Joining Coast Guard

[Jim H.]

Well I'm at that point in life where I have to decide what I want to do with my life and I got to wondering today about the Coast Guard. Does anyone know or have experience with being in the Coast Guard? I know I could talk to a recruiter but they'd tell me I can spin straw into gold. What are some real responses to being in the Coast Guard. Also what is the policy on kilts?

[ccga3359]

I am Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary which is something completely different to the USCG regs. Canadian CG and CGA is mainly marine search & rescue with our air force providing air search. Our CG may also do environmental research and such. Neither of us do law enforcement as neither of us are armed forces. In the US, you are military, with SAR (Search & Rescue) being only part of USCG's mission. The US lives up to the name of Coast Guard with many armed, there is even discussion of re-arming on the US side of the Great Lakes. The last time our nations were armed here was with cannons which incidentally is making negotiations quite difficult as to what modern weapons are acceptable. On the Canadian side only our Police are armed (don't even think of invading as I do carry a knife or 2 ). Having said this the United States Coast Guard and USCG Auxiliary can be justifiably proud of their training, efforts and dedication of duty. They are world leaders in SAR in addition to all the other duties they are asked to do. They may be in the shadows of the four more recognized branches of service but in today's climate they are no less as important. Should you answer this calling, serve well brother, you will be making a difference.
The USCG does indeed have a tartan but that may be only reserved for their pipe band, although here is an interesting link about converting a CG uniform tunic to a kilt jacket.
Also search the Show Me Your Ride thread as a couple of former Coasties have shown their former vessels.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Jim,

I'm an old Navy Hospital Corpsman, and while there's a traditional rivalry between the Navy and the Coast Guard, I have to tell you that I respect the hell out of a lot of work the Coasties do. It's a very varried service, which includes lifesaving missions, customs duties, and even drug trafficing interventions.

If you've a mind to serve, you could make much worse choices than to join the Coast Guard.

There are enough rates that you can find something that suits your interest. If you think you might do something else after you get out, you might choose your rate with an eye towards future usefulness -- a Gunners' Mate, for instance, may have a lot of fun with large-bore weapons onboard, but what does he do in the civilian world?

Whatever you decide, I wish you luck, and salute your interest in serving.

Oh, as to kilts... don't expect to wear one with your uniform, but I'd be surprised if your command's policies kept you from wearing one with your civilian clothes on liberty.

[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.

[sorcererdale]

I am not sure where you live, but just stop in at a Coast Guard Station and ask for a tour and information. I have been to the one up here in Marquette, and although they work hard at times, there is a lot of camaraderie and fun. I was there with Big Brothers/Big Sisters with my little.

DALE.

[Dirk Skene]

All I can tell you is this. I am 51. When I was 5 it was the Coast Guard that came to my rescue when a cabin curser got stuck on a sand bar in the Mississippi 25 miles north of Memphis. That may not sound like not much in 2007. But imagin the rescue operation needed in 1960.

I had an old Navy pilot friend tell me once "A Coast Guard pilot will put a fixed wing down, hold it, and take off in waters where no Navy pilot would even fly over." another comment "In the Coast Guard, the rules say you must go out on a rescue. They don't say you have to come back." These are no strike against the Navy, they just are ment to show the Coast Guards dedication to Life saving & protecting our coastal waters.