Search and Rescue

Hey Tacoma World,

After a lot of thought, I have decided to join the military. I want to do some kind of emergency medical work, particularly search and rescue. I think this leads to a lot of good private sector opportunities after my contract is up. I just graduated from one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the nation, so I have learned a lot about teamwork, leadership and myself. I love being outside, working in small elite teams, helping people, shooting guns, jumping out of planes, driving trucks off road etc. I am also starting an online store dedicated to aftermarket Tacoma parts, and I would like to be able to continue with that project while I am serving. I would budget about 30 hours per week on the internet for it give or take.

The branches I am considering now are the Coast Guard, the Army and the Air Force. I like the Coast Guard because I would most likely be staying in the states, saving American lives on American soil/in American waters. I am also very confident in my ability to pass the selection process to become a rescue swimmer. I also get the idea that working with the Coast Guard in the states would offer me a little more flexibility to maintain my friendships and fly home on the weekend every once in a while.

The Air Force is appealing to me because they have what I believe to be the most elite search and rescue organization in the world, the para rescue jumpers. Another really cool thing about the Air Force is that I could go in as an officer and still take direct action as a Combat Rescue Officer. While I like that, I am concerned about my ability to get through the pipeline. I am a fit guy. I did triathlon competitively in high school, and I'm still in decent shape but I'm definitely not the most bad ass mother fucker on the block. I also believe it would be harder to find time to work on my web store and maintain friendships while at PJ school.

The Army is the last branch I'm considering. I like that I can get my occupation locked in before signing, and the recruiter I talked to is far and away the best of the three. If I went Army, I would probably be shooting for SOFMED. I had a buddy who went through that track and I really respect him. I had another buddy that suggested becoming a flight medic.

Thanks a lot for reading the novel I just wrote about myself. If any of you guys who have been there and done that could give me advice about the realities of life in the military guide me in the right direction and let me know about any opportunities I might be overlooking I would really appreciate it.

 

No disrespect intended to any service, but they Army is probably 'the best' because they have an almost constant need for people where the AF and CG have tiny quotas to fill. I had to call the CG recruiter weekly to get anything done but once I was in I was set.

You've worked out a good pro/con list with the different services so let that guide you as far as your decision just don't expect to go out and be sticking your finger in someones leg to stop femoral bleeding everyday. In 8 years with the CG I have a couple lives lost and a couple brought home, less than 1 a year so you need to look at the big picture about what you can do for your service first and secondly what it can do for you. I would honestly advise against trying to spread yourself thin between the military and a web store or other commitment in your first couple of years, pick one and get it going before you do the other because they both deserve more than 50% of your time if you want to be successful.

Check out the "So you want to join the CG" thread for more info on our service.