This is for all the prior service people out there who were in another branch of the armed forces before they joined the Coast Guard. My question is what branch were you in and why did you get out? My stepson is seriously considering another branch of service and I just wanted to present him a few different view points. Thanks for your input.
USAR. I wanted to go USCG first but there was a waiting list. When I got off 8 months IADT someone asked why I didn't try to join USCG then, I didn't know I could get out of USAR to join USCG but it turned out I could after one year total service. There was still a waiting list for initial enlistments but not for prior service.
I would have gone regular army from USAR but I was not allowed to change my MOS. My MOS was critical, and the one I wanted to change to (Watercraft Operator) was overmanned.
One of the reasons I got out was I found that there really were a lot of idiots in the army.
I was active Army infantry did my four and got out. Joined the Army to follow my father's footsteps. Got out after 9/11 and went to get back in for guilt reasons (my brothers being deployed for battle). Less than 6 months out and was given the run around by an Army recruiter. I had considered the CG prior to getting out my 1sgt was not happy the CG recruiter was calling the company Well after the run around I saw the CG recruiter and it resparked my interest and here I am. Army=sand and dirt veryl little R & R. Coast Guard=sweet port calls in awsome carribean islands couldn't ask for more!
Prior USAF. I never planned on staying in the AF. I got out to use the GI Bill but bills, school and work were a little too much. The AF said they would put me back in my old job (F-15 Crew Chief), thank you but no thank you. Hello Coast Guard.
Army~ Was medically discharged after fracturing my tibia and tearing my MCL. Took about 2 years of battling the VA but finally got the clearance to waive my VA benefits and reenlist.
I wish I wouldve gone CG from the start. Much more tight knit and family oriented. Our people matter and are not just numbers.
Originally posted by luptonmi: This is for all the prior service people out there who were in another branch of the armed forces before they joined the Coast Guard. My question is what branch were you in and why did you get out? My stepson is seriously considering another branch of service and I just wanted to present him a few different view points. Thanks for your input.
US Navy. Saw the light and got out, tired of being just another body. Wished I had joined the guard from the get-go, had I gone straight through I'd be 4 yrs from retirement instead of 8...
Prior USAF. Got out to join the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a Crypto Technician. Problem was I hadn't done math in years. The test for the CIA was nothing but math. I failed miserably. Was about to get back into the USAF when the Grahm Rudman act came into effect. Major budget cuts. The USAF was takint no more prior service. I was majorly depressed. All my prior work experience was with Nuclear Weapons (Minuteman II Missile), and Crypto Gear. Not much of that in the civilian sector. One day I seen a Coast Guard Commercial. Three weeks later I was in Cape May. Getting out of the Air Force was a major regret for many years. However, I don't regret it. I retired as a SCPO and am proud to call myself a Coastie. Don't get me wrong. I will always be proud of my USAF experience. Especially with Minuteman II missiles.
My husband served in the Navy for 4 years. He got out and joined the Coast Guard. Did 26 years with the CG. All my uncles went in the CG they lived on the coast of Lake Michigan. One served at Chief of Boats on the Hunter Liggett. My dad was in but got out after 6 years. The CG doesn't have to have a recruiter around this area
Skull, sorry, never heard of them. I was stationed at Whiteman AFB, MO. There were no Minuteman Missiles in Kansas. There were only 6 bases that had Minuteman Missiles, with a total of 1000 ICBMs. All the Minuteman bases were along the Canadian Border (shortest distance to USSR). Whiteman was the farthest base south. Whiteman no longer has any missiles. I heard they took them all out, and filled the silo's with cement. Alot of good memories, and I'm still in contact with some of my Minuteman Team members.
Former USMC. Too high strung, treated my family like an afterthought. USCG provides a pretty decent work environment and they try and take care of the family. It's not perfect, but at least they don't take the "if we wanted you to have a family we would have issued you one" attitude.
I'd recommend the Coast Guard to anybody trying to make the military a career.
I'd recommend the Coast Guard to anybody trying to make the military a career.
Dromon, I agree. Although my wife doesn't concour, my daughter will do a stint in the CG when she graduates from school here Venezuela. My daughter, bye the way, is syked about going into the CG.
Joined the Navy in Hawaii to find less crowded surf spots on tropical islands; served on Diego Garcia, Guam, Taiwan. Four years later turned down Kauai, to go to school in Puerto Rico on GI Bill.
At the time there was no USNR in Puerto Rico. Roommate in Guam was a Coastie -- he really enjoyed the lifestyle, surfing Micronesia with his board on a buoy tender. I joined the USCGR in San Juan, and have loved it ever since (starting 30th year). Coast Guard is small enough to know many, get personal attention, and even understand some policy changes.
Well I'm not a coastie yet, but I plan on trying to get into OCS here relatively soon. Prior service was with the USAR. I absolutely hated my job (92A) and got sick of all the stupid people I had to deal with. I was also in a unit that I wasn't really happy with. Post deployment to Iraq, I got in with a much better unit that I enjoyed drilling with. But that wasn't enough to get me to re-enlist. I hope the CG has a different culture then the Army. If so, I know I will love it.
Well after the run around I saw the CG recruiter and it resparked my interest and here I am. Army=sand and dirt veryl little R & R. Coast Guard=sweet port calls in awsome carribean islands couldn't ask for more!
