I'm going to be joining the CG this summer, and I was just curious about what the environment is like.
I've read a lot lately about the PC attitude of today's military - what with women in the ranks and worrying about portraying enough people of color in training manuals like the BMR and such. (One book I read was called "The Kinder, Gentler Military" by Stephanie Guttman. Anyone read it?)
I would have a hard time coping with politics in the military. Heck, I would be there to do my job, and if I can't act in certain ways or say what I have to to get it done for fear of someone higher in rank hearing me and putting it in my service jacket, then how am I supposed to do anything? This probably applies more to officers than enlisted, but dangit I don't want to have to worry about not getting promoted just because I did something "the old school way" or that wasn't PC.
I've heard a lot of stories about "sensitivity training". Is that a reality in the CG? Seems like the CG has a lot more important things to think about than sensitivity training and making sure they have enough minorities and women filling billets to keep up a good public image.
I noticed, during my research on routes to commissioning, that the CSPI program is only applicable to those who are attending colleges with 25%+ minority student bodies. Is that BS or what? It's a subtle way to get more minorities in the CG than whites. To heck with skin color, when is the CG going to accept people based on qualifications? Heck, 25% minority pretty much disqualifies all the colleges in the northeast and midwest. Most of the top schools are disqualified. What are they thinking?
Is this the attitude prevalent in the CG? What I have to look forward to? I thought I would just ask. Seems really rediculous.
Originally posted by CountryCoastie_Guy: I'm going to be joining the CG this summer, and I was just curious about what the environment is like.
I've read a lot lately about the PC attitude of today's military - what with women in the ranks and worrying about portraying enough people of color in training manuals like the BMR and such. (One book I read was called "The Kinder, Gentler Military" by Stephanie Guttman. Anyone read it?)
I would have a hard time coping with politics in the military. Heck, I would be there to do my job, and if I can't act in certain ways or say what I have to to get it done for fear of someone higher in rank hearing me and putting it in my service jacket, then how am I supposed to do anything? This probably applies more to officers than enlisted, but dangit I don't want to have to worry about not getting promoted just because I did something "the old school way" or that wasn't PC.
I've heard a lot of stories about "sensitivity training". Is that a reality in the CG? Seems like the CG has a lot more important things to think about than sensitivity training and making sure they have enough minorities and women filling billets to keep up a good public image.
I noticed, during my research on routes to commissioning, that the CSPI program is only applicable to those who are attending colleges with 25%+ minority student bodies. Is that BS or what? It's a subtle way to get more minorities in the CG than whites. To heck with skin color, when is the CG going to accept people based on qualifications? Heck, 25% minority pretty much disqualifies all the colleges in the northeast and midwest. Most of the top schools are disqualified. What are they thinking?
Is this the attitude prevalent in the CG? What I have to look forward to? I thought I would just ask. Seems really rediculous.
Huh? Dude, you have too much time on your hands. Some things have not changed for a person going into the CG, like: "Work hard, keep your mouth shut, and do what you're told". As you gain experience, it will become clear what is/is not appropriate in terms how to act and what to say. If you do your job as you should, you will be too busy to worry about most of the things you seem concerned with now.
Originally posted by tubaman2: Some things have not changed for a person going into the CG, like: "Work hard, keep your mouth shut, and do what you're told".
Come on man, you know that's not how we do it these days in the "Kinder, gentler Cosat Guard." You have to coddle him and make sure he knows that he will get out of his Coast Guard career what he puts into it.
See you at the Human Relations Council meeting next week. Don't forget that this month is Womens History Month. Post it all around the unit so everyone knows ok. See you there.
After reading your statements here is my advice... stay on cutters as much as possible, preferably black hulls, choose a engineering rate, keep your mouth shut at the Human Relations Council Meeting, don't draw pictures on the notices for Women's History Month, and do your job.
Mouth shut and eyes open are VERY good in almost every situation.
When I was doing direct representation as a union business agent, the site visits I liked most were to the School Bus Barns. School bus drivers, for the most part, are truly salt-of-the-earth type people -- dependable, unpretentious, and all that good stuff. The were real people with real problems -- stuff that was meaningful to deal with and hopefully resolve.
(It was not like some of the office and instructional staff I also represented -- nice enough people, but with work-related problems of elusive merit. . . You know, like, "My boss looked at me 'funny' this morning." Or "When I came back from Summer Break, my desk was moved." Or even, "I only got a rating of "Adequate" on my performance evaluation." (I mean, to me "Adequate" is all they can expect. If they were "More than Adequate," they should probably be in another job!)
So what are y'all saying? If dealing with PC agendas bother me, I should just work hard and keep my mouth shut?
I guess I considered that as a given in anything I do civilian or military. Except that I'm not going to sit around and do nothing if something's broken and needs to be fixed. Can you really just say "keep your mouth shut" if there's something wrong that needs to be remedied for the sake of achieving goals? The person with integrity would say no.
I don't know, I was just wondering if there was such an undercurrent in the CG. You can jump down my thoat if you want to, but I was just asking...or is this subject 'taboo'?
Ok.. Lets see.. Your boss is a female. You have 2 x-army (now NG) and 1 retired Coastie. Talking crap about this or that.. Boss walks into the room. Not even as much as a darn.. No gee what a nice rear you have boss. No, is that a D cup or are you wearing extra padding today. No kidding around. Even after knowing her for 9 years, the trash talk, degrading or complementry talk is gone when you mix up the sexes. At least where I work. And there's that little corp training class (manditory) we have to take called "Not here, Not ever". They hide it as a "ethics" class but it's got gender training/race relations written all over it.
Country go to the local video store and rent a movie called "mississippi burning" i believe you would love it..i may have like living in those times myself..but i can see where some might not..women and and blacks were treated a little different back in the good ole days.
I would love to see a all female bouytender..that's all i am going to say..for now..waiting for incomming sc
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