Joining Coast Guard

[Fearnest]

Kilts? Off duty? Any time you want! On duty? HA! Don't hold your breath.

"Back in the day" when USCG was part of the Department of Transportation (peacetime and Department of the Navy in wartime), things were different than they are now. A lot more "safety of navigation," "aid to sailors," etc. Now as part of the Department of Homeland Security the law enforcement part of the mission has really become the principle focus (IMHO).

There are still stations on the inland waterways (can you say "Missouri River?"), although the duty there is principally "aid to navigation" and law enforcement, since the US Army Corps of Engineers has responsibility for maintaining the trafficability of inland waterways. (Things that make you go "?????")

Bottom line? Another organization that has a HUGE array of important missions to accomplish, but only enough resources to do one of them. (So there's some stress associated with the "other" important but underfunded missions - like modernizing the entire USCG fleet to late-20th Century standards.)

USCG may be part of DHS, but they're still subject to deployment overseas with or in support of the USN, too. (USCG folks are doing boarding operations in the Persian Gulf, etc.)

So, as with anything, it depends on what you're looking for. Want to be on a Great Lakes icebreaker? USCG is about the best way to go. Want to be zipping around the Gulf of Mexico trying to "protect" oil platforms and doing drug interdiction? Again, USCG can give you that. Expect a lot of long, hard hours, regardless of your chosen (or assigned) specialty. But expect a lot of cameraderie, friendships, and sea stories to thrill your kids for years to come.

[Warlock]

I've known many in the Coast Guard, almost joined myself. {I can't swim and that is prerequisite}. No kilt on duty, But a damn fine Service. I don't know of anyone that was in that had anything bad to say about it. Congratulations and Thank You in advance for your Service.

[O'Neille]

My Mom is a C.G. recruiter for the academy and in the Auxilliary. I also have a few friends w/ first hand knowledge. P.M. if you would like additional information. O'Neille

[flairball]

I'm a former Coastie. There is a lot to consider.

The CG has streamlined it's self quite a bit since I seperated 14 years ago. Many of their ratings have been rolled together. I was a Quarter Master, and loved the job. I served on a HEC, and my job was navigation. Now the rating doesn't exist anymore, as it was rolled in with the BM rating. Think about what you want to do in the CG. If you think you'd like to be afloat, ala Navy style, compair your desired rating to what the Navy offers. I loved being a QM, but would have been better off as a QM in the Navy.

Some rating sound great, but in reality are really hard to get because of the demand. Other ratings are easy to get, and these ratings are ussually the ones that offer the most variety of duty station choices ( called billets). For example, a Cook ( the designation has changed, was SS, not FS I think) is an easy school to get, but you could end up serving at any billet, HEC, support center, air station, etc. You will get a rating and a pay raise but could end up at an undesirable billet. A sonar tech (ST) is a very specialized rating, with a very narrow skill set, and only serves on HEC's. Getting orders to ST school is harder, and it's a long school. There is no mystery as to what type billet you'll get after school however.

Beware of recruiter promises. Many will offer you guaranteed geograpical location, or ratings. Both have positives as well as negatives. Guaranteed rating ( A-school) can be a good thing, but many times one has an idea what they want to do until they either see what the rating actually entails, or are exposed to another rating they like better. Experience as a non-rate is benefitial in this case. Geograpical location can be a double edged sword too. Many time one wants to be close to home. If home is in New England you run the risk of being stuck in New England if you choose that area. For some reason people who go to district 1 get stuck in district 1.

Remember, like anything, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you mention you want to serve on an ice breaker out of Seattle, the recruiter will make it sound like you will have a good shot at getting there if you just do X,Y, and Z, however the reality is they are very sought after billets, giving priority to sailors with ice breaker experience.

I don't mean to sound negative, as there are a lot of positives too. You will meet a lot of interesting people, and do some great things.

My personal recommendations; I loved being a QM, but it's been roled in with BM, but still inquire as to a navigation position. As I mentioned, ST is a good job, as is RD( Radar Man). Also All the GM's (Gunners Mate) I ever met were great and loved their job.

As for billet; I think being afloat is best, and offer the most variety of work, and missions. Any HEC(High Endurance Cutter), MEC (Medium Endurance Cutter), Ocean going Ice breaker, or even a 110' patrol boat will offer a sea going experience, and excitement.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[MACKAY]

USCG may be part of DHS, but they're still subject to deployment overseas with or in support of the USN, too. (USCG folks are doing boarding operations in the Persian Gulf, etc.)

My Bro-in law is a Sr Chief in the CC. He has spent quite a bit of time overseas. He was in the Gulf War in the 90's, and is again now over there for the Iraq War.