Which rate would you guys recomend for those who are joining the CG soon and would like to lateral over to ME once it is established? I am leaning towords BM or GM.
Dependent upon when you anticipate enlisting, you may not have to lateral.
Unless you are getting a guaranteed "A" school coming out of boot camp, you may want to spend some time as an SN underway, and then throw your hat into the ring once the ME "A" School starts up.
That is what I plan to do. I will enlist in 09 most likely in the spring. I have to sell my house first. I know that I must spend time as a SN but I will also want to promote quickly, I have a family and would need the extra income.
I am just wondering if which rate would be more useful to me once the ME rate is in full swing. I believe they are saying 2010 correct?
I am highly against the idea of junior personnel enlisting making rate with the expectation of lateralling over to ME. To me there just isnt enough time for you to make a strong candidate for transfer. I'm guessing that once the "lateral message" comes out they're going to be looking for skilled petty officers with a lot of experiance and knowledge to stand up the rating. I just dont see new people having enough time to Join - get rated - and then gather enough knowledge and experiance to make a good candidate. My best advice to anyone joining up or even junior SN and FN is to do some time as a non-rate, and get BTM qualifed. Then once you're BTM qualifed do a bunch of boardings then once the ME rating stands up be the first to go to "A" School. I would just hate for someeone to get into a rating with the expectation of lateralling over, b/c if you don't get to latteral you may be doing a job you dont like for a long time. Just my two cents of course
I could not have said it better than Brechty said. It would be likely in your situation that you might actually be in an A-School when the ME rating stood up. You obviously wouldn't be able to apply while at another A-School. Furthermore, with exception of the initial standup, you will be required to complete an mininmum service of no less than two years in a rating (some ratings much more) before being allowed to change ratings.
If you think ME is for you, come in as a Non-Rate, wait your four months at your first unit, follow what Brechty said and then apply for ME -A-school
I doubt I have "limited knowledge", I graduate with a criminal justice degree in a week and have been working security in a large corporate hotel for 5 1/2 years. Although I do admit the USCG will be much more complex. I have always planned to enlist and eventually choose BM or GM after my SN time. This way I could see what each one is like. So if it does take time to get to the ME rate than that would be fine. I also do not plan to lateral over instantly becuase I understand that experience go's a long way.
But I am still curious if a certain rate my help me lateral over when the time is apropriate.
Shawn, With all due respect the knowledge you gained with you criminal justice degree and through your hotel security will have little play when it comes to conducting Coast Guard law enforcement. The advice is out there, if it wasnt the best advice we could give we wouldnt give it.
But since your curiosity still iches you I would go for either GM, BM, MST, or MK.
Brechty is correct. A CJ degree really doesn't translate into LE ops. You don't do much in class except be a student. I know, as I am the Program Director for a CJ program.
Security experience, while always good, still does not transfer over to an LE rate. I know, I'm a retired Deputy Sheriff and have been in the PS rate for 7 years.
As was posted, pick a rate, get some training/quals under your belt, then see where you are at.
I did not intend to pump my self up, I know that a degree and my experience does not prepare me for the real world Le ops as you stated but I do think it will help in many other ways besides the physical LE ops. I simply want to prepare myself to have a higher chance of being selected if I choose to try and go the ME rate.
I also am very thankful for all advice that I recieve especially from those of you within the field. I do listen to and think about all the advice I recieve.
Before anyone should even try to go the ME rate you should be a (BO) HL or PQS for sometime. I do think a degree will help but i think they will go for people who have the quals and skills for he first couple of years
Originally posted by acebuc: Before anyone should even try to go the ME rate you should be a (BO) HL or PQS for sometime. I do think a degree will help but i think they will go for people who have the quals and skills for he first couple of years
There is a SERIOUS flaw to that advice. For a large amount of people who want to end up going ME, they will not be able to get a BO qual. I know this thread is about the lateral process, but folks like the poster must understand that lateral is not a realistic option for him as it is highly unlikley he could be rated before the lateral deadline.
Your right. The info i was giving was for everyone. I should of made that clear and Im sorry about that. The info i was giving was for the lateral that will be comming up soon and what i have heard will be some of the things they will be looking for.
GRADUATE BASIC TRAINING FIRST AND THEN TALK TO US. YOU WILL HAVE TO BE AT YOUR FIRST UNIT AS A NON-RATE FOR 4 MONTHS BEFORE YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME ON ANY LIST (UNLESS YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED A-SCHOOL TO BM) WHICH IS ONLY GIVEN TO RESERVISTS. BM (FOR RESERVISTS), OS AND ET ARE THE ONLY A-SCHOOLS BEING GIVEN STRAIGHT OUT OF BOOT RIGHT NOW SO YOU WILL HAVE TIME.
AND THEN TALK TO US. YOU WILL HAVE TO BE AT YOUR FIRST UNIT AS A NON-RATE FOR 4 MONTHS BEFORE YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME ON ANY LIST (UNLESS YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED A-SCHOOL TO BM) WHICH IS ONLY GIVEN TO RESERVISTS. BM (FOR RESERVISTS), OS AND ET ARE THE ONLY A-SCHOOLS BEING GIVEN STRAIGHT OUT OF BOOT RIGHT NOW SO YOU WILL HAVE TIME.
