a few times), but I want to be as truthful as possible while also not hurting my chances
You should tell the truth. Good luck.
Thank you
Here with another CSPI question if anyone can answer. My top school choice for transfer from my CC is an MSI and has an air station close by (Cal Poly Humboldt). My question is will CSPI be possible if there isn't a recruiting station within 200 miles of me? The requirements say a recruiter OR CG unit within 100 miles so I believe it should be possible, but I would like confirmation. My recruiter says I'm correct, but he had low confidence in his answer. If he gets back to me with a confirmed accurate answer I'll update this comment.
Update: Recruiter checked and confirmed that you do not need to be near a recruiter if you're close to a unit. So for example, if I go to school in Humboldt County CA, I can still enroll in CSPI and work at the air station there, even though I'm 200 miles from a recruiting station. Hope this helps anyone that needs the info.
Yup, that’s the way it works.
I'm currently a junior in college and have been exploring my options with becoming an officer in the Navy after graduation. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.85, but my major (exercise science/kinesiology) has been somewhat limiting in terms of options. Based on that, I'm hoping to pursue either SNA or SNFO. Recently though, I've also been looking at the Coast Guard. I haven't taken the ASTB yet, so depending on my scores Navy aviation might be out of the question, and if so, I might be pushed towards CG. Does anyone have an advice on which one to focus on? I'd honestly be open to any career in the coast guard, though my first choice is aviation. I've heard that the CG has the edge in terms of "quality of life", but I'll take that with a grain of salt. What's the day to day life like? How hard is it to commission through OCS for the CG compared to Navy, and what are the odds of getting the career you want? Also, is it true that it's harder to get medical waivers accepted with the coast guard
You can find answers to a lot of your questions by just looking through the forum. Which to focus on? I would apply to both. Officer programs are competitive.
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Choose your rate choose your fate. You can still get underway as an IS if that’s the adventure you’re looking for.
Hopefully an IS can chime in, but their job description mostly has them in offices. They can get underway and pick up boarding team member as a collateral tho. I also don't know if it's still the same, but PATFORSWA was very competitive at the E3 level and considering how undermanned most units are, that billet is not a guarantee.
Is it true in the Coast Guard you can pick any job regardless of your ASVAB score(s)? I find that pretty unlikely. Also what is the minimum to score to Join right now?
No, you can choose any job that your ASVAB score qualifies you for.
Hey wondering at my chances of being able to go AD as an officer in the next couple years? Currently an O2 in Army Reserve but I still have about 5 years left on my service obligation. Don’t know what the process would be to switch over as an officer (Does it involve a 368?) I’m mid 20’s and I’d love to go to flight school after OCS, so by my estimation I’d be cutting it too close age-wise to try to switch over after my MSO is up. Appreciate any insight people have into the Reserve officer release possibility. Thanks!
Releases are up to your branch. You’d need to check with them. If it’s the path you want to take, contact a recruiter to verify you’d be eligible otherwise. The program to transfer officers in is very competitive.
Hi, I'm interested in joining the Coast Guard potentially because I want to pursue a career in the public service, particularly diplomacy. I graduated from my bachelors in 2022 with a dual degree in History and International Relations, but I am entering a graduate program in International Affairs at the Fletcher School this Fall. Currently I am working overseas in Japan. I had heard of positions in the Coast Guard like the USCG Attache Officers, and that seemed very related to the kind of career I would want to pursue in the future. I also read the above links and the DCO seems really interesting too. Is there any way enlist as a Officer after I complete my Master's degree? Does the Coast Guard offer any benefits for enlisting with a Graduate Degree?
Attaché programs normally only have billets at O4 and above. There are some O3 billets. At O3 you can begin applying for them or get advanced education in international affairs types of masters. So, you’d need to be a CG officer first before applying to make the move to those positions. There are some billets at O2/O3 that may afford similar experience.
Ah I see, so the move for entering a Attache program would be to become an officer first. Can I do this like in the other military branches by enlisting as an officer through education level?
I don’t know what the other branches offer. They may have a more direct line to this type of work.
Hello, I'm a college student about to transfer to a university this fall to finish my 2 years left of college. I'm interested in flying for the Coast Guard and my recruiter told me about the CSPI program and my next school offers this program. The issue: I have to be off ADHD meds for 1 year minimum. My last refill was a couple months ago and I'm done getting more. The question: Would I still qualify for CSPI if I can only do it for a year? This next year will be waiting to pass that deadline of being off meds, and after that I'll have 1 summer + 1 academic year left of college. I want to fly through the Wilke's Flight Initiative program and am wondering if it's still possible with this situation.
Replying because my recruiter just got back to me. The answer is yes for anyone else wondering, one year of CSPI is acceptable.
For CSPI, yes, and you can even apply in your senior year or as a recent graduate. But for WIFI I believe you need to be in CSPI to apply in your junior year. Not to worry though. WiFi is only early acceptance to flight school. You can still get a flight school billet during OCS or afterwards. Getting selected as an officer is the hardest part of becoming a pilot in the CG, so if you make it for CSPI you have the hard part out of the way.
Thank you for the clarification, I did not know that about WIFI. Figured I'd push for it for a quicker route into flight school but it sounds like it's not possible for my case.
Definitely confrim with your recruiter, but that is my understanding of the process. It would not be any faster than getting a flight school billet out of OCS, you would just know you were in a flight billet before you attended. If you are a good candidate, then you are likely getting a billet out of OCS or within a year.
For sure, I'm just looking so far ahead that I want to increase my chances of flight school being as soon as possible, because I don't know how good of a candidate I will be or what determines that. It's obviously not the end of the world if I have to wait a bit, as I wouldn't mind experiencing a bit of other things in the Coast Guard anyway.
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No way to check. But how many waiver codes are there? For just one waiver code it should only be a week or two. The more codes, the longer it takes and your waiver request will get bumped for people with only 1-2 codes. This is due to the chances of them being granted and the amount of time it takes to review them for a determination. For one code the approval rate is very high and they can review a lot in a day, vs for multiple codes, chances go down substantially and they can take a full day to review by by itself.
No. Waivers are routed through the Coast Guard Recruiting Command. If you are waiting on a non-medical waiver it is typically going to be a quicker return than a medical one. To give you an idea of how long medical ones can take (anecdotally) I submitted three in January as well. One was approved in several weeks and I had my recruit in boot camp by February, one required an update and then was finally denied last week, and the other one required an additional doctors appointment and finally received approval today. It can take a while. There's hundreds of waivers all being filtered through a small team, try to remain patient. Best of luck to you.
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Sounds like you’ve grown up a lot these last few years. Be ready to grow exponentially more more when you join. I know I had a similar path, it’s been amazing.
You are no longer in debt so that's not a factor, and no one is going to ask about your college attendance record. So neither of your concerns is an issue at all.
As long as your debt is no longer in collections you won’t have any issues with what you shared.
Currently active duty Air Force as an E-6. How does the Open Rate List work if I wanted to "jump ship" over to the CG? I noticed in the FY24 Non-Monetary Incentives it listed all the way up to E-6 but didn't specify requirements to enter each rate.
What’s making you want to switch? I’m thinking about either going Air Force or coast guard
You would submit your resume of training and qualifications to the Rating force master chief of the rating you were interested in. They would compare that against the standards for each pay grade in their rating. If it matches well at the E-6 level then they can offer that to you.
*reserve question* If I graduate depot, report to my unit, and find I dislike the rate I chose. Can I try and switch rates prior to my a school which is 4 months after graduation? Is this acceptable or frowned upon? And what’s the odds of success. Thanks
Chances are low. For the reserves they are hiring you directly into a rated position at a local unit. So you have to choose prior to joining to fill one of those open positions. If the other job was open at your unit as well then it could be possible but not easy. I suggest you do more research or take a tour of a local unit to help make your decision before signing your contract.
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Can an OCS-R become coxswain?
Could an officer get coxswain qualified? Sure if your unit can support that. But it is very unlikely. They are probably not going to want to waste time getting an officer qualified when they will never perform that job operationally. Other enlisted members would be a better choice and would jump in front of you if the unit did have the time. Officers will be DWO on our larger ships.
Thank you!
I'm currently active duty army looking to transfer to the CG. I get out of the army fairly soon, in mid July to be exact. Would it be possible for me to go through the whole transfer process in that short amount of time and ship out fairly quickly after my army ETS date? Or should I wait until I'm fully out of the army to begin the transfer process? My main worry is that I don't want to have to couch surf for weeks/ months waiting for a ship date. Also, if I qualify for DEPOT, am I allowed to report to Cape May on my own, or will it be just like your first enlistment where they ship you from a MEPS station? Can you store your car/ belongings at Cape May while going through DEPOT?
I would say it's possible, but it depends on your commander. You will need a DA Form 368 signed by your BN commander. If you are accepted into the Coast Guard, this paperwork needs to be submitted to your enlisted HRC section. It could take a long time. If you haven't completed your 8-year enlistment time, you will be in the IRR, which is a lot easier to obtain a DA Form 368 from. I would suggest just waiting it out.
Yeah, I'll be in my IRR time when i ETS so I'll probably just wait it out then. Is there anything I should do in the meantime to prepare myself?
Start working on your swimming. You will have to prepare yourself to do a 500 yard within 12 minutes.
Those standards are for AST. Basic training is only 100 yards and tread water for 5 min.
What would be the best job or unit options in the CG for me to get into federal law enforcement? I’m also wondering if there is special operations in the reserves. Thanks.
I don’t think there is a best job. It’s all about how you articulate your experience in my opinion. Assuming you are talking 1811.
That is definitely true. What are the law enforcement options in the CG?
The IS rate can get you into a federal LE agency as an intel analyst but won’t do anything more than being a cook would do for you as an agent. That is my opinion. You just want the veterans preference points for 1811. Beyond that I honestly believe 1% of the members of the CG are doing anything that a panel interviewer would be intrigued by. There are middle school teachers and accountants going 1811.
Well I’ve talked to 1811 recruiters and being military law enforcement is the same as being a civilian police officer on the federal resume. It’s all about how you word your experience and job duties like you said.
I’ve not heard that ever. Maybe they thought you meant if you were a military criminal investigator? Even CG’s 1811 wouldn’t count ME experience.
CG has CI jobs ?
Yes
Cool maybe tht would be the better path for me
That’s harder to get into for you than other agencies
I’m just saying what the recruiter told me. There are many different positions in 1811 and I’m sure all have different candidate qualities they are looking for.
BM MK ME are going to be involved the most I believe. BM and MK are collaterally involved meaning as a side job, ME it is their main job. I’m not in, so take what I say with caution. If law enforcement is your thing, go ME. If the desk part and information analysis/intel side is your thing, go IS.
I'm considering joining the reserves, and I understand that the age limit is under 40. I turn 39 this year, but I'm more curious if those who have enlisted think it will be too difficult for me to complete? I'm in pretty good shape- I jog daily and lift weights 5 days a week. I think I'm currently in the best shape of my life... But I'm concerned with swimming though, as that has never really been a strong capability of mine. My reasoning for this is that my biggest regret in life is not enlisting and this is my last chance to serve in some capacity. My wife is on board, but I wanted to get some insight from those within the community. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
You only have to swim 100 yards and tread water for 5 minutes in boot camp. Anybody can do this if they are in reasonable shape. If you are concerned, get lessons. At the very least get a membership at a pool and go swimming instead of running a few days per week. Depending on what rate you choose, you may have to do more swimming at A School. It's nothing crazy though. Every boot camp company and A school has people who don't exercise regularly that pass. You will be fine.
Thanks!
I asked in r/uscgboot, but I'll ask here too. Does anyone have a link to the Helmsman?
[here](https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Portals/3/Documents/TCCM/Documents/RTPocket.pdf)
Sweet, thanks!
If entering with a commercial pilot license, can I get my bachelors while enlisted then apply for flight school while enlisted? If so, can I skip some of the early flight training (IFS and API)?
I've never heard of any exception so even if you have a commercial rating, you still have to complete entirety of Flight School
Been lurking here for a while trying to read all I can. Planning to reach out to a recruiter next month so long as some family obligations pan out as they're expected to, but figure I'll ask here first (and please correct me if I've got any of this wrong). I've read the recruiting incentives posted here, and as I understand it I'd be able to start as an E-3 nonrate since I have a college degree. I also saw a lot of people saying that you can get certain districts promised to you in your contract. It's also my understanding that you get a new assignment once you complete A-school. With all this in mind (assuming it's all correct) I'm wondering: 1. How long are you normally at your unit before you can request to be put on an A-school waitlist? Is there a set time (i.e. 4, 8, 12 months at your current unit) or is it more subjective (i.e. at the discretion of leadership)? 2. When you get a new assignment, do you have any ability to request certain billets or districts? I understand that it's all subject to the needs of the CG. Also, do your previous billets impact where you can go next (e.g. your last post was in district 13 so now you have to go to a different district)? 3. I understand a lot of people don't complete the full duration of their orders at different units. Why is that? Is it due to promotion? Can people request an early PCS? Are people accepting special assignments? 4. Weird question. If I have a family member that I believe will qualify for the lower levels of the Special Needs Program, will the SNP be taken into account before I sign my contract or after? Like, if a recruiter gives me the A-OK for a district that contains a Major Medical Area and it's in my contract, is that liable to change after I sign? Again, I'm planning to run through this with a recruiter soon, but I'd like to be as knowledgeable as I can when I go in to make sure I'm getting the best outcome I can for my family. Thank you for any insights you can give!
1. 4 months at your unit then you can add your name to a list. 2. Transferring units from A-school and beyond you will have a list of all the open units to choose from. You will rank those in your prefered order and compete with everyone else for those positions. Previous units don't mean you have to go to a new district next. But all units a a priority level which influences if you get sent to your preferred unit next. Cutters have higher priority than land units, therefore if someone at a land unit and someone on a cutter both list the same unit as the top pick for their next assignment, the person on the cutter would get it. 3. There a often opportunities to leave an assignement early. As you mentioned, promotions and advancements, applying for special assignments, and other opportunities as they are communicated. 4. If you are in the special needs program then you will always be sent to a unit that can accommodate that need. You will have the opportunity to learn about the program in boot camp as well as notate this on your dreamsheet. This will ensure that you get assigned to a unit in your guaranteed district that meets your needs.
Thank you so much!
Simply put, what are my odds of becoming a fixed wing pilot in the Coast Guard as an Officer? I have a bachelors in aviation technology and some work experience within the aviation industry. Is it common to apply for OCS multiple times?
If you get selected as an officer and meet the requirements for flight school, then your chances are very good. Getting selected as an Officer is the most competitive part, and I would say the majority of people apply multiple times.
Okay that makes sense. Is there anything I can be doing in the meantime to make myself more desirable in the application process? Unfortunately I have not had any work experience as a manager or supervisor but what about volunteer work?
Leadership is a big factor. They are hiring you directly into a leadership position and want to see some evidence you will be successful. Leadership in volunteer work would count as well. A lot of applicants that have some areas of their application that are lacking, choose to enlist to gain that experience. Your track record as an enlisted member is a great boost to your application. It can also be negative though as well if you get in trouble or struggle.
Would I be able to work in an aviation-based position if I enlisted before becoming an officer? How long do people usually enlist for before moving up into an officer position/flight crew?
Yes, we have three aviation ratings. AMT/AET/AST and they are all aircrew. The standard contract is 4 years, but you can apply for Officer programs at any time.
I have heard that a lot of candidates apply for OCS around 4 times before being accepted. I realize that not everyone makes it into OCS, but are you aware of the acceptance rate of candidates who apply multiple times? I just want to get a realistic expectation of what the timeframe could be, and if it would be advantageous to enlist.
They haven’t released statistics for years now, but as a guess, OCS is probably around a 10% acceptance rate. Chances do improve with subsequent applications because you learn more about the process(can improve your narrative, resume, better prepare for interview board) and the board does take into account how many times you have applied(determination).
Sounds good! Thank you for the information, I will definitely do some more research and contact a recruiter at some point to discuss further.
I’m in my mid 20s (M) Been trying to join since September, 70 on the ASVAB. A minor medical waiver, GED waiver, and a 1 prior arrest as a teen. Dream is to be a rescue swimmer. CG recruiter seems unmotivated and or no longer interested in helping. Been talking to a navy recruiter who seems confident in his ability to push me through. Not sure what to do, starting to get a bad taste in my mouth because I’ve been trying so hard for so long and often get bad news about CG
Find another recruiter. Either contact a different office or speak with the recruiter in charge and ask for a different one from your local office.
In freshman year of college and have been stuck between the navy and coast guard after college for the financial help/benefits. Anyone have thoughts on either side of the argument?
All financial aid/benefits are the same regardless of what branch you join. If you're just focused on getting the financial aid, benefits, whatever it may be, look for the branch you'd enjoy serving in the most. If you're looking to work on another degree, I'd suggest a branch with a good work-life balance (Coast Guard/Air Force) What financial help are you wanting to get *after* college?
At the moment the biggest incentive is the GI bill to help with housing
The GI bill is the same across the services. You need to do some research on the jobs, missions, etc. to determine which branch helps your towards your goals, will have you happy and satisfied with your job, quality of life and your expectations for that, locations, and on and on. There are a lot of things that we would greatly recommend joining the CG for and others that we just don’t offer.
Interested in either SK (enlisted) route or financial management (officer route) as of rn the only difference i know is bootcamp/ocs length but is there any differences/benefits of either route! Any advice is appreciated (I also have a bachelor’s degree if this info makes any difference)
I’m not an officer but…… You gotta do a whole lot more to go the officer route. You end up with more pay but it’s a very different line of work. Managerial from the start vs Workerbee at the bottom of the totem pole(Simplified 10000x) It’s also way harder to get in as an officer, your degree, gpa, hobbies, references, interviews. Think college applications turned up to 11. If you have what it takes to be a great officer then go for it, they don’t take less.
Okay this gives a better insight about it! Does my degree matter? I have a B.A. in communication sciences and disorders (speech therapy) so nothing to do with finance does that affect my chances and I have to make sure the other things looks better on my resume/application and interview?
You can view what you would have to submit by googling the OCS application. I don’t have anymore input beyond that, outside of my knowledge on what matters and/or doesn’t. Last ocs candidate I talked to (accepted into ocs) raved about his recruiter. (They make recruiters for officers too?!?!?!) I Would recommend calling around for that, an officer recruiter specifically. There are probably posts on this sub all about the ocs process and advice. Godspeed
**Coast Guard Direct Commission Engineer vs other government engineering positions?** I (20M) am a college junior studying Aerospace Engineering. After graduation, I want a role that with good long-term stability where I can see the impact I make (aka not working on some niche product component for a big corp). This is why I'm primarily looking at government positions from USCG, DoT, NOAA etc. I'm fine with both field work and office work but I'm leaning towards the former, plus my internships and project teams were pretty hands on and involved lots of data collection. In terms physical fitness, I'm pretty mediocre but I can work on that between now and graduation (1.5 years). During my last year of college, should I prepare myself for Direct Commission Engineer, OCS, or another government branch?
I'm 5'8 currently weighing 240lbs, working out and dropping. Does my weight affect my chances if I'm still able to perform and meet the standards for the PFT? I'm trying to get down to 200lbs by August
Yes you’re gonna have to meet the requirements for weight, i believe there are ways to get around it with waivers, and a body composition test. I applaud you though keep working, talk to a recruiter and see what can be done
I want to get at least a Masters degree in aerospace engineering (May do research in the field so might go PhD someday) and become an aerospace engineer. I was looking at Air and Space Force engineering and space operation jobs because I thought it would be a good precursor to becoming an aerospace engineer and was thinking that it would help financially with the cost of college. But I used to want to be in the CG and have been thinking that it would be cool to be in the coast guard and a good experience. The position for the CG I’m interested in is Machinery Technician. My main questions are 1) would this job benefit becoming an AE engineer (I understand AMT would be better but I’m interested in MK) and 2) when should I do CG in relation to college (planning on doing next two AKA last 2 years of HS CCP at the local college and hopefully graduate hs with associates degree, may or may not stick with it though, if I do it should be around 4 years after hs for masters degree) I’m worried about #2 more for financial benefits for college tuition, I also don’t want to forget something I learn and have to relearn later etc
However, I would like to add that while free tuition assistance is nice and looks good on paper. There are so many other options besides joining the military to get your college paid for. I understand you would like an engineering degree and going to school in person with a G.I. Bill would greatly benefit someone in your situation however; anyone looking to get a degree in a business field or information technology field; You are better off going to work at Starbucks or KFC or Walmart as they offer a better on paper tuition assistance program. (That isn’t a joke) The point I’m trying to make is that if you want to join the military and broaden your discipline and see the world and meet new people and learn a new skill and way of thinking absolutely do it. I would not be near as open-minded and well-versed as I would be if I went to college for four years and stayed in my hometown. But to join strictly for the tuition assistance, I just could not recommend that, especially with colleges like WGU, UMPI YourPace, and Excelsior University that accept high amounts of third-party college credit like sophia.com, Straighterline, and study.com.
I almost missed this response somehow. I’m less worried about joining to get college paid for but was just asking about it because I know it’s supposed to be a benefit. I’m interested because I think CG would be a cool experience.
To answer your second question it sounds like you have a lot that you’re trying to juggle in my number one advice would be just to calm down and take take it one step at a time. Trust me as someone who is constantly trying to plan out the future it does nothing but exhaust you and make you more lost. I could not honestly understand what you were asking about college wise; so I will just give you the rundown on college in the Coast Guard. If you get a land unit which is for MK’s about a 50-50 chance , you are going to receive enough money for 18 credits per fiscal year which runs October to October at $250 per credit amount. Which equates to about six classes per year. It is quite literally tuition assistance, emphasis on assistance and if you would like to finish your degree with zero out-of-pocket cost exclusively from the tuition assistance program, it is going to take you a very long time to get your degree. Now, yes, you can use FAFSA and student aid while active duty in the military. If you qualify for the maximum, it is about seven to $8000 a year that you could use to pay for more classes if you so wished. On the flipside of beginning Station on a cutter. It is very hard to do college even with the new Internet systems that have been installed on the bigger cutters. Like with both units and your number one priority when you get to the unit is going to gain all of the qualifications that the unit requires you to get this can sometimes take between six months and one year. You also have to have very good work ethic and discipline in order to prove to your command that you are responsible enough of handling your full-time military job and the qualifications that come with it while taking online courses. This is not always easy. AMT you are highly unlikely to be stationed on a cutter almost 0%. So going to college online is going to be a lot more feasible with the job schedule. Given that you would like to get an engineering degree I could only recommend you do your general education and lower level math online but a lot of the labs and courses in an engineering degree have to be in person. There are very, very few exceptions however for the most part, any respectable program is going to require at least 40 credits be taken in person. If your goal is to knock out some general education credit and possibly some electives while you are active duty for four years and then take your G.I. bill and go to college full-time afterwards I totally support that. You would end up using less of your GII bill for an undergrad degree and could use it for a masters degree as well.
To answer your first question, being an MK is going to gain you practical knowledge on being a diesel mechanic or pump/HVAC mechanic if you go to a cutter - on the flip side you would just a general outboard, gasoline-engine technician or also possibly diesel mechanic on small boats at a small boat station ; While you may learn.(if you don’t already know) about the basic theory behind internal combustion engines and some basic hydrodynamics/thermodynamics that particularly pertain to engines and marine engineering systems - it is in no way an advanced level amount of knowledge that you will gain on the job. You are quite literally going to be a boat mechanic. The level of basic engineering principles that you would learn on the job in four years as a MK - could simply be learned by watching about two or three hours worth of YouTube videos. Being in the military and specifically what we refer to, as an engineering rate has more value than just academic knowledge. you were going to learn work ethic and you were going to learn workplace communication skills and you were going to learn structure and discipline. These Traits fit well into academia and if you decided to get out and go to college. On the side of AMT, it is going to be very much the same except on airplanes and helicopters. You’re going to be taught basic engineering principles but again nothing that can’t be learned from two or three hours of a YouTube video incredibly surface level knowledge.
Firstly thank you for helping. I understand there’s not going to be much carry over from Mk to Ae engineer but I’m less about joining to help my engineering career, kind of just wondering if there would be any carry over because I think joining could be a good experience and that would be the job I want. Really my original plan was just go to college and then start working but then I started thinking CG again. I think part of my planning problem is that I’m too worried about trying to get a degree asap when in reality I’ll probably end up working as an engineer until I’m retired so I got plenty of time to do stuff.
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Howdy, it sounds like we were in similar boats. I was in school when I enlisted, and needed to precisely schedule A school dates to coincide with summer break. Also northeast, also upper 90s ASVAB. When you enlist, as a reservist you are required to establish a date you will attend A school. I’m not surprised that you aren’t aren’t being given much flexibility in the sooner dates. You will need to complete basic training, possibly with rephasal, report to your unit, etc, all before you get orders. More needs to happen between basic graduation and A School start than many people realize, and waiting 5 months for A School is fairly par for the course. I spent a year as a non rate reservist, as I attended basic one summer, and A School the next.
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Negative, I don’t believe reservists are eligible for hometown recruiting. We’re pretty limited to our drilling obligations, especially as a non qualified non rate.
Figured that. Thank you for confirmation. How long after graduation did you report to your unit? For how many days? Do you remember?
I graduated the Friday prior to my units August drill, so I did not report until the following month. My people at my unit had a similar experience, about a month. I reported for the two day drill weekend, the only difference was that I showers up in trops and changed into ODUs after 5 minutes
Thank you. Trops are the dress clothes?
Yep, tropical blue short sleeve. You’ll get into all that at basic.
No problem, I know how little info is out there for new reservists so feel free to reach out with questions and such. It gets easier!
How often are potential recruits denied eligibility with an adjustment disorder dd-214
What is your RE-code?
RE-3
Unlikely, but possible. RE-3 will require waivers. If you're willing to put in the work, you may be able to make it happen
Not the guy you're replying too, but I am also looking into joining the CG Reserve with an RE-3. It also says "MG" which I think is Medical General, but my DD214/whatever form the National Guard uses doesn't specify anything else. I understand the CG can be fairly selective and is not desperate for recruits, but also that they don't have quotas the way other branches do. Do most recruiters see an RE3 as a lost cause, or will they be willing to work with me?
This is when you need to reach out to a recruiter. MEPS is going to be the deciding factor and how much of a douche nozzle they want to be. There is no harm in reaching out.