Ok I have took the test, have the physical donE and everything, I leave for boot camp may 27th, my recruiter said I qualify for both DC and MK A-schools and if I dont want to do any of them I can strike a job, what would you advise me to do, go to an A-school or try to srtike as like a BM or something?
This decision is unique to each individual, but my best advice is to get to your first unit and observe all the different rates that you have available to you there. If you are at a station, that will be limited to BM, MK, and maybe a GM. Some stations have other support personnel, but I'm not sure how common that is. Take a good look at each job, ask quetions to the people you have available. They shouldn't mind steering you in the right direction. Once you have a good idea what you want to do (and you are qualified on your watches), put your name on a school list. You can strike while you are waiting out the list and get an edge on the people you go to school with. Best of luck to you.
378 378 378, they have all rates represented on the boat and you will be able to learn, be mentored, and gain experience that will enable you to make an informed choice as to what you wish to do with your career. It will be your choice based on your desires, not what some one tells you what you should do.
Ok I have took the test, have the physical donE and everything, I leave for boot camp may 27th, my recruiter said I qualify for both DC and MK A-schools and if I dont want to do any of them I can strike a job, what would you advise me to do, go to an A-school or try to srtike as like a BM or something?
You can also retake the ASVAB once you are in the Coast Guard to qualify for more jobs. Then you'll have more options to choose from.
Put your name on an A school list Strike
Go 378 as bmwcc said, all the ratings are represented with the exception of MST/PA, and the aviation unless there's a detachment onboard. CPO Kalbach
Originally posted by LetsGoRedSox: This decision is unique to each individual, but my best advice is to get to your first unit and observe all the different rates that you have available to you there. If you are at a station, that will be limited to BM, MK, and maybe a GM. Some stations have other support personnel, but I'm not sure how common that is. Take a good look at each job, ask quetions to the people you have available. They shouldn't mind steering you in the right direction. Once you have a good idea what you want to do (and you are qualified on your watches), put your name on a school list. You can strike while you are waiting out the list and get an edge on the people you go to school with. Best of luck to you.
Before I joined I found myself in front of the same question: "A-School or strike?". I came really close to just going for an A-School because it seemed to be the easy way out. By experience I can honestly say I am so happy I did not. If I did I would have seriously regretted my decision.
Despite what some people think, it is hard (impossible in my opinion) to figure out what job you want to do for at least four years just by reading a website and watching some videos. It takes some serious time to get a genuine feel for the real duties of each rate. Think long and hard about it, but I recommend going in as a non-rate.
Listen man you will hear this a lot "choose your rate choose your fate". Hopefully you will end up in a unit big enough cutter or land that would allow you to see all different rates at work. Plenty of times you will see cases of people that joined thinking they wanted to be HS's and were completely exited about it and ended up as MK's once they saw how everything really works, responsabilities, duties and duty stations and other points that may guide your carrer. If you decide to strike, then get ready to work a lot in your toime of you will have to look for senior PO's to teach you wath you really need and you will have tons of people telling you that it's better to go to school. If you decide to go to school then do it, but above all enjoy...
And remember boot camp it's a mind game for you whole company not only you.
