My Son Is Thinking About Joining the Coast Guard
 

Anyone have any experience?

Is it bad? Are they dying?

Help.....

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. :Oh crap

I didn't quite mean that....you can die crossing the street. I simply don't know anything about the Coast Guard....

good luck to him

On his way to loserdom eh?

I can't recall hearing anything bad happening to them and I'm 60 years old. I do know that what they fucking do to save lives is amazing heroic!

Go to the drug store and ask for a condom (small size)...then pull it down over your head...you little prick.

coast guard is big in stopping narcotics trafficing via water

Raven If you are reffering to war maybe this will ease your mind

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/faqs/wars.html

That of course is not all they do. They have a wide range of interesting jobs.

To the original poster...do a search and you can learn alot about what the Coast Guard does...and areas where they are located.

It's a dangerous job! up there with police, fire etc! :2 cents:

Oy vey.....To be a mother.

It wouldn't be a good idea for him to be part of the drug interdiction....he'd be too tempted.

And, to the guy who called my son a loser....a hearty fuck you.

It's a toss up between this and the Navy.....I just think, believe it or not, he'd be safer in the Navy. They're not really dying either....

Thanks, GG...I was kind of thinking that; but, I was also thinking about the riskiness of the search and rescues.

I guess I'm just being a nervous mother who doesn't want her baby to suffer; but, wouldn't mind seeing him do a few pushups....:)

It is not an overly dangerous job. Being killed on the job is not of any great concern for any Coast Guardsman.

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.

well the government offers good school and salary so if he thinks he could like it he should try it

one of the safer branches of the armed forces

Youre welcome. As a father I would be very happy that my sons chose the coast gaurd over the others. Id be real happy with the navy as well.

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. :2 cents:

I believe the US Coast Guard is one of the branches of the Military, and can go to war. Haven't heard of anyone from the Coast Guard going to Iraq.

Is he over 6 foot tall? It's a requirement so he can wade to shore when his ship sinks.

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 :)

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.

As to college...he's not wanting college.

have him watch the movie, The Perfect Storm

LOL. Yeah. Right.

Coast Guard is a kick ass orginazation. My neighbors kid is there as a career and has nothing but good things to say.

Makes me feel better to hear that....thanks.

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 say go for it...

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...

Where is he looking at being stationed?

2 words...

Piss Test.

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.

You are an awesome mom... I wish you and your son only the best Raven! :)

same here. there is no substitute forf a mother's love. :thumbsup

Tell him to stop watching Baywatch..

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.

Believe me. If I thought he'd go, I'd send him to college and then ROTC....but, he's simply not going to go.

Aaron. You're right. Two words. Piss Test.

Coast Guard, from what I'm reading is one of the five branches of the military; but, it's part of Homeland Security.

Can he swim?

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....

I just never imagined the Coast Guard....

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?

I tend to draw this parallel

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!

id do everything in my power to keep my children out of the military industrial complex.

coast guard they dont go overseas their job is to guard the coast. They are also not a fighting unit .

No, they go overseas. Here is a list of the vessels in theater:

Units in theater as of July 2004

USCGC Wrangell (WPB 1332) - homeport: South Portland, Maine (CENTCOM)
USCGC Adak (WPB 1333) - homeport: Sandy Hook, N.J. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309) - homeport: Atlantic Beach, N.C. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) - homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
USCGC MONOMOY (WPB 1326) - homeport: Woods Hole, Mass. (CENTCOM)
USCGC MAUI (WPB 1304) - homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Port Security Unit 307, home base St. Petersburg, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Tactical Law Enforcement Team South - home base: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Patrol Boat Support Squadron Staff (CENTCOM)

Many times they support the Navy.

And I did find out they can become a part of the DOD in times of war.

Raven, a site I've learned a lot on is:

http://forums.about.com/ab-usmilitary/

dam skippy

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.