So I have been qualified and ready to join the Coast Guard Reserves. I have been researching MSST and PSU units----which of these is going to provide the most exciting work for a Reservist? The main motivation for joining is to serve and for excitement. I see all the cool videos online of MSST guys fast roping from helicopters, driving fast boats, wearing swat team like gear (which I like)..but heard as a Reservist I would not get to do most of this and was told to consider a PSU instead. The PSU was not as appealing from the information I found (mostly online and chatting with one person) and it appeared to look like really boring all day watch duty...is this on point or way off? If anyone has any insight it would be helpful. I would love to hear pros and cons of both.
It's probably true that you wouldn't get to do a lot of that as a reservist. The training is long and costly, and because of that, it is most likely set aside for active duty. I am at MSST Kings Bay, and we don't even have reservists. The PSUs don't do the fast roping, but they still have a very cool mission. All units have their boring parts. Try not to judge based on a video or two, since the whole point of those videos is to show you only the "coolest" parts of those jobs. Obviously, if we showed all the boring or monotonous parts, you wouldn't be interested. Have your recruiter put you in touch with a reservist or two at each unit to see what THAT particular unit does on a daily basis. This should help you with your decision.
I am also joining i leave in jan and was wandering the same thing about the two. and how to you join them im going in as an e3 and my recruiter and said nothing to me yet about getting on them anyone know how to?
The PSU was not as appealing from the information I found (mostly online and chatting with one person) and it appeared to look like really boring all day watch duty...is this on point or way off?
Well, I recall a number of night watch duties at my PSU that required me to button up to MOPP Level 4 and during one or two I got to watch Patriot missiles destroying Iraqi SCUD missiles above my head, while bobbing around in a 22-foot TPSB "Raider" boat about eight miles out into the Persian Gulf.
Some MSSTs do have reservists, 91101 in Seattle for example.
As for the MSST vs PSU thing, I have been in a PSU and have worked with reservists in the MSST, go to a PSU. Any mission can be boring, just depends on where you are. Send me an e-mail and we can talk jwildes@iaff2819.org
I'm at a PSU and we're all reservists (except for the handful of active duty folks).
Some MSSTs do have reservists. I know for a fact MSST Seattle has reservists because MSST Seattle relieved us a few months ago, and they're reservists were also deployed. As a reservist at a PSU, you have two days out of the month to fulfill many requirements that the CG wants you to accomplish. With that being said, if you're not doing GMT or some other mandated training like "Sexual Harassment Awareness" every year, then you're doing PQS sign offs. So out of the 12 months in a year, you're only opportunities for "exciting" stuff would be during your 2 week ADT. Even then, you might not find getting OC Sprayed that week "exciting" . You can sign up for a ton of C-Schools if you'd like as well like PSU Basic Skills.
Go to an MSST, I was at both, The PSU I was at had equipment that dated back to the Korean War Era. MSST you get the newest high speed equipment and training and actually do the real everyday mission of the Coast even when you drill. I dont know about other PSU's the one I was at was the most fu### up unit in the Coast Guard. Admin issues, moral issues and nobody wanted to be there. Moral was great at the MSST team I was at and the mission was more satisfying. When you deploy with a PSU you are bi## to the parent command. So some Navy or Marine chump can tell you to go guard the chow hall and other BS, not for me
Here we go again Phxrider, one PSU experence, one MSST experence and you generalize again. Not all PSUs are bad and not all MSSTs are good. 313 is not like 311.
Cops, can't live with them, can't live with out them. Phxrider, hope things are going well.
Hey Marine BM how are things,,,thats why I said I dont know about other PSU's. I just relating my experience from the catastrophy known as 311.
You have to admit though to this guy though the truth about deployments and being the bit## to the parent command. I am sure you experienced issues on deployment with your parent command. My very good friend is a PSU officer in the sandbox right now and is ready to rip his hair out with the parent command. At an MSST you dont have to worry about the parent command. Its a Coast Guard show.
The PSU I was at had equipment that dated back to the Korean War Era.
Then your MARSEC folks did a poor job protecting your assets!
However, I did see some WW II artillery pieces at the port in Port-au-Prince if you are interested...
I deployed to Saudi with -303 and Haiti with -302. No Korean era equipment at either of those units (though, we went to Saudi with M16s and were issued M16A1s in theatre).
I haven't heard of the CG getting equipment from the local Army/Navy store, though it doesn't mean that it didn't happen...
Originally posted by Phxrider: Hey Marine BM how are things,,,thats why I said I dont know about other PSU's. I just relating my experience from the catastrophy known as 311.
You have to admit though to this guy though the truth about deployments and being the bit## to the parent command. I am sure you experienced issues on deployment with your parent command. My very good friend is a PSU officer in the sandbox right now and is ready to rip his hair out with the parent command. At an MSST you dont have to worry about the parent command. Its a Coast Guard show.
Yes, it does suck working for the Navy, they have a hard time planning things then carrying them out. We all laugh when a Navy 03/4 would get on the boat and ask where the officer was that is in charge of the boat. His eyes would get really big when he was told that the BM3/2 was running the show.
That being said, I had a great time, made some of the best friends I will ever have and wouldn't trade it for the world. Don't get me wrong, it sucked a large majority of the time on deployments, but looking back I have a lot of good stories to tell.
Also, my experence is from Boat Division (waterside). As a reservist BM it is probably the best type of unit to learn your rate and get qualified since there is only one AD BM1.
Jerry G, we had the spin up phones remember them lol, they might even be older then the Korean War era. Barricades that disentigrated. Maybe D 11 didnt like the unit I was in, I dont know. Most likely. I think UNISEC as we called it was the bast### stepchild of the unit.
MarineBM, I got the same look from a Navy Ensign when we were doing outloads and he asked he who was in charge of the boat and we pointed to the BM2, priceless. Then the officer comes on the boat and starts telling the BM2 where to drive, also priceless. They must really not trust their enlisted with anything.
One ADT we did with the Marines and were told to guard the chow hall. It sucked.
. You can sign up for a ton of C-Schools if you'd like as well like PSU Basic Skills.
