I am in the process of submitting my package to join the CG. I just wanted to know how hard is it to get stationed in either San Juan or Borinquen as an IT. Also can anyone who has any experience working as an IT in one of these 2 places tell me what the work is like (schedule, work type, etc). Thanks for the input. Also as a side note if there are any prior service ITs that can tell me about how easy/hard was it to crossover and if you retained your rate (if you didn't, how low did you go?) Once again thanks for the inputs.
Since you are a Chief in the Navy, according to your profile, you should stay where you are.
Navy IT and Coast Guard IT don't correlate. If I were in the Force Manager's job that's what I'd tell you. If you are insistent upon joining the Coast Guard I'd recommend that you go to "A" school so that you can get the electronics and telephony skills needed to do the Coast Guard IT job. So, in your case, you would come into the Coast Guard as an E-3.
When I was the Force Manager I tried early on to bring a couple of Navy ITs directly in with the hope that they would learn on the job. It was a dismal failure that I didn't repeat.
If you want surfing and tranquility, Borinquen. If you want party, clubs, and surfing (little less), then San Juan.
Normally (this is what I see since I have not work there, but I drill in the same building), at least in San Juan is a 12 hr day.
Best for you is to contact someone in the comm. center and check what they do.....787-729-6800 and check for the comm center option [don't remember the number].
I was stationed there twice! It's not so bad, can't beat the weather or the beaches. But the things I remember most were:
Arrival at the airport: baggage takes FOREVER to get to you. I think one guy handles everything, and he's in no hurry. Jimmy Buffet mentions this in his song "Volcano" (stuck in San Juan Airport).
Traffic: Half the cars there have sideswipe dents on them. Two lanes at a traffic signal magically turn into six or seven when the light is red, and then there's a race at green, with cars second in line laying down on the horns. If you have ever been there you know this is true! I usually parked on sidewalks. Oh, at night, red lights are just SUGGESTIONS. Stop, look both ways, and then GO, or the car behind you will lay on the horn. Don't worry about the cops or getting a ticket. At night they leave their flashing lights on all the time so you know exactly where they are.
Culture: One little tidbit that will make your stay much more enjoyable. In Puerto Rico, don't wait to be served anywhere, whether it's at a bar or a restaurant or anywhere else. You may be accustomed to that in the States, but in PR fugget about it...
When you are out and about and you want something, remember that the most persistent person gets served first, so if you want something from your waiter or waitress, or the bartender, SPEAK UP or you will be IGNORED. This applies everywhere, not just bars and restaurants. Once I figured this out it made life MUCH EASIER! This is not rude behavior, it is the norm. If you can't cross this little cultural gap you will be pissed during your entire tour.
Lines: LOL. Lines are for GRINGOS and TOURISTS. Read above. If you want something be assertive about it. I learned this the hard way...6 hours to have electricity turned on, 4 hours at the TELCO to get service started. Take a number? NO! Just sit down at someone's desk with a checkbook and you will be served right away!
Oh....and I hope the stereo in your car is not too nice a one. My car was broken into six, I say again SIX times in my 3.5 years there and stole only the radio every time. And I lived in a nice area - Isla Verde. I kept getting cheaper, junk radios everytime. Didn't matter. I think they just wanted to steal it for the thrill.
I started leaving a sign - Don't break the window, the door is open. Window costs more to replace.
Originally posted by edgykatid: Navy IT and Coast Guard IT don't correlate..
We (CGC RUSH) just had a Navy IT2 report aboard. He went with the OS rating and chose wisely. He had no idea how to work on anything I work on, but fit in quickly with the OS's in Radio. Navy IT and CG OS are very similar, at least shipboard. You would be working with communications equipment (vhf/hf/etc) instead of user profiles and phone switches as an IT. Go here to find out more: Enlisted Rating Descriptions Good Luck!
