So, you want to join the Coast Guard.

Ive been seriously considering signing up for the last 8 months. I was thinming about joining so that I could have a way to pay for the rest of my schooling and also cuz I wanted a change of lifestyle.
I've already talked to a recruiter and he says if I'm accepted then I would go to boot camp and then A school. I would only be stationed in the lower 48 unless I requested to go somewhere like AK or a US territory. He also said that I could live with my GF in an apartment when I get stationed. I was thinking of going in as a ME, Gunner's Mate, or Boatswain's Mate.
Is there anything that I shld know or consider before I turn my application in?

 

That won't happen. Well, speaking from Air Force, but generally you have to spend at least some time in the dorms before you get to live on your own.

 

If your going active duty, youll go to a unit after boot camp as a non rate (no job title) and put your name on the list of the A-school that you want to go to. There is a chance that you go could outside the lower 48 whether you want to or not so keep that in mind. If you have an more questions that are BM related or CG in general, feel free to message me and ill do my best to answer them.

 

Its usually on a unit by unit basis. Because the CG is so small, theres not always barracks for single members so they get BAH and live on the economy. I definitely wouldn't count on it though, always prepare for the worst.

 

Just checking in, I'm active duty electrician (em3) stationed in Maine. Any questions I'll try and answer them. I've served both land and sea (uscgc willow, Newport ri and sfo southwest harbor)

I chose the electrician rate because the ease of transfer to civilian sector. It was something I didn't know and the coast guard was going to pay me to learn it. If this dose t pan out I still have the gi bill to use as a triple backup.

 

SN at a surf station in oregon, going to yorktown for MK aschool in jan or feb.

 

Just putting my plug out there for anyone interested in the OCS or Direct Commission routes of joining or being in the CG. Also any folks with college-related questions that are already in the CG can ask away.

 

I'll be graduating in Fall of 2015 from San Diego State University, and I know a lot of other guys have said it already that a college degree won't automatically get you into OCS but I wondering what else can help me. I'll be graduating with a communication degree. And right now I'm just barely shy of a 3.0 hoping to get it above that by the time I graduate. Planning on signing up for a coast guard volunteer program here in SD after the holidays and currently I'm apart of the Students of Automotive Engineering Baja where we build a single seat car. The org is pretty small but we travel across the country a couple times a year for competitions. Have worked since freshman year of college and been promoted at both jobs.

 

I know this is the coast guard thread but looking for some advice.

Thinking about joining a military reserve. Ill be 28 in a month so I know some active duty positions Ill be to old. Anyways I guess my concern is more my medical history. Have two knee surgeries involving ACL replacement and meniscus tears. Also have a titanium plate on my shoulder. Anyone experience problems joining due to these types of medical? They don't hold me back and I can pass a physical right now. I do have my college degree so I was looking at some OCS schools too, however talking to my buddy today he said their physical conditioning is a bit more intense.

I am looking real hard at the national guard, work one weekend a month and two a year. I have been set in my career for the past 4 years but looking for a change of my field and also when I am out would pry be free of any debt. I always wanted to serve but when I was 18 blew my knee out and then at 23 blew the same knee out. So I am finally in real good shape again and my work is kinda at a crossroads.

Any info would be great. Thanks

 

I was in The Coast Guard from Oct. 1986 to Oct. 1990 and stationed in Portsmouth, VA onboard the Northland WMEC-904 and in Charleston, SC in a LEDET billet once I graduated MK "A" school.

 

SO my SIL is considering joining the service. I have been a grunt in the Army and now a cross-utilized 2W1 for the ANG. I was recommending he go to CG for aviation MX or electrician. What is your take on Aviation MX? Technical training, lifestyle, political BS and ability to transfer over to civilian side? Thanks.

 

Aviation is the best thing in the CG. I love working on helos, it's definitely a challenging and rewarding job, especially when you see the faces of the people that other wise would not have made it back to their families. There is def a little bit political b s just like another place. But in aviation we def look after each other and are a more tight nit community compared to the boat world.
I am an aviation maintenance technician (AMT) and we do pretty much anything on the helo. From structures and airframe to powerplant, rotor drives and landing gear. We even do a little electrical too, while the AETs do mostly only just avionics and electrical. We all fly as aircrew as well. Training is done at "A school" which is in Elizabeth City, NC 8 months of hands on and classroom training. It's more of a general training, then you can got to "C schools" after that for more specific airframes and systems. There are a bunch of civilian jobs that one could do after they get the A and P lisence which you can get while you are still in with the help of tuition assistance.
But, before he gets to go to aviation training he will have to be a non rate e-2/e-3 while he waits on the list for a while to go to school. So while he is waiting for orders to school he will have to either be stationed on a boat or at a boat station as a seaman or fireman.
Please feel free to hit me up if he has anymore questions.

 

I have a question.
I'm looking at joining the CG after I finish my current semester of college.
Ideally I'd like to be a Maritime Enforcement Specialist, but I don't know what I have to do to get there.

I was home schooled and graduated early so I never took the ASVAB, so could anyone explain to me or link me to an explanation of how the ASVAB works?

I'm currently on spring break and out of town but when I get back home I'd like to go talk to a recruiter.

 

Your recruiter should be able to supply you with a test similar to the ASVAB and see how you score on it, at least my USMC recruiter did.

 

you can google ASVAB practice test i took one practice before i went a took the acutal one.

 

+1 there are tons of online resources.

Also, the MST rate is heavily based on book knowledge. Get ready to read and interpret manuals.

 

Cool, I'm hoping to talk to the recruiter Wed. or Friday.

I'll check into that, Thanks

MST? What's that?

 

I think he meant the ME rate not MST

 

Oh shoot you're right, my mistake.

 

ME here if anyone has any ME rate specific questions.