I have a question that I am having a hard time coming up with an answer to.
When I first decided to go into the CGR, I had a hard time picking what A school I wanted. Since I was qualified for the SELRES, and got good scores on the ASVAB, I pretty much qualified for any job I wanted. I was having a tough time choosing between MST and BM. My recruiter told me there was a bonus for MST, and that tilted it towards MST. When I showed up to sign the contract, my recruiter told me that she had put in for the bonus but it was turned down due to lack of funds. I found this to be highly dubious, but I wasn't joining for the money in the first place, it just helped make my decision of job placement. Everyone I have since told that part of the story to has said that the recruiter was full of it. My first question is, can something be done about this? I'm not trying to get my bonus, as I understand that if it's not in writing you are pretty much screwed, but I would like to make sure that this doesn't happen to someone else. I know that stories like this are a dime a dozen, but I really would like to see this addressed somehow.
My second question has to do with changing rates. Since I started drilling, I'm really beginning to think that I may have made a mistake in choosing MST, which makes me kind of happy I didn't get the bonus! I haven't gone to A school yet. I have been told that I could theoretically go do whatever I want, since I haven't gone to A school yet, but I wanted to find out for sure. My question is, can I still switch to BM? I have been worried about bringing this up to the people in my unit, since they have been wonderful so far. At the same time, I don't want to be placed into a job where I'm not a good fit, and stuck doing something I don't really like if there is a way to change it. I am trying to find out if I can stay at my current unit and go BM instead, since I really like the guys (and girls) I drill with, just not sure if the MST stuff is my cup of tea.
When I first decided to go into the CGR, I had a hard time picking what A school I wanted. Since I was qualified for the SELRES, and got good scores on the ASVAB, I pretty much qualified for any job I wanted. I was having a tough time choosing between MST and BM. My recruiter told me there was a bonus for MST, and that tilted it towards MST. When I showed up to sign the contract, my recruiter told me that she had put in for the bonus but it was turned down due to lack of funds. I found this to be highly dubious, but I wasn't joining for the money in the first place, it just helped make my decision of job placement. Everyone I have since told that part of the story to has said that the recruiter was full of it. My first question is, can something be done about this? I'm not trying to get my bonus, as I understand that if it's not in writing you are pretty much screwed, but I would like to make sure that this doesn't happen to someone else. I know that stories like this are a dime a dozen, but I really would like to see this addressed somehow.
ANSWER: Bonus's come and go with needs of the service. If MST become "un-critical" then why offer a bonus for it? The Coast Guard offers and can take away, no explanation needed. Some folks don't understand this. Recruiters don't get any incentive by depriving people of bonus's. For the Reserve it wasn't classified as a bonus for awhile, it was an entitlement. PS(Port Security Specialist) used to get a bonus, not anymore. Critical jobs often warrant the need to offer bonus's. Since you didn't join for the money, no loss to you(even though you did tilt to MST because of the bonus, "your own words")
My second question has to do with changing rates. Since I started drilling, I'm really beginning to think that I may have made a mistake in choosing MST, which makes me kind of happy I didn't get the bonus! I haven't gone to A school yet. I have been told that I could theoretically go do whatever I want, since I haven't gone to A school yet, but I wanted to find out for sure. My question is, can I still switch to BM? I have been worried about bringing this up to the people in my unit, since they have been wonderful so far. At the same time, I don't want to be placed into a job where I'm not a good fit, and stuck doing something I don't really like if there is a way to change it. I am trying to find out if I can stay at my current unit and go BM instead, since I really like the guys (and girls) I drill with, just not sure if the MST stuff is my cup of tea.
ANSWER: you have a spot reserved for MST, the money is locked in to pay for you to go. If you want to change, your UNIT may have to foot the bill for BM A school, they may not want to. You need to use your chain of command now to resolve this matter. Only they can help you.
ay not want to. You need to use your chain of command now to resolve this matter. Only they ca
It has been over a year since I was in HQ so take this with a grain of salt. However, changing an A-School is not necessarily a very difficult process. You will have to engage your unit and your servicing ISC (pf) shop to be sure that there is a billet in the BM rating available for you before you can proceed with changing your A-School date. Then there needs to be a quota available during the year for your in BM A-School. Again, this is not necessarily difficult but very dependent on billet availability.
As to funding for A-Schools, the Reserve appropriation buys capacity from the training system annually in the form of quotas in each of the A-Schools. Assignment of an A-School quota does not in and of itself obligate funds. In many ways it is better to identify a lack of interest in the MST rating before going to school because once you execute the orders you are using up funds. In the end though, all A-School orders are issued under Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) and come from a centrally managed pot of money so your unit would not be hit with a bill.
Of course there are other "costs" involved with a change of heart before, during, and/or after A-School including lost training opportunities for others, loss of time doing what is the best fit for you, etc. Your best bet is definitely to sit down with your supervisor and discuss your concerns as soon as possible.
You can decide you don't want to go to MST A-School if you choose to. You could then decide that you WOULD LIKE to go to BM A-School. That doesn't change your obligation to be in the reserves and we do not have to send you to BM A-School. I would strongly suggest you figure this out as soon as possible. It is much more difficult to change afterwards. Starting very soon, it will get even harder to change afterwards as that decision making process is being centralized. Talk to some actual MSTs and BMs, AD and CGR.
No no, I want to be in the CGR, I have enjoyed every moment of it so far. I do not, under and circumstances, want to be separated from the CGR. I'm sorry if my post in any way intimated that.
My question popped up because I have been seeing a lot more closeup of what MST's do vs. what a lot of the BM's do, and it seems like the BM's are doing more of what I originally got into the CGR wanting to do.
As to funding for A-Schools, the Reserve appropriation buys capacity from the training system annually in the form of quotas in each of the A-Schools. Assignment of an A-School quota does not in and of itself obligate funds. In many ways it is better to identify a lack of interest in the MST rating before going to school because once you execute the orders you are using up funds. In the end though, all A-School orders are issued under Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) and come from a centrally managed pot of money so your unit would not be hit with a bill.
I had a Reserve with the same question come to me about changing from one A school to another. Headquarters did indeed have funding for the original guaranteed A school, but the UNIT had to be willing to pay for the other one out of their funding.(personal experience). CPO Kalbach
I am really surprised that anyone from HQ was pushing a unit to pay for A-School. That is a big change in policy, but I guess it just goes to show you that things change quickly in the Coast Guard! I guess this is something I need to engage the program on so that I can be better versed! Thanks for the insight!
Wow that is a really interesting bit of info. That's been my biggest worry with this question, that I would in some way cause a big problem to my unit, where everyone has been great so far. That would definitely cause a problem.
I really appreciate the response to my questions so far, I will speak to my supervisor about my concerns and see what the deal is. Thanks to all.
I am really surprised that anyone from HQ was pushing a unit to pay for A-School. That is a big change in policy, but I guess it just goes to show you that things change quickly in the Coast Guard! I guess this is something I need to engage the program on so that I can be better versed! Thanks for the insight!
This is just my thinking but it takes alot of man hours on everyone's part to make sure all the puzzle pieces fit, from getting the money to create seats for A schools, to filling those seats with qualified people. I know for a fact EPM has had to cancel some Classes because there were not enough people to fill them. Alot of wasted money, man hours etc. That's why headquarters funds the initial seat filling, but when a member up and changes their mind, who's going to fill that empty seat, or will they have to cancel the whole class, and we all know how hard it is to re-allocate funds once committed. CPO Kalbach
Historically speaking, having managed the Reserve A School quotas a few years back, it isn't much of a lift to assign a new school date and backfill the newly empty seat if the notification comes far enough in advance. It is those short notice cancellations that mess up the whole system.
Of course, canceling entire classes due to a lack of participation in some ratings has and will continue to be a problem that needs more review. Sometimes it is because at the end of the year the AD side has used all of the seats they need and the Reserve was unable to find enough bodies in that particular rating. While other times it is a result of changes in schedule due to a change in the billet forecast put together at the beginning of the year that causes the trouble.
What most people don't understand is the complexity of determining active and reserve A-School needs from year to year and how that relates to the building of multi-year training schedules. I do know that there are major changes to the whole Reserve A School process that are coming that will hopefully make things run a bit smoother.
Hey Gwyd...has your mind changed any about MST. Im kinda in the same situation, signed up for MST but started liking BM stuff. Havent started drilling yet so have no idea what to expect as an MST resreve. Any insight?
You know it's kind of funny. The main reasons you join the Coast Guard in the first place are gonna be there no matter what job you do. So it's been kind of a strange trip for me since I started drilling.
What really developed is an interesting scenario in which I think that I would enjoy BM more, simply because I would get on boats more, BUT I think would be better at being an MST. So you get into a question of personal enjoyment vs. what's best for the Coast Guard. And the needs of the Coast Guard trump. I'm going to MST A school.
It's a personal thing, and I talked to the guys in my unit, and my supervisors, and ultimately came to the decision I did by looking at where I would do the most good for the Coast Guard. That's the question you need to ask yourself. Not so much what you would enjoy more, but where do you fit in the overall mission of the Coast Guard. We're a team. We all need to pitch in to keep this country safe. Pick the job where you can do the most good.
I have, however, done a lot of really cool stuff in Port State Control and Pollution Investigation. I am really enjoying it, and whatever the USCG needs me to do I will do. I love it so far.
I am also a non-rate at a MSU and I have yet to step foot on the deck of a USCG boat. I did get to do a boarding on a foreign flagged freighter. That was a lot of fun and a really good learning experience.
I was told by my unit that I need to go back to the recruiter to have my A school changed. Does that sound right? I assumed once recruited, I was done with the recruiter.
