Hello

I have a few questions concerning that MSRT career path. I've been to a recruiter, and all that he has told me is that I need to chose a rate that is in high demand in the career field. Beyond that, he didn't know muck about it.

My question is this: Other than choosing a good rate, what can I do to help myself get into the MSRT pipeline? I've done extensive research on the internet, and unfortunately there just isn't that much out there. Being an MSRT is my goal in the coast guard, and I want to be as informed as I can be.

And one more thing. I'm not looking for any advice about fitness or intelligence. I scored a 99 on my asvab and I am swam and ran in college. (500 meters in sub 8 min, 5k in sub 19 min, 80 pushups in 2 min, 15 pullups on 2 min)

I'm not saying my numbers to brag, I'm just putting them out there so that no one tells me to get in great shape or study up because thats not the kind of advice I'm looking for.

Thanks all

Your question is a bit confusing when seen in conjunction with your profile. According to that you are an O-1 in the Air Force, yet it also says you are considering joining. Does that mean you are currently active duty AF and looking to join the CG, or what?

MSRT is NOT a career path. It is a unit, an assignemnt. (and currently just one of tyhem exists, maybe more later). Even in the best occupation (ie RATING), you would not have much of a chance of spending more than one tour there. A far, far outside chance of maybe two tours in a career. There is no pipeline.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:
Your question is a bit confusing when seen in conjunction with your profile. According to that you are an O-1 in the Air Force, yet it also says you are considering joining. Does that mean you are currently active duty AF and looking to join the CG, or what?

Sorry for the confusion. I was considering applying to be an officer in the air force. I keep trying to change my profile but all that it does is send me to a military.com site map. I think it must be a bug or something.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
MSRT is NOT a career path. It is a unit, an assignemnt. (and currently just one of tyhem exists, maybe more later). Even in the best occupation (ie RATING), you would not have much of a chance of spending more than one tour there. A far, far outside chance of maybe two tours in a career. There is no pipeline.

Thanks for the info. However, my original question still stands. What can I do to better my chances at receiving an appointment to this unit? Is this something that I can apply for right after I get my rating? I'll be entering as an e-3 because of a bachelors, if thats helpful.

thanks again.

Are you considering spending 4 years in the CG or making it a career?

If the former, and you get REALLY lucky, as the Master Chief pointed out, you MIGHT spend two years there.

If there is only one such unit in existence your chances of landing that unit are somewehre between extremely slim and none. Recognize that before you enlist since the chances are far greater that you will end up doing something completely different.

That being said, if that is the only place your interest lies, then you may be setting yourself up for a major disappointment and 4 years of misery.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:
Are you considering spending 4 years in the CG or making it a career?

If the former, and you get REALLY lucky, as the Master Chief pointed out, you MIGHT spend two years there.

If there is only one such unit in existence your chances of landing that unit are somewehre between extremely slim and none. Recognize that before you enlist since the chances are far greater that you will end up doing something completely different.

That being said, if that is the only place your interest lies, then you may be setting yourself up for a major disappointment and 4 years of misery.

So basically what you're saying is apply, cross my fingers and hope? I think I can handle that.

Its not the only thing I'm interested in, its just the only one that I had questions about.

thanks

quote:

Its not the only thing I'm interested in, its just the only one that I had questions about.

In that case, best of luck to you. No matter what you end up doing, the CG can be a very rewarding experience.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

quote:

Its not the only thing I'm interested in, its just the only one that I had questions about.

In that case, best of luck to you. No matter what you end up doing, the CG can be a very rewarding experience.

While I have your attention, I have one more question. What are the other Coast guard tactical units? I ask because this is what I am most interested in. I don't need any in depth explanation, just something to get started with for my own research.

thanks

I retired long before there were any tactical units, so really cannot answer that question.

Since you're willing to do the research, here are a few key words you might want to hit up.

TACLET (Tactical Law Enforcement Team)
MSST (Maritime Safety and Security Team)
Deployable Operations Group (DOG)
Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME)
LEDET (Law Enforcement Detachment)
PSU (Port Security Unit)

Take a look at some of those and it should give you a peek into the CG "tactical" jobs. Good luck and happy searching. Just remembe (as others have said) as of now there is nothing that guarentees a position within any of these. You may join with all intentions on being a "high seas cop" sort of deal and end up on a bouy tender in the great lakes.

Brechty

Good info above. I will just add this: Make sure you understand that the average time we spend at one unit, in one area over a career is about 3 years. Every 2-4 years, you get transfered some place else. It is sometimes possible to stay someplace slightly longer, but again, over a career, plan on moving to a different job on average every 3 or 4 years.

Mighty,

With the ME rate, would we see that change? MSST/MSRT/LEDET for longer rotations? Or do you still see an "out to the fleet for awhile" kind of thing?

Well, the original 'problem statement' of why we went about creating this rating was so that folks can stay within certain unit types doing the LE/Tactical/Security stuff for a longer period. We will have to see where the billets end up before your question can be answered. Even then, that doesn't mean you would stay at say MSST Boston for a longer time. It might mean that you get to transfer between MSSTs easier though.

Is the ME rate something that you can apply for after boot camp, or do you have to spend some time in another rate before applying? I'm asking this because I read that it was created in June, but I'm not seeing it on coast guard rating web site or in any of their literature.

thanks

It was approved 'to be created,' and we are in the process of creating it, but it is not created. Once it is (next 12-18 months or so maybe) then it would be just like any other rating; if you meet the minimum quals you can put your name on the list as a non-rate.