How many Active duty are planning to make the switch?

Everybody can plan to make the switch, but it all depends on the number of authorized billets.

Not everyone will be able to lateral.

JerryG,

Do you have an idea if a SN reservist would be able to jump into an ME billet if he meets the job gualifications and experience? The reason why I'm asking you is because you seem to have a lot of knowledge of what's going on with the new ME rate.

I'm a drilling reservist at CG Station Islamorada in the Florida Keys. I've been a non-rate (SN) for 3 years now. I'm also BTM and Boat Crew qualified. My primary duties at the station is being part of the LE crew and sometimes SAR crew. The reason for this is the following:

I'm a full-time State Law Enforcement Officer in Florida, with a multitude of duties. One of which being a Marine Patrol Officer. My AOR as a Marine Unit is the same AOR for CG Station Islamorda. So therefore I'm always assisting them as well as them assisting me and my fellow officers. During big events (mini lobster season, Memorial day etc.), I usually have a Coastie ride with me. When I work night ops with DHS S.E. Task Force I have Coasties from the station ride with me as well. I work closely with CGIS out of Miami and Key West as well as the TAD Agents from other parts of the country. I also host the CGIS IV's when they do their ADT in the Keys. This is just to tell you a little about who I am. My reserve billet was to fill a BM spot, but I've never advanced to BM.

Do you think during the screening process for new ME's, this might be a way to promote to an ME3 position? My XPO has a lot of questions as well, so that is why I'm turing to this forum to see if you or someone has an answer. My XPO and CO want me to make rate so that they can use me as a BO, but I've had difficulties with the BM test and figured that now that theres a rate that specifically relates to my full time proffession, I might have a better chance to make rate. I've also looked at the IV rate, but again I have to be an E-4 in order to lateral and of coarse have billet available etc. etc.

Any answers from you or anyone esle, would be great.

Thanks!!

One thing to remember is that the ME rate will not begin until Jan 2010. So if you are willing to stay a SN until then more power to you, but my guess is that you will have to put your name on an A-school list.

I'd be curious to see if it's going to be a strikeable rate? If so, I wouldn't go to A school. I do this for a living, so I'm hopeing that will help when they begin the screening process. I've already been a SN for 3 years, so what's an extra year or two.... It's my CO that wants me to make rate, so that he could make more use of me, because my hands are tied as a SN. I can't be a BO because I'm a non-rate. So, while wearing blue, I can't offer more of what I know and do on a daily basis other than that of a BTM and Boat Crew member.

I'll definately try to lateral over, I hope to be an OS1 when the time comes, but I'd like to latteral over as an E-5 if that is an option. If I cant latteral then I'll definately be on the "A" School List when that all comes around.

Brechty

quote:

Originally posted by SNBMKEYS:
I'd be curious to see if it's going to be a strikeable rate? If so, I wouldn't go to A school. I do this for a living, so I'm hopeing that will help when they begin the screening process. I've already been a SN for 3 years, so what's an extra year or two.... It's my CO that wants me to make rate, so that he could make more use of me, because my hands are tied as a SN. I can't be a BO because I'm a non-rate. So, while wearing blue, I can't offer more of what I know and do on a daily basis other than that of a BTM and Boat Crew member.

Just curious... Why not strike BM for now to get yourself the pay increase and make your self a more appealing candidate for merging into the ME rating? Staying a SN and hoping that you can strike the rating could backfire and cost you a lot of time. I think it's great that you are patient enough to wait it out, I would just hate to see someone invest so much time only to have it be for nothing. If you are already doing the job of a BM3, you might as well get paid for it.

quote:

Originally posted by LetsGoRedSox:

quote:

Originally posted by SNBMKEYS:
I'd be curious to see if it's going to be a strikeable rate? If so, I wouldn't go to A school. I do this for a living, so I'm hopeing that will help when they begin the screening process. I've already been a SN for 3 years, so what's an extra year or two.... It's my CO that wants me to make rate, so that he could make more use of me, because my hands are tied as a SN. I can't be a BO because I'm a non-rate. So, while wearing blue, I can't offer more of what I know and do on a daily basis other than that of a BTM and Boat Crew member.

Just curious... Why not strike BM for now to get yourself the pay increase and make your self a more appealing candidate for merging into the ME rating? Staying a SN and hoping that you can strike the rating could backfire and cost you a lot of time. I think it's great that you are patient enough to wait it out, I would just hate to see someone invest so much time only to have it be for nothing. If you are already doing the job of a BM3, you might as well get paid for it.

I've already striked BM, but as I mentioned before I've had problems with the BM3 test. All I have left is to pass the test. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things on the BM3 test that I don't do on a daily basis as an LEO. It's fustrating when I can't get a higher grade than a 70%, but at the same time I really haven't sat down and studied the books. I've only reviewed the study guides prior to taking the test.

I understand that EPQ's might be waived for the ME rate pending on your qualifications and experience. This is why I'm standing by to see what happens, and whether or not I have to make rate and just lateral over.

Any more thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Don't count on EPQ waiving. The CG doesn't take alot of civilian courses into consideration, even though they are way more training than what has been offered by the CG in the past.

You really need to make rate. 3 years as a SN is NOT a good record and would make me as an LPO wonder about movtivation, etc. I'm not saying you're not a good member, just need to look at it from the other side.

Since it's going to take another two years or so, you need to get rate, go to BO school, go to other LE related CG "C" schools, and make yourself look really good in the lateral packet.

There is no guarantee that you will lateral. Remember, the existing PS are mostly all going to try and lateral into this new rate, and there are quite a few of us. Then there are the rated BM/MK/GM/OS/Mouse who have LE/BTM/BO quals who may want to give it a shot also.

MAKE RATE!

BTDT,

Your right, I need to make rate. I am motivated and like to work with the CG. I guess I need to study those two big books and pass the BM3 test.

I'll be at the station this weekend. With Hurricane Ike approaching, I should be able to spend time studying. Depending if Ike makes landfall in Florida, I'll probably get deployed via the State.

Thanks for your input...

quote:

Originally posted by SNBMKEYS:
It's fustrating when I can't get a higher grade than a 70%, but at the same time I really haven't sat down and studied the books. I've only reviewed the study guides prior to taking the test.

The study guides are good for brushing up but you have to study the books. Finish up and make BM3. Good luck.

You will also want to carefully look at what an ME is expected to be. What you describe as your full time job will be what we will have BMs and MKs still doing after the ME rating comes about.

SNBM

Maybe its possible you can lateral over to PS and make rate being you are already in civilian LE

Unfortunately there are no PS billets in my small boat station. I don't think there are any open PS billets available at Sector Miami? The only PS billets I know of and was offered to me before was in Tampa/St.Petersburg Florida, assigned to PSU 307???, which is approximately 4-5 hrs. driving time from my house. This was not an option.

From MC's statement about what ME's job description would be, I've read and heard from the Coast Guard Channel that it is basically an LE rate doing LE, which is why it caught my attention as it relates to my full time job. I understand that BM's and MK's will still be doing LE, which is what I do now as a SN/BTM, but it will be a collateral duty as it's always been. Please correct me if I'm wrong, this is what I've read and heard when the Admiral and MC were interviewed about the new rate.

I just need to find time to study the books and pass the BM3 test and make rate. Then gather more info. on what the ME's job is really meant to be and then determine whether or not to put in for a lateral at that time.

If anyone thinks of any other options in the meanwhile, please let me know.

Now I haven't taken a correspondence course in many years, but what always worked for me was to read each chapter, take the end of chapter test, then go back into the chapter and highlight the answers there.

Then I would take the test at the end of the book, and then go back through the whole course and highlight those answers, too (they were usually different from the end of chapter tests).

It always worked for me. I would then go through the whole course just prior to the EOCT and study, placing emphasis on the hightlighted answers.