I am currently in the process of joining the CG and am interested in IT. I will have my Associates Degree in Telecommunications Systems Management by the time I go to bootcamp in Jan. '10. I just had a couple of questions about the rate.. 1. Are IT's more likely to be stationed on land or on a cutter? I've read that they are usually stationed at ESD's, but are ESD's on land or water?
2. After "A" school and you are at your station do you get to go home everyday or do you have to stay on base? The reason I am asking is because I am married and would like to spend time with my family as much as possible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advanced
You could be stationed ashore or on a ship. And yes, sometimes you will not be able to go home at night. Furthermore, depending on the ship, sometimes you may not be home for weeks or months.
To be assured you can get home every night you may want to re-consider your decision to join the Coast Guard.
I never said I wanted to go home every night, I was just trying to get some more information on how the rate is after "A" school, but thanks for your input.
Generally, IT's spend a lot of time ashore. Our billeting structure has greater numbers ashore than aboard ships, plain and simple.
Does that mean you won't get underway? No. It just means that you may get your sea-time directly out of A School, and then never see a ship again; or spend some time ashore, then go underway when that tour is up. It really depends on "the needs of the CG".
I personally spent 5.5 years ashore after A School, then spent 3 years afloat, and am now serving a 4 year tour ashore. Hopefully my time at sea is over and done with, but just because I have been on a ship doesn't mean that I won't get sent back.
When you're on shore duty (ESU, ESD, ESDD, TISCOM, CGHQ, CAMS, etc.), you generally go home every night. Unless you have to stand duty at the unit, which is usually once a week or less. Some units have cell-phone duty, too. This means you can go home every night, but one week a month or so you are on duty and are expected to respond to any after hour work request.
Either way, IT is a good rate. You will learn a lot and enjoy your job. Good luck, and I hope this better answered your concerns!
I agree that you will be able to go home most nights while assigned ashore. But if you have spent any time in the IT field, problems arise 30 minutes before quitting time and you're going to have to stay late to resolve the problem.
Most of us that have been in the rate a while have been to a boat, and the probability of going back are slim. Inport, you may have a pretty short work day as long as you don't have many projects going on, but will have to spend the night at least once a week on duty. You will be underway and gone from home for at least 2 months with a 6-8 week break in between patrols (if your boat is lucky). Keep your servers/network healthy, and you and the crew will be able to email your family as often as you like. To answer your question, ESD's are on land. Basically IT's are all stationed together in an area with major commands around, along with ET's at an ESD. They have a small fleet of vehicles and are dispatched to smaller units in the area to handle trouble tickets on a daily basis. Out of 'A' School there is the chance you could be either stationed on land or at sea. No guarantee for either.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: NOLAIT,
Thanks alot TwrMunkeeFB, that's more of the response I was looking for(Though I appreciate all input), I was just curious about the IT rate itself and you really helped out, I'm joining the CG on the CG terms, not on mine, ya know? So thanks for the response and you defintely answered my questions.
Also, thanks NOLAIT, great posts/replies, very informative, that is what I was aiming at. With yall's input I will definitely be more educated in my decision to pursue the IT rate. Thanks again, maybe I'll see yall soon!
What determines your billet out of IT A-shcool? Also, would being stationed on a cutter before A-school lessen the likelihood of getting an afloat billet later?
The long answer - the detailer provides the school with a list of available billets, he only provides enough for the class - no extra billets on the list.
Assignment priority from "A" school is based on several factors including the assignment priority of your previous unit, grades in "A" school etc... While you and your classmates will work with each other to agree on who's going where based on the list provided, I'm pretty sure that the School Master Chief makes the final call on those assignments with the Detailer then cutting the necessary orders...
