Hey all!

My youngest step-son is interested in joining the Coast Guard. We live in a small town and he would like to get out of here and do something. He is interested in the law enforcement side of their operations. I think the Coast Guard would be a good fit. My family has experience with other branches of the service but not the Coast Guard. He is going to be a junior in high school so the thoughts of what to do after school are starting wing around in his tiny little nugget he calls a brain.

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

I admire your step son for already taking in interest in what he wants to do with his life at his age. I had alot of friends in highschool that were never really passionate about thier goals and now are making pretty good money, but they hate what they do. As for myself ive wanted to be in my career since my father took me to work when i was 12yrs old. Theres nothing better than loving what you do and being passionate about it. If he's passionate about being a Coast Guard then he's on the right track in life.

 

I hear that. We are starting to tour colleges with my oldest step-son. He wants to be a teacher. They are both good kids so we got lucky. Now if we can pry him away from his girlfriend which is a grade behind him (he will be a senior this year) long enough to make some decisions, that would be nice. He swears he will not go to college with a girlfriend still at home. I haven't helped with my stories from when I went to Slippery Rock. Ah the good old days.

I am one of those that make good money but hate their job.

 

First thing he needs to do is lose the g/f. Nothing will screw up a teen's world quicker than a reason to make a bad life decision

 

Funny ! My Girlfriends little brother just graduated highschool this year and recently got a new girlfriend. He swore he was not going to leave to college in order to stay with his girlfriend of only 4 months. His father forced him to go visit a college up in orlando called Full Sail.

Needless to say he told his new girlfriend he has to "go get and education".

 

I saw far to many guys backing up every Friday afternoon at college to head home and spend time with their still at home girlfriends for the weekend. They missed the real reason you go to college (women, booze, good times, parties, hanging out all night, women, booze, women, women ect....)

She's a nice girl with really good parents. She's a super athlete and gets straight A's so it's hard to discourage their relationship. I think he would miss out on so much by sitting in his dorm room thinking about what she is doing all day. Screw that!!!!

 

I have a cousin that's in the Coast Gaurd and he loves it. I think he's been in for 8 or 9 years now. The only negative thing I ever heard about the Coast Gaurd is that promotions are slower than the other branches of the service because it is a relatively small branch. I did 6 1/2 years in the Army and loved it (most of the time) but sometimes wish I had at least considered the Coast Gaurd.

 

I'm in the CG, and it depends on what rate you go I'm going in to aviation you want to go this rout unless you want to be a slave on a ship. just dont go BM they are all stupid! but most rates advance very fast some rates need people bad you could be an E-6 in 4 years the CG is the smallest force but we have the biggest jobs

 

Matt, thanks for responding. How did you get in? Recruiter? How long have you been in? What is BM? Do you like it overall? Sorry for all the questions.

 

Ah... puddle pirates! No offense or disrespect intended. I have a fw friends in the CG, and a lot of respect for them and the overall job the CG does.

If he's interested in being law enforcement, CG is prolly one of the best ways to go. Of course, if he's thinking long term, the Corps might be worth a look. State Police are always interested in former Marines as the training in many states is similar to what MP's go through, so little OTJT is needed. CT has many former Marines in the Stateys, and I know of a few that did time in the Corp, went into the CT Stateys, and retired @ ~40, with 2 pensions and still do consulting on the side PT.

Just a thought and my .02

 

I wouldn’t take the advice of a non-rate on his first term enlistment.

Matthew most likely works for a BM at his current assignment at Station Washington DC. Which would certainly explain his bitterness towards the BM rating?

Truth is…BM is the largest (followed closely by MK) rating in the Coast Guard. If you want to work Law Enforcement, look very closely at the BM/MK jobs in the Coast Guard. They work with L/E everyday.

If you follow Matthew’s advice, don’t expect to be in the Coast Guard very long.

If you want more information, click this link and check out what the CG has to offer.
http://forums.military.com/eve/ubb.x/a/cfrm/f/67919558

If you have anymore questions, PLEASE take the advice of someone that’s been in more than a couple of years.

 

No offence taken

 

I got in buy going to a recruiter. but dont belive what they say go to a local station and ask them they will give you the truth about the job. and I guess its just where I work that makes me bitter. dont get me wrong I love the job and I dont dislike BM's most of them where I work regret going that route.

 

TPC:

Ive been in the CG for 6 yrs. There is so much I can tell you about the jobs and mission the CG does, it would take a while. The best thing I can recommend is to go down to a station or cutter and see it for yourself. You wont learn everything, but it will give you an idea.

From my side, I love my job and I love going to sea. My shipmates are my family (well, extended family) and it is a life that can only be understood by someone who lives it. I have seen things most people bever do. Ive seen more than $1.000.000.000 (thats one billion) in cocaine and have pictures of me sitting on 3 tons of the pure stuff. I sailed through hurricane Katrina and assisted in the recovery efforts afterwards. Ive been in 25ft seas and helped stop literally thousands of migrants trying to illegally enter the US. Ive been all over the Caribbean.

I have pictures of all the above if you would like to see.

Just so you know, Im an OS1 (Operations Specialist First Class) and have been stationed on 3 cutters. I can definitly speak about the sea going portion of our service. The land side, Im not as familiar, but I still know a little

Im not sure where you're located, but more than likely there is a CG unit nearby. If you want, I can provide more info for you.

And BTW, just an FYI, the CG deploys as much as the Navy (mandatory 185 days at sea a year for cutters) so if your son thinks he wont go to sea much, he will definitly be in for a wake up.

Andy

 

I am currently in the U.S. Army. Although for OPSEC reasons I cannot tell you what I do exactly, I would tell your son this. If he wants to do law enforcement, with the type of fighting we are doing today, the army or marines is the best answer. Our modern police force does URBAN Operations and tactics in todays world. We fight in the citys, houses, buildings, etc. With the iraqi war going on, that is the exact tatics he will learn along with being an infantryman or MP. Not to mention if he gets clearance, esp a TS or TS SCI, he can land any federal Law enforcement job he wanted. Not to mention if he took clases while serving, and got a degree. Go Army, Go MP, and you can honestly say he served his country, will have the discipline to be a good soldier, then soon to be Cop. He will learn leadership skills, and get all his **** paid for. Nothing like putting U.S. Army on your resume. Besides, if he does MP some states and offices will wave him going to other schools to be a cop. Coast guard is good if all else fails, but do something worth it. I look back and think of the Drill sarges screaming in ace, and getting 2 hours of sleep, and going out to the field freezing my till my nuts are in my chest trying to get warm. Best memories I'll ever have, you wont get that in the coast guard. Be there done that brings on a ehole new meaning. Amnd trust me shooting a saw, mark 19, m16, m4, 50 cal, m203 gernade launcher, best **** i nthe world. Not to mention, sign on bonus, bonus bonus, bonus.

Army strong.. hooah...