Hello all,

First off just want to say that I hope to join the ranks of you...shall we say... "unique" group of AST's one day, but being a long way away from that I just had a couple questions.

I'm about to graduate college in a year, and in order to make the ol' pops happy, I plan on getting a masters degree after that. My dream has always been to be an AST and like most nine to fivers he doesn't quite understand that.
So with that said I'll hopefully be enlisting in about three years at the ripe ol' age of 22...

Anyway, I was really looking for some information on the actual lives of you guys... the things not normally discussed. I've read all about the requirements and legistics of getting into school and what not, but I want to know how you guys actually feel about your job. Are there parts of it you hate, is it everything you thought it would be or not, and what are the struggles in having a family?

Also, my father, no so much me, is very financially minded... and I was curious what your average AST makes to perhaps ease his mind a bit. I realize this is a fairly personal question and I'm not looking for exact numbers (but I'll take them if your willing to give them)... more or less just looking for some type of estimate... are you guys content with your standard of living?

So in advance, thanks for all you guys do... I'm just trying to make a mature decision about this whole thing, because while having a dream and being in love with something is what's most important in life, my father is right in the sense that reality does exist and mature things need to be thought about.

Thanks guys any advice or answers to my questions are greatly appreciated.

Chase Brumfield

Bro i first of say, do what makes you happy, join the coast guard now if its what you want to do, dont spend a bunch of money on college and a degree if you want to be a cg rescueswimmer, I was in the navy as a rescueswimmer it is the best job in the world handsdown. I am about to leave for the coastguard the 25th if all goes well, i am married and my wife supports me in what i do, it is hard and takes a lot of dedication,you can do it if you set your mind to it. good luck.

for pay base pay for a 2nd class E5, married with Bah near tampa bay, with flight pay and sea pay, bas , and being in for 6 years or so makes probably $60,000 or more a year if you average in medical dental etc for your family. I could be wrong just an average, i know an Airman E3 that lives on base averages 35 grand in the navy,

Thanks for the reply disciplecore...

As far as wasting money on school... Louisiana has a program called TOPS in which the state pays for all of my tuition. So besides books and a place to live I havn't spent a dime on college. That will be a little different for graduate school, however I've got enough saved for that so money for school isn't really a variable that I'm worried about.

Anybody else feel like commenting on the first post?

First, I love being an AST...thier are somethings that are demanding of a wife, but you will find them in any military job...moving, duty, getting recalled.

Things I hate about my Job. Sometimes the issues with gear, ordering, changes...can get fustrating at times.

The one part about my job I do not like is training Airmen, we train potential canidates to prepare for school. This comes with very little reward and a lot of responsablitly. I have seen and myself been scruntized for Airmen not being able to hack it...as if it were my fault. But that in recent years has gotten better.

Other than that, the work is great.

As for pay. when you enter the CG you will get paid barely enough to live on and little recreation. after you become an AST, you live comfortably but you have to be smart with your dough. I make as an married E-5 I make around 60k a year, this changes from station to station due to BAH but it's generally right there.

As for Pay, righ now I do not think your going to find a securer job, so that is worth something. what's 100k a year job if your company folds. which is happening a lot these days. the CG is good port in this finacial storm...the really high paying jobs will be waiting for you when you get out. Also with your degree, if you want to stay in, but had your fil being a Swimmer you can become an officer and make the big bucks.

quote:

the CG is good port in this finacial storm....

HAHA Nice pun by the way...

Thanks for the response dog_show... feel like I'm getting more solidified in my decision here.

Another question for you guys... I've been told that if you go through bootcamp with a college degree you come out as an E-3... I've also heard that this allows you to place your name on the list for A-School directly after bootcamp, bypassing the normal four month wait period. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance

That's the way it was when I went through, however that was 2 years ago, and it could have changed. Best talk to a recruiter for that one. Any recruitment specific questions you have should be directed to a recruiter to get the most accurate and up to date information.

Thanks once again for yall's replies. I've re-posted that last question in the recruiting section.

One more question. Is there an average time AST are stationed in one area. Like is it a normal rotation the Guard tries to do or is it simply where they need you and when they need you there they let you know... could be 1 year could be 10?

Also, what's your average work week like... do you have one or two days you sleep on base in case of night calls... is there a weekend rotation... are you "on call" some days.

Thanks again,

Chase Brumfield

All tours of duty in the contigious U.S. are four years. There are some things that can shorten these, this is usually seen seen when members advance to E-7 and the succeeding ranks. The Coast Guard will move you then early. You also can request extension at the end of tours, but that's based on needs of the CG.

And as for work weeks, each station has it's own Operational requirements of an AST shop. So I can give you examples from the stations I have been at. San Diego was a slow station. I stood duty about 5 or 6 times a month...We did not have a "back up" swimmer at home on call there. we did recall swimmers though, but it was rare.

In Detroit. I stand about 5 days of duty a month in the summer with 5 days of back ups, which I am on-call. We also have an Operational facility away from home plate in Muskegon, MI. I have 3 deployment that total about 28 days away from home. This is only the summer.

In the winter we do not have the Operational Facility. And we have about 12 swimmwers, so the winter you stand little duty, maybe 4 days a month on average.

Then Detroit seems to respond to every potential puddle that fills up in the midwest and has gone to help hurricane efforts on the east coast and the south. So Detroit is very busy, compared to San Diego...but it's not unbearble.

JD,

"finacial" isn't a word. Do you mean "financial"?

Also, "contigious" isn't a word either. Do you mean "contiguous"?

Please utilize spell checker before posting.

GS

Sorry, Spelling is not strong spot for me...ever since I was in Airmen program and saw your "junk" more than I wished, I have had these mental blank spots ever since.