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Thinking about joining the Coast Guard after I get out of High School. Anybody every been to there academy or is currently in the Coast Guard. I would just like to know what it is like there and what is some stuff you train in.
get a high-gear specialty and excell at it. Rescue, flying, electronics, surveillance. Stay away from the day-to-day stuff.
The grunts that go out on SUYWT patrols all seem to have lower morale than young guys ought to have at that stage. Local coastal USCG stations must be getting a whole lot of micro managing from their HQ and that hurts both morale and public opinion.
My two cents, but best wishes to your career choice.
__________________ Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)
I got out 25 years ago as a E-5 Bosun. (served 4 years) It was a blast back then as the small boat stations and ANT teams were pretty much independent with not much district interference. I was at two stations where the "Old Man" was an E-7. In other words, no saluting. Got to go to Governor's Island for 6 weeks buoy school, MLE school, Bosun school in Yorktown, and Cape D for 3 weeks. We were under the DOT at the time and Liddy Dole was my boss. I'd agree with bamaboy473 now that they are under Homeland Security being a "grunt" doesn't have the same independence as it used to.
That being said, I'd still recommend the USCG to anybody considering serving their country.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
I would disagree with the above statement. I know a few guys in the USCG and they do not have low morale. And they are doing the "day to day" stuff. Of course I am in Miami - where it is never very cold. And Biscayne Bay is never very rough.
If you join the active reserves, you can pick where you go. They will not send you more than 100 or 150 miles from your home address. But before they take you in they want there to be a job for you to do. Regular active duty means you can be put anywhere - maybe Hawaii or the US Virgin Islands - and maybe Alaska or Guam or someplace far away from everything and/or cold and rough.
Anyhow - it is not a bad idea to join. It is military service, but it is also a domestic law enforcement agency. So you will likely remain in US territory. There ARE Coast Guard units overseas, but compared to the number that are in the USA the number in a war zone are very low. All ARE serving the USA however. In one capacity or another. We need people keeping the smugglers out - and the USCG does (or tries its best to do) just that.
If you can get in the academy - that is an excellent opportunity. But it is tough to get into. You need good grades and high scores on aptitude tests.
I sort of wish I had done it back when I had the option. But I am an old fogey now - at least by USCG standards. I could still join the reserves, but in another 2 or 3 years that will not be an option anymore.
__________________ 1999 20 foot Seagull power cat
Single 135 Optimax outboard
Thanks! But I'm confused BamaBoy473 are you suggesting that I don't just do the regular stuff like enforcing fishing laws. And go straight to aviation and stuff like that? BTW thanks for the info Lazy_Iguana if you got anything else jst PM me.
Thanks! But I'm confused BamaBoy473 are you suggesting that I don't just do the regular stuff like enforcing fishing laws. And go straight to aviation and stuff like that? BTW thanks for the info Lazy_Iguana if you got anything else jst PM me.
The CG does not do much in the way of "enforcing fishing laws". Thats the Wildflife Commisions job.
If you join get ready to paint and clean for a while. You are better off going to college or going in the merchant marine. If you are on a ship(which there is a good chance of that after bootcamp) you are away from home a good bit of the time and you don't make jack.
Thinking about joining the Coast Guard after I get out of High School. Anybody every been to there academy or is currently in the Coast Guard. I would just like to know what it is like there and what is some stuff you train in.
Thank You
Just met a 17 your old young man that is doing just what you consider. (He was having his appendix removed, and I had the chance to discuss this preop)
Consider the following:
You will be tested, as all recruits, and after basic training will be offered several choices that match your skillset. That will be your first job, and the service will select where you serve. You will learn how to learn, and how to serve. Yes, this is a drag, but will stand you well when called upon to lead later in your career. (service or otherwise)
After that, and you distinguish yourself, you have a host of opportunity. Firesupression, mechanics, law enforcement, all kinds of maritime stuff.
If the coast guard does not offer what you wish, you can transfer to another service for further education/training/advancement. I work with a bunch of people that have done this, and they say it's essentially about changing uniform, and plugging in for advancement.
Thinking about joining the Coast Guard after I get out of High School. Anybody every been to there academy or is currently in the Coast Guard. I would just like to know what it is like there and what is some stuff you train in.
Thank You
Ain't a thing wrong with enlisting in the USCG out of high school. I was in for 4 years and had a hoot. Just like Tugted said, I was painting and cleaning on a ship out of boot camp but also got to experience the Mariel to Miami Cuban boatlift in the early 80's and got to see a lot of stuff you won't see in a classroom. After Bosun school in Yorktown I jumped buoys on the Chesapeake and then went on to run the 44 MLB for a couple of years. Got to go to ATON school in NY, MLE school in Yorktown, and heavy weather school at Cape D. I wouldn't take anything for the experience. Besides, you will only be 22 when you get out and will have a good bit of college money available.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Thinking about joining the Coast Guard after I get out of High School. Anybody every been to there academy or is currently in the Coast Guard. I would just like to know what it is like there and what is some stuff you train in.
When you get out of boot camp you are on the bottom of the totem pole. You will be doing the lowest of the tasks such as galley duty, chipping and painting, cleaning the engine room, etc. However, you will also be standing watch, steering the ship, backing up the boarding officers on boardings, as well as helping on search and rescue. It's really not as bad as it sounds. Plus, while your friends are draining Mom and Dad of college money or racking up student loans, you are seeing things they never will with the opportunity to let Uncle Sam send you to school when you get out.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
When you get out of boot camp you are on the bottom of the totem pole. You will be doing the lowest of the tasks such as galley duty, chipping and painting, cleaning the engine room, etc. However, you will also be standing watch, steering the ship, backing up the boarding officers on boardings, as well as helping on search and rescue. It's really not as bad as it sounds. Plus, while your friends are draining Mom and Dad of college money or racking up student loans, you are seeing things they never will with the opportunity to let Uncle Sam send you to school when you get out.
Well it might end up being that I have to paint and clean for a while but it will all be worth it in the end
I enlisted in the USCG about 15 years ago. My first duty station was the UCCGC Mohawk down in Key West. While I was chipping and painting I was also learning to drive the ship's boats, getting qualified as a boarding team member as well as all of the normal underway watch positions. Helmsman, Lookout, etc.. On that ship we visited a bunch of islands in the caribbean, went through the Panana canal, rescued some migrants, did a couple of drug busts, lived without much sleep yad yada. While I was stationed there I couldn't wait to get off that boat. As time has passed by I realize that those were some of the best days of my life. After that I went to a small boat station in Clearwater. Got qualified coxswain and boarding officer and starting doing boardings and responding to search and rescue calls. I was in my early 20's, getting paid fairly well ( compared to most of my friends), to play with boats. Now I'm a reservist with a more traditional job and I still go play with boats once a month, 2 weeks a year. The USCG has been a good deal for me because it's not really work in my mind. The problem with the Coast Guard is that they want you to transfer to a different unit every few years and I wasn't interested to moving out of Florida. I think that if you are interested in joining the Coast Guard you might want to go over to your local station and ask to talk to some of the guys, they'll steer you in the right direction.
This perspective is from an enlisted man. (Boatswain's Mate Chief) If you can get into the Coast Guard Academy then I would do that if you can.
My 14 year old daughter watched The Guardian a couple of years ago (when she was 12), and has wanted to go CG Search and Rescue ever since.
Mommy is not happy!
My 14 year old daughter watched The Guardian a couple of years ago (when she was 12), and has wanted to go CG Search and Rescue ever since.
Mommy is not happy!
The Guardian is a GREAT movie, but sad at the end!
This perspective is from an enlisted man. (Boatswain's Mate Chief)
Anybody can make rate but only God makes Bosun' mates.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
I have a cousin that is a recruiter in Ky and he's in his 19th year....he did ship duty tending bouys, base duty in Kodiak AK,cutter duty, a stint on rescue choppers as a crewchief and now a recruiter..if I'm not mistaken I think he is a master chief in rank.
He had a friend that went into the CG for electronic repair and specialized in medical equipment repair such as catscan ,x-ray, ekg and MRI machines, the guy left after about 8 years and is making money hand over foot .
I guess it depends on what you want out of life. I was a electrician by trade ,I did a lot of tower, crane and substation repair and was good at what I did, I left it all to go into law enforcement and never looked back....might have made more money in the long run if I stayed a electrician but I loved my job as a criminal investigator.....good luck to you no matter you decision....
__________________ Work is for People too lazy to fish!!!!
Coast Guard 
.... feel free to contact me for more information 
