I'm interested in joining the USCG, and had a few questions. To start off, I want to try for the AET rating, and I was told that I might have a chance getting a guaranteed A school right out of basic training. How likely is this? I keep seeing mentions of a waiting list, so I'm really not holding my breath.
Next, I'd eventually like to become a helicopter pilot, and was told that starting off as an AET would be a good stepping stone to achieve that goal, and I was wondering if there was any truth to that, or if AETs generally stay AETs?
Other than that, dispelling any questions you think I might have that I don't know about yet would be helpful....basically any advice at all, as I would be the first person in my family since my grandfather to join the military, and he didn't exactly have a choice (yay draft!).
as far as the guaranteed A school. No they have cancled classes and cut class size from what i have been told. and if thats not the case there is a waiting list as well.
Your chance at becomming a pilot is as good as anyone elses. the only advantage you will have is takin the ASTB test. and that goes for any aviator. I have been applying to the acvad program for the last 3 years with no success. if you dont have a bachlors dagree your not very competitive
I have seen a few posts about A schools cutting classes and reducing class sizes....any idea why they're doing this? My best guess is because recruitment is up and people aren't leaving that rating as often as they used to.
Should I be studying for the ASTV test now? I haven't even signed the papers with a recruiter yet, so I'm not sure. Also, whats the 'acvad program'? I haven't heard of that before. Lastly, I know without a bachelor's degree, I'm out of luck trying to go to OCS and make an attempt at becoming a pilot...I was hoping to finish out my degree (I've finished 2 years towards a degree so far) in the first few years in the USCG.
I think you should finish your degree and then enlist if you still want to. With two years left the time will go by quick, and while in school you should get some volunteer points.
It took me 3 years on active duty to finish my degree, and I only had 9 classes left. I just finished my undergrad this past February, and three weeks ago I started a Graduate Program. My days consist of studying and going to work; that is the commitment I have made. I now have very little free time to do anything else.
If you want to be a pilot you might as well take steps to do that instead of joining, picking a rate, and then trying to be a pilot. Unless you don't mind being enlisted in the Coast Guard just in case you don't get OCS and then flight training. I feel that finishing your degree while in the Coast Guard as an aviator is very viable. I started from scratch and in three years will have my degree completed. There are ways to do it. I am an AET and I go to college. I take about 15 units. Tuition Assistance pays for everything except my books; there are grants for that though. With federal financial aid I have been getting $5350 in tax free grant money each school year. So I've been doing pretty good. I am now applying for PPEP.
