I'm getting prepared to join the Coast Guard, just took the ASVAB and Im keeping in touch with my recruiter, which I barely see because I have to drive across Las Vegas just to get to the station. But I've been looking at the USCG discussionsand I want to become a Gunners Mate but how does it work? When I started thinking about the military, I went to the other branches and looked at all my options. They told me I would choose a job right then and there(Army) and for the others I would choose during MEP's. I've noticed in some of the discussions it looks like you have to get approved or accepted? Am I wrong or how does it work?

You do not have to pre-select in the CG. You'll have ample opportunity to select and apply at your first unit. Your ASVAB scores will determine for which schools you qualify.

I recommend you wait until your first unit to choose. It allows you to see the different ratings in the working world rather than on a website or in some publication.

The job you are interested in will depend on what your ASVAB score is. Your recruiter will let you know once the score comes back and tell you what jobs you are qualified for. Once you know you will then pick which job you want to pursue. You will attend boot camp graduate and go to your new unit as either an E-2 or E-3. Once there you will do your required time put your name on the school list and wait for orders to school.

your recruiter can answer your questions

But my dad and my other relatives who are/were in the military said never go in as a non-rate or undesignated. My dad said make sure the job and your school is guaranteed right after bootcamp. So does everyone get in as a non-rate?

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But my dad and my other relatives who are/were in the military said never go in as a non-rate or undesignated. My dad said make sure the job and your school is guaranteed right after bootcamp. So does everyone get in as a non-rate?

Coast Guard only has 18 career fields. Out of the 18, 3 jobs are currently guaranteed out of bootcamp. AET, ET, and FS. So if you don't like those jobs, why get it just because it's guaranteed? The Coast Guard works totally different than the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. You have to like the job you are doing, and the 3 that are guaranteed are critical(in need of people).

Here is the A school waiting list. You can see how many people have joined as non-rates just to get the job they want to do in the Coast Guard. Non-rate is not a bad thing, you get to see other jobs in action before you actually choose one. http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgPC/epm/epm-2/A-SchoolList.pdf CPO Kalbach, prior Navy, National Guard, Navy Reserve

i dont care what your dad told you, please do not go straight to A school. I have met a lot of people that have no idea what they are doing with their job, that went straight to school and only a few that did know.

Go to boot camp. go to a boat. get qualified in one thing. after 6 months put your name on a list, if you think you know what you want to do. Ask if you can work with the DC's, GM's, Mk's, BM's, FS's, anything. Learn about the jobs before hand...

I went to a boat straight out, and stayed for 2 years until i was sure. Non-rate isnt bad. I was an FN in the ENG depart. When i went to A school, a lot of it was just fresh-ups because of the great mk2, mk3, and the 2 mkc's i had.