Coast Guard

[felixXDfan]

Has anyone been in the Coast Guard? I am thinking about joining but i need more info. I don't want to ask recruiters. I personally don't trust them to give me the real deal. I am wanting to get some LE experience out of it, but i don't know what kind of opportunities they have. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

[LCPLPunk]

I was in the same boat myself and i was looking at going Port Security Specialist. I talked to the recruiter and he basically told me right up front that they didn't have any positions open. He also told me to finish the police academy and then call back in six months. If I were you, I would talk to a Coast Guard recruiter because the CG doesn't need people like the other services. They have no reason to lie. :P

[USCGjoker]

I am in the Coast Guard and will help in anyway I can. Law Enforcement is open to any rate, however Boatswains Mates (BM) and Machinery Tech's (MK) are the two primary ones that you will see. PS is only available to reserves. Fire your questions away and I will answer them as soon as I can (with it being Search and Rescue season in the Great Lakes and me being a new father, it may take a few days, but I will try to get back to you asap). There are a few other Coasties learking around here that can help you too.

Joe

[TPD Cadet]

+1 on what Joker said.
I am a FN in the CGR and will be going to MK A school. After A school and once I get boat crew qualified I will be able to get BTM (Boarding Team, LE) qualified.

If you go PS you will train for deployment (all reservist train for deployment, but MK and BM reservist get to do a lot of LE depending on the unit your drill at.

[etamante]

If you want LE, you need to go either BM or MK. Those are the two main rates that perform LE on a daily basis. Granted it is performed more if you are at a small boat station rather than a cutter. If you choose BM you are required to get qualified in Comms, boat crew, Boarding team member, Coxswain, Boarding officer, amongst other things. You will not be participating in LE right away. You have other quals to worry about before hand.

If you choose MK, you are required to qualify in Comms, Boat crew, boat engineer, amongst other things as well. If you go to a cutter, which everyone should do there first or second tour, then you will have a completely seperate set of quals.

Other people will give you plenty of information here, but ultimately the decision is up to you.

Good luck.

[TPD Cadet]

If you want LE, you need to go either BM or MK. Those are the two main rates that perform LE on a daily basis. Granted it is performed more if you are at a small boat station rather than a cutter. If you choose BM you are required to get qualified in Comms, boat crew, Boarding team member, Coxswain, Boarding officer, amongst other things. You will not be participating in LE right away. You have other quals to worry about before hand.

If you choose MK, you are required to qualify in Comms, Boat crew, boat engineer, amongst other things as well. If you go to a cutter, which everyone should do there first or second tour, then you will have a completely seperate set of quals.

That is true but it is different from unit to unit. At my station reservist do not get qualed in Comms (Yeah, no watch standing for us)

[UPNYPO]

Thinking about transfering from Army reserve to CGR. from what i have read BM and MK are the main LE rates? Do those reserve slots get deployed or do they get activated at their home station? What types of things would a reserve BM do in Lake Ontario? Thanks.

[rix031]

cg reserves

i was a bm reservist w/ a port security unit a couple years back. to my knowledge, only port security unit reserves get deployed. but, not all of the units get deployed at the same time.

[TPD Cadet]

Thinking about transfering from Army reserve to CGR. from what i have read BM and MK are the main LE rates? Do those reserve slots get deployed or do they get activated at their home station? What types of things would a reserve BM do in Lake Ontario? Thanks.

You still could be activated/mobilized/deployed. It is unlikely, but you never know what will happen.

[208]

I am in the process for enlisting in the USCGR. I was trying to get a PS rate but there were no slots in District 1 so the recruitter said I could wait for one to open if I want. The more I think about it the more I am leaning towards MK rate. So far the recruitters have reviewed my package and believe that Washington will approve me for the direct petty officer program. I just have to wait to see a neurologist...I got a minor concusion skiing last year (spring 2006) and they want to make sure I didnt knock any of my marbles loose. Its such a pain getting the appointment. It will all be worth it in the end. Any thoughts on MK?

[Levine1212]

I am also thinking about joining the USCGR (in the future) and have found the boards at forums.military.com to be a great resource.

If you go to the "Joining the Military?" area and under "Recruiting Questions" one of the moderaters is CPO Kalbach (posting under PO1 Kalbach) who is a CG recruiter. He's been really helpful with alot of questions, seems willing to look things up and get back to people, and has been brutally honest with his answers to many people.

Was helpful to me, so just passing the info on...

Jeff.

[USCGjoker]

I would definately take Jeff's advice, Chief Kalbach is one of the best over there.

[dgeaton8]

Any advice for someone looking so get into the CG investigations field, enlisted or civilian? I had to call my recruiter all the time when I as looking to get into a PSU on Cape Cod, the CG is very selective. Any help would be appreciated.

[rix031]

cgi

advice #1: check the cgi website for qualifications #2: contact your recruiter

[scuba4321]

I was in the CG as a MK, out of basic I went to a cutter in Maine. Went to MK"A" school then went to a small boat station in NY as a petty officer. I had to get qualified in this order, radio watch, boat crewman (huge book!) boat engineer, boarding team member, boarding officer, finally officer of the day. The MK'S did most of the LE work there as the BM's were coxwains and would stay on the boats when me and my boarding team did the LE. Awsome work. I have boarded little skiffs, 300' party boats on the fourth of July in NewYork harbor all the way up to fuel tankers would hit a bridge on super bowl sunday!! It depends on were you go. Great training! just remeber this is on top of your duties. I was an MK so I had to work on main engines, boilers, a/c, plumbing, fire fighting gear, generators, gray water , holding tanks, and anything else from base maintenece to doing oil changes on the stations lawn mowers! good luck