Hello All,

I am prior Navy and my 17yo daughter is considering the CG after graduation. The recruiters seem to feel that going to the fleet undesignated is the way to go so that she may experience all of the jobs. This is very contrary to my experience in the Navy.

In the Navy, someone undesignated has to work very hard to get any rating (other than BM) and it usually took many years. I was a FireControlman and although several deck seaman wanted to move into this rate, I saw none make it without an additional 6 year hitch.

Basically, I just want to know is the CG different? Is it truly as advertised or will she spend 12 hours a day in the scullery or chipping paint. I did enough of that with a rating. I really felt for the guys who spent the majority of their time doing it their entire hitch. She understands that everyone has to pitch in, and no one is above any of the work, but as I said undesignated in the Navy (on my ship anyway) was not something I would wish on anybody.

Your thoughts?

She may indeed spend 12 hours in the scullery or chipping paint her first 4-? months, depending heavily on which schools she qualifies for and ultimately chooses. That's not that different than the Navy in that respect.

There are no additional obligations to commit to for her to get her A school.

'Tis the rare person who goes 4 years without making rate (E-4 or higher) in the CG.

quote:

Originally posted by XShipRider:
There are no additional obligations to commit to for her to get her A school.

This is not exactly true. "A" schools do have obligated service (24 to 36 months). However since most non-rates go to school within their first 2 years, they do not need to extend their initial enlistments.

The bottom line is that in the Coast Guard (unlike the other services) the majority of junior enlisted come in as non-rates. They then go to "A" school after (generally) 4 to 18 months. Everyone is equally eligible to go to any "A" school they are qualified for. Some "A" schools have long waiting lists, some have shorter.

The important thing is that your Daughter spends her next 4 to 6 years doing something she enjoys, not doing something because she could get guaranteed school (or a bonus). If she knows what she wants to do, she can ask for a guaranteed school, but that does not mean she will get it.

Even with a guaranteed school, she will still go to the fleet and do all the fun stuff that other junior enlisted do.

In the Coast Guard however (unlike the other services), as a non-rate or a rated E-3 she will be given the opportunity to accept much greater responsibility at a lower paygrade. I know Coasties that came in with guaranteed schools that spent 4 years as an E-3 and got out, and I know Coasties that came in as non-rates and made E-6 in 4 years. What you put in is what you get out.

Nobody like to do the @^#%$ work, but if you talk to most senior enlisted Coasties, they will tell you that their time as a non-rate made them better and more effective leaders in the long run.

Good luck to your Daughter.

Lurch;
I will agree with the rest. I strongly support not doing the guaranteed school route. This is actually the norm for us. I see a VERY high percentage of folks who had guaranteed A-School later end up asking to change ratings (after doing the obligated time mentioned above.) IF their request is approved, it means they are back in the starting block. If it isn't approved, the either leave or stay unhappy. It is not possible to really explain to a recruit what any rating really is or what they really do. They have to see it themselves. I am sure this won't be a surprise, but the stuff the recruiters show the applicants don't give any of the negatives about certain ratings.

Thanks for the follow-up and correction.

I remember long waiting lists for schools, aviation schools and HS in particular, when I joined. I too remember a few people not making rate in 4 years, but the latter half of my career it seemed to get much better in all respects. Better management of personnel? Better policies? Don't know, but my perception was it got better for non-rates waiting for school.

Strongly agree with the "go to the fleet undesignated" option. Guaranteed school should only be for those who are absolutely sure of what they want to do for the duration. As Master Chief pointed out, a change of heart later in the career may OR MAY NOT be granted.

quote:

I am prior Navy and my 17yo daughter is considering the CG after graduation. The recruiters seem to feel that going to the fleet undesignated is the way to go so that she may experience all of the jobs. This is very contrary to my experience in the Navy.

In the Navy, someone undesignated has to work very hard to get any rating (other than BM) and it usually took many years. I was a FireControlman and although several deck seaman wanted to move into this rate, I saw none make it without an additional 6 year hitch.

Basically, I just want to know is the CG different? Is it truly as advertised or will she spend 12 hours a day in the scullery or chipping paint. I did enough of that with a rating. I really felt for the guys who spent the majority of their time doing it their entire hitch. She understands that everyone has to pitch in, and no one is above any of the work, but as I said undesignated in the Navy (on my ship anyway) was not something I would wish on anybody.

Your thoughts?

Lurch, it's Night/Day. I did 5 years in the Navy. I knew what I wanted and it was guaranteed. The Coast Guard has 19 career fields, and only EM, ET, FS, GM, MK and OS are available for guarantee active duty. The majority of people I've put in this last 6 years went undesignated, the majority are still in the Coast Guard loving life(I stay in touch).

The Coast Guard wants it's people to be happy doing the job, why? Because the Coast Guard works face to face with the American people on a daily basis. It isn't overseas 6 months at a time with most cutters.

Of course she will do the grunt work, she's an E-2/E-3, we all started there. Check this out: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgPC/epm/EPM2home.html The A school waiting list is listed in the "hot topics".

If your daughter locks in and hates the guaranteed job, she's stuck. Let her check out the jobs the Coast Guard has to see what she likes the most.

CPO Kalbach, prior Navy Mess Management Specialist

Thanks for the replies. She fully expects the normal grunt work that the newly enlisted must endure; she is ready for that. I was just worried that like my limited experience in the Navy, she would have a difficult time striking a rate.

She is considering MST (1st choice), or GM. Her mother had a heart attack over that one until I explained that a GM is at no more risk then other rates (she had a vision of GI Jane). I'm not sure that helped either upon further reflection.

She is scheduled to take her ASVAB later this month, my only concern was the non-rate issue. I guess I will have to keep on repeating to myself that the CG is not the Navy and things are different.

If her interests are as wide as that (MST & GM) she owes it to herself to make an educated choice after serving as a Non-Rate for a while.

Not going to be able to strike GM, and A school is required for that, as I do believe MST is as well.

www.uscg.mil click on units to check out the units in the Coast Guard too.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgPC/epm/epm-2/AO_Pages/CAC5.html Women afloat billets. CPO Kalbach

http://www.uscg.mil/tcyorktown/training.shtm

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/recruittraining.htm

Helpful info above.
Good Luck!

If you have the ASVAB score for a rate, you can put your name on the list for that rate, period! The CG will never choose for you. There are a few, very few exceptions, for example: color blind, non-citizen, AST requires a physical test.