Yeah............sometimes they die when their chopper crashes into the sea. Its the military. You can die in the military. Especially with dopers doing the maintenace on the machinery.
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The coast gaurds around here have a pretty easy job.I have done some repairs on some of their equipment..Once a day they go on this huge hovercraft and transport fuel to remote areas.They are called in on boating accidents.pretty much they don't do very much and they make pretty good money.
As a person with previous military experience, I HIGHLY recommend that they do not enlist straight into any branch of the military. Send his ass to college and enroll in one of the branches' ROTC programs. They'll pay for all of his tuition, books, and housing. He won't have to worry about a thing.
Plus, its 'easy' street, if there ever was one in the military. The ROTC is officer training, rather than being a grunt. Its a different training regiment and he'll enter the military with higher ranking and pay. Its definitely the path to take with any military duty imo.
However, that said, let me say that military duty blows ass. At least, it did for me. Its not everyone's cup of tea and you don't get to just quit if you don't like it. If you're in, you're in for a few years. He should CAREFULLY weigh the options.
If hes set on joining the Military, its a great branch to go into. It has some wonderful benefits to their Active Duty Personel. The coast gaurd is the only branch that does not have on-base housing, so basically they get a check cut for cost of living depending on area, in my area it is $1300. Which around here is nearly double of a NICE and BIG 2 bedroom apartment. They also get about $200-$300/month check for food, they can use it or eat on base, as well as like a measly $30 a month for clothing. If they do not use any of this money they can pocket it. It pays fairly decent too, $1580 for E3 I believe. which is standard rank for entry.
So they pay is great.
The better benefits are basically because they are a branch of the DOT unlike other military.
Also USCG has some kickass jobs, they deal with mainly port security and narcotics. But they have tons of other things.
All in all... I say if your going military... go United States Coast Gaurd. If he does join, i send my congrats
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I want to thank everyone for their answers....it's just that he wants to learn commercial diving and I don't see the Coast Guard for that....they sound more like police at high sea...and, I think I read they are attached to Homeland Security....
Seems to me he'd do better in the Navy...but, he's old enough...I just don't want to see him make a choice which will bite him later.
Take Mogulman's advice, NROTC (Navy Reserve Officer Training Corp) is the best choice, military officers are one of the most respected professions in the world just because he has a bachelors degree, with that said he can be a Navy pilot or any high up positions the Navy has to offer. And GFY is not really the place to ask for this advice try military.com you can get some straight answers from active duty Coast Guard (CG) or Navy people.
I have a few friends who's dads are still in the coast guard or are vets.. They've all said they've had some of the best experiences in their lives in the Coast Guard, even though sometimes it can be greuling work..
It can be a profitable job if you have the drive to climb the rank ladders...
As a person with previous military experience, I HIGHLY recommend that they do not enlist straight into any branch of the military. Send his ass to college and enroll in one of the branches' ROTC programs. They'll pay for all of his tuition, books, and housing. He won't have to worry about a thing.
Plus, its 'easy' street, if there ever was one in the military. The ROTC is officer training, rather than being a grunt. Its a different training regiment and he'll enter the military with higher ranking and pay. Its definitely the path to take with any military duty imo.:
OK, from someone that contracted with various branches of the U.S. Military, Mogulman is right on the money. If you son went the with ROTC program, Uncle Sam pays the all the college bills as long as your son can cut a C average. After that, he's looking at a couple years hitch which as an officer would leave him with a college education, a LT commission, management experience, and plenty of job prospects if he considered a move to the private sector.
If I could go back in time, I would have gone this route, the Navy has plenty more opportunities than most of the other branches, its also one of the safer routes, The U.S. Army/National Guard/Reserves are missing their recruitment goals for reasons that should be obvious to the untrained eye.
I also know a number of friends and associates that got a raw deal just going in as an enlisted member, please reinforce to your son that the opportunities are much greater with being an officer than the low man on the totem pole.
OK, from someone that contracted with various branches of the U.S. Military, Mogulman is right on the money. If you son went the with ROTC program, Uncle Sam pays the all the college bills as long as your son can cut a C average. After that, he's looking at a couple years hitch which as an officer would leave him with a college education, a LT commission, management experience, and plenty of job prospects if he considered a move to the private sector.
If I could go back in time, I would have gone this route, the Navy has plenty more opportunities than most of the other branches, its also one of the safer routes, The U.S. Army/National Guard/Reserves are missing their recruitment goals for reasons that should be obvious to the untrained eye.
I also know a number of friends and associates that got a raw deal just going in as an enlisted member, please reinforce to your son that the opportunities are much greater with being an officer than the low man on the totem pole.
There's no ROTC for the Coast Guard.
Army is reaching it's recruitment goals. Reserves/Guard are the ones that are not.
Also note the Coast Guard is NOT part of the DOD. However, they are in Iraq and other foreign countries.
Coast Guard is a big time cush job. They do great thing but given the choice, that is a great one to make. I wish I had thought of it when I went in many years ago. They are treated like kings.
Raven, as you know, mine made the choice to join the USAF. He tried college and even though he has a genius IQ, partying was more important ;) After the Bank of Mom closed down, he even paid for a year on his own before he realized he lacked the self disipline for it.
He joined the USAF and loves it! Due to this tech school, he earned another year of credits toward college so he's now only a year short of a degree. He's leaving for Japan tonight (yes, I'm a mess) where they have college courses on base where he can complete his degree for free. He then intends to apply to OCS.
When/if he leaves the AF, he'll have up to $28K to apply towards even more education.
The military isn't for everyone. But there are some people who love it and thrive there. Do I worry about him and will I be a nervous wreck when he deploys? You betcha. But I worry about him every time he leaves the house any way ;)
If it's something he wants to do, let him follow his dream and be there 100% to support it - which I know you will
You know I will, Peaches...I was kind of hoping for the Navy.....we have 'angels' to look over him there....he wants to be a diver....Lord knows why. Boats make him seasick...
He's not college material..from his own mouth...lacks the discipline and the Bank of Mom is closing down on him, too...
I will support him and I feel your nerves, sweetie....I'd be a mess too...hell, I'm a mess knowing he would do basic in Cape May, NJ...so I can imagine how I'd be if he went overseas.....hugs to ya, darlin'...
I just know he needs some other structure than what he has here....sigh...and he knows it, too..he's 21...and he knows he is at a cross road....
Coast Guard - Navy
Fire Fighter - Swat/Vice
Saves Lives - "Protects" Lives
Both are heroic professions. However if safety and future benefits (skills) is your concern note that the Coast Guard is not a fighting unit; see their "Non-Retaliation Policy"; they are a division of Homeland Security. In Florida the coast guard mainly rescuses rafters (refugees from cuba, haiti, etc), checks boats for life preservers, patrol ports, basic water patrol/security. Not all that dangerous. I would rather my child, little brother, whatever be in the Coast Guard than the Navy or other division of armed services. The Academy and skills sets you learn can open doors and benefits for a long time to come. If he's young he may want to check out the Academy first - Deadline for admissions is March 1. It's tuition free and To be accepted you must be an unmarried U.S. citizen between the ages of 17 and 22 when you enter.
My parents have friends who's children have done extraordinarily well in the Coast Guard. Most have fared better than those in armed services who are still overseas.
Whatever you and your son decide best wishes and luck!
Considering Raven is out here in the northwest, my best bet is he'll be patrolling Alaska, Washington State and the Canadian border..
With that said, one thing i can think of is he'll be looking for all those lost crabbing boats in the middle of the ocean... O_o
But then again, if its military, I don't think he gets to pick where he patrols right?
From what I'm reading, Mackey.....basic is in Cape May, NJ.....so, I guess he'd be going to the east coast for basic...which is fine...
I just want to make sure the Coast Guard is a place where he can go that will serve him well, since I never see any commercials....and I don't know anything about it.
In all truth, he's old enough to make his own decisions and has been since he was sixteen....so, I guess I bite the bullet and see what he does.
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