I'm trying to find out if anyone knows if the ME A-school selection process is going to be first come first serve basis or if any type of law enforcement experience will be considered in the decision making process. I'm prior service Army and CQC (close quarter combat) experience also i meet all the desired characteristics listed on the psc website; all weps quals, secret clearance, pt test etc.
If anyone has any information or insight on this I would greatly appreciate the feedback.
Route a chit through your chain of command requesting to be added to the ME "A" school list. Just make sure you meet the minimum requirements, (ie. normal color vision, able to obtain a secret clearance, able to possess a firearm, valid drivers license) I would also make sure you can meet and exceed physical fitness requirements. "A" school will be physically challenging and the more fit you are the easier you'll have it. Other than that prior LE experience shouldn't be required... they'll teach you that in school. But as far as I know they are already building the school list so get your name on there. If you look at the previous school list it tell you how many seats are left for the year. Last I remember there were some 24 seats left.
Okay I looked it up for you, I wanted to know for sure. I found the info on the August A school list. They start accepting School requests on 01OCT09. Check it out for the specifics, It states there are only 24 spots for school for the year, so I'd make sure I have everything ready early.
Look at the A-School list, you can find it on the "Advancement and Evaluations Branch" website. It has a lot of ME A school info. Also check out the ME force notes.
The To be honest, the way they did this is a little unfair to the many waiting. I have been a non-rate, waiting for this new and exciting rating for a year and a half now. I am a btm, qualified in all weapons and boatcrew qualified for about a year now. I have a degree in criminal justice, I have high marks, and I am in peak physical condition. I have even recently declined orders to another A school in order to pursue what I truly want. To think that an unqualified boot may get A school orders before I do simply because he gets lucky, or somehow gets his request in early because he knows someone, is disheartening to say the least. I would have hoped they would want the most qualified and experienced non-rated personnel to start out the A school classes, in order to have a solid ME foundation on which to build.
Kinda strong words of opinion, I hope they are not recieved badly. Just a lowly non-rate's opinion.
Despite this I am very excited, and will continue to wait my turn in this exciting time in the coast guard.
Semper Pi
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Storm_Guard,
Sounds like you're planning / thinking the worst. Get started on it all now and get on that list 01OCT and you'll be fine. Just get it all ready to go, every day you wait after 01OCT you have no one but yourself to blame. Good luck sounds like you'd be a squared away member. And trust me, you hold no record for waiting for "A" school. If its what you really want to do... you will wait.
It all depends on your EMPLID if you got your app in the first day. They are putting it by the oldest EMPLID so if you have been in a while then you will be closer on the list.
According to ALCGENL 153/09 precedence is determined by the date the request is sent. Are you implying if they recieve multiple requests on the same day they are then using EMPLID's to rank those in order?
FROM WHAT I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPE VINE WAS THAT FOR THE 1ST TWO DAYS (01OCT&02OCT) ALL REQUESTS WILL BE PUT IN ORDER BASED OFF OF YOUR EMPLID NUMBER. STARTING ON 03OCT REQUESTS ORDER WILL BE PLACED ACORDING TO WHEN THEY WERE RECIEVED. SEMPER P
Not really sure why you chose the "A school" topic to ask this question but to an extent that is true. One of the goals of the selection process is to not harm the other ratings. I wont go much more in to detail about it because rating really isn't that big of a factor. Any rating can apply and be considered for lateral. I wouldn't worry too much about some b/s rumors.
