I went to MEPS, took the test, physicals and everything went well. But as far as I know, I have to wait for the urine test results. (they said the results will come out in 2 weeks. Anyway, I don't do drug or anything alike so I don't worry about it)

1- My recruiter sent a form to request a sign-on bonus for me (approximately 1 week ago) and I don't know when will the result of that request come.

2- Both USCG ET and IT require MK + EL + GS to be over 172 and i got 203 and only A school for ET will be guaranteed. I don't know why IT A school can't be guaranteed to me.

3- During the time I wait for my A school, what are the duties at my unit ? At this time, as an E3, do you think how long will it take to wait for USCG IT A school ? What kind of mistake will cost you more time in waiting for your A school?

Greatly appreciated

If you're drug free, you should be OK with the urinalysis. The only time I ever had any problems was with a guy who had sugar in his urine. And we found out the same day.

quote:

My recruiter sent a form to request a sign-on bonus for me (approximately 1 week ago) and I don't know when will the result of that request come.

I never put anyone in with an enlistment bonus. I guess you'll find out when your shipping date is confirmed. I always got that the same day the ASVAB and physical were approved, but I don't know how things are today.

quote:

Both USCG ET and IT require MK + EL + GS to be over 172 and i got 203 and only A school for ET will be guaranteed. I don't know why IT A school can't be guaranteed to me.

Probably because the IT rating is overmanned. When they offer guaranteed schools, it's because they need people in those rates.

quote:

During the time I wait for my A school, what are the duties at my unit ?

This is one recruiters hear all the time. I'll try and explain it the best I can. You are welcome to ask more questions too. There are many variables here, it depends on where you go for that first assignment.

You will come out of recruit training as a seaman or a fireman. A seaman does the duties of the deck force - handling and working with lines, painting and surface preparation on cutters and small boats, steering a cutter underway, standing flying bridge lookouts. I was a seaman apprentice/seaman at one time in my career.

First and foremost, a fireman is not like the man or woman at the local fire department. It has to do with mechanical duties. A fireman stands engineering watch in the engine room on a cutter. They work with the machinery technicians primarily. They work on engines, outboards, help with refueling and water onboard a cutter.

quote:

At this time, as an E3, do you think how long will it take to wait for USCG IT A school ?

E-3s are sent before E-2s. It's hard to say, but I always told recruits the list usually moves faster than the projected wait. I'm sure you wouldn't work as long for IT as, say, an aviation rate, marine science technician, or health service technician.

quote:

What kind of mistake will cost you more time in waiting for your A school?

Non-Judicial Punishment (Captain's Mast) can cause you to be removed from an A school waiting list. So could an alcohol incident. If you were injured and not fit for duty, that could cause you to be removed from the list. Your commanding officer could not recommend you. Your performance marks could be too low.
That's the bad. If you stay squared-away, that won't happen to you.
The good would be if you advanced into a rate though "striking" or on the job training. I saw someone removed from a list because they were selected for officer candidate school.

If you are removed from a school list for NJP, you must wait at least six months before you can even reapply.

You probably have some more questions, and you are welcome to ask.

Thank you for your help Retired_CG_Recruiter!

At MEPS, they do some quick tests on urine and blood but they told me (and everyone else) that it takes some more time to do some other tests. Therefore, even when the last thing I heard from the USCG Liaison at MEPS is "Everything is perfect", I think it's not completely over since other test results has not arrived. But I think I passed those tests.

About shipping date, I told my recruiter that I want to ship out a.s.a.p and the latest shipping date I can have is several weeks from now (Jan). He said he will try to see if he can ship me at a time earlier than that (in case someone decided to quit or join other forces instead).

He also filed a form which is in there, he put my ASVAB scores, my university credits (200 credits), my technical school credits (around 20 credits on AC, DC, electronic circuits, digital circuits) and he said he gonna send that form to Washington and when he got the result, he will let me know how much is granted to me among the amount of bonus requested.


*Do you think I should call him and confirm the shipping date and result of this bonus request ? (he said he will call me)


I am now 28 and will be 29 this Summer 2010. I only have some classes left (4 to 6 classes) to finish my Computer Science Bachelor degree. So I have to be quick.

After I graduate bootcamp, I will try to apply for PPEP or CSPI. With PPEP, it is required that I must have 4 years in active service (among which are 2 years active in USCG). With CSPI, the maximum age is 27. So basically, I got problems with the 2 programs and don't know if I am available for any waiver.

For plan B, I will finish the degree with my own money and in order to do that, I have some other questions.

*If I can't get a guaranteed A school for IT, can I get guaranteed station ? IF I can, what is the scale of it (like a specific name of the station or name of a city or is it gonna be a state). I need to know that to start the transfer process of my current school to the school nearest to the station I will serve at.

*As a Fireman or Seaman, do you think I have enough time to attend night classes? (or is it have to be online classes?)


As for basic training, I do exercises everyday and am memorizing the Helmsman book. However, it would be nice if you can give me some advices about what to read and memorize MORE in order to be academically successful in basic training.

Thank you so much.

I know today's numbers are tight. But it seems like someone always cancels in the weeks before Christmas. I would keep that in mind and tell your recruiter you'd go at the drop of a hat if you want to ship out ASAP.

As for your degree, if you can finish before you join you'll be eligible (education wise) to apply for OCS. As for furthering your education, each unit has an Education Services Officer (ESO) that will help you. Most of the time, it's not possible to attend classes in the traditional sense. But your ESO will help you with education, advancements, and applying for OCS.

quote:

If I can't get a guaranteed A school for IT, can I get guaranteed station ?

Ask your recruiter about the guaranteed geographic assignment program. It's for recruits who have a 65% AFQT or better. It doesn't guarantee you a specific unit, just a specific geographical area (Coast Guard District). Here's a link to show the districts. It was a very popular program when I was recruiting.
http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/

quote:

However, it would be nice if you can give me some advices about what to read and memorize MORE in order to be academically successful in basic training.

I posted this on the boot camp board, but I'll mention it here too. Memorize the mission of recruit training, the fire bill, the eleven general orders, and the position of attention. Most important, learn the rates and ranks (Petty Officer Third Class, Chief Petty Officer, Machinery Technician, Health Services Technician, Marine Science Technician, etc.) This comes up all the time. When referring to one of the staff in third person, it goes something like this - "Who sent you here for this work detail?" "Sir, Electrician's Mate Second Class Sparkchaser did, Sir."

In addition to serving as a recruiter, I spent my last four years as a recruit instructor at Cape May before I retired.

Thanks Retired_CG_Recruiter

In order to prepare for USCG bootcamp, I am studying the Helmsman, the USCG insignia, USCG history and will try to skim through the USCG thick manual book. My goal is to get familiar with what instructors will teach recruits in Cape May's classrooms.
I consider bootcamp a mission and in term of information, I try to gather as much info as I can. At least, my time waiting for the ship out date will be put into good use.

*I am reading the ENLISTED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (E-PME) MANUAL and starting from page 25, it is a chapter that states the requirements for E2 (bootcamp graduates). I think you know the E-PME and I think bootcamp classes will cover the topics mentioned in the E-PME, E2 section. If you can, please give me your confirmation on this.

*I don't know if I am allowed to discuss some topics for E2 in the E-PME here or not (mostly knowledge regarding regulations, seamanship, ...)

greatly appreciated.

I wouldn't worry about that at all. You are enlisting in pay grade E-3. That means that the enlisted qualifications for E-2 and E-3 have been waived. Recruit training covers all enlisted qualifications for E-2 anyway.

I remember getting my practical factors signed off for E-3 at my first assignment after recruit training (a 210' medium endurance cutter). I enlisted as a Seaman Recruit pay grade E-1, so I was a Seaman Apprentice (E-2) when I got to my first unit. It was no big deal because most of the qualifications were things I did on a daily basis anyway. And the things I didn't do, the senior folks explained to me and then signed off on them.

Looking as far ahead as you are, military requirements for E-4 would be the best thing to study.

There is a recruit plan of the week you will see when you get to recruit training. It has, among other things, a rank of the day (enlisted or officer), a knot of the week, and a nautical term of the day. Again, this is looking ahead, but it can really help if you know that information. So if you at least read them over, you'll be more familiar with them.

quote:

My goal is to get familiar with what instructors will teach recruits in Cape May's classrooms.

OK, here are some of the classes you will have. There are too many to list, but I'll tell you some of them (some of which I used to teach). Power tools and safety, military ID cards, enlisted careers and non-rated duties, sexual harrassment identification and prevention, medals and awards, and rates and ranks. I wouldn't sweat them too hard, they are all open book except rates and ranks. Guess which class recruits fail most often? Rates and ranks! That's one reason it's so important to study them (and the Helmsman in general).

If you haven't already checked it out, here's a link to read more about recruit training.
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay.../recruittraining.asp

Thank you sir.

I am studying the ranks and insignia and quite confuse with

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
and
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE C.G.

They are both E9 and the titles are so alike. Can you tell me briefly the difference between those ranks ? And is there a link that provides more details about USCG ranks ? Thank you.

It is also advised that during bootcamp, you are not supposed to be either "the leader" or "the follower" because CC will pay attention and will bring you down. IT means just follow the instructions from the CC ? What if someone ask you something? What if someone just look at what you do and follow you (without you tell him anything)? IF you are told to do 50 push-ups and you do 55, is it gonna be a problem too ?

Thank you for your helps.

quote:

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
and
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE C.G.

The difference here is that there is only one Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, he is an E-10. Really, E-10 is a title. They receieve E-9 pay along with special pay because of their position. They wear three stars on their collar device and rating badge, whereas a "regular" Master Chief wears two stars.

Each service has an equivalent. The position in each branch is senior liaison.
Each CG District has a Command Master Chief who serves in the same function. Also, certain commands such as CG Training Center Cape May, CG Training Center Yorktown, Petaluma, etc. have a CMC as well. Then there are Master Chief Petty Officers who are serving in their job speciality (rate). Two of the cutters I was assigned to had Master Chief Boatswain's Mates as officers in charge. The were the command, the senior person at these units.

quote:

IF you are told to do 50 push-ups and you do 55, is it gonna be a problem too ?

Yeah, you just want to do exactly what you are told, and without question.
The company commanders will appoint recruits within a company for certain tasks and leadership roles. When I was in boot camp, we had the same recruits in these roles the entire time. Now, they rotate them to see how other recruits perform in these roles. A much better idea in my opinion.

Thanks Retired_CG_Recruiter !

I've just talked with my recruiter today. He said that I'm through and a date has been assigned but unfortunately, he gotta check the date and let me know later (since my birthday is somewhat in the same month with my ship out date, so he is confused ... Well, it will be cool if I ship out to boot on my birthday )

He also does not know the result of the bonus request.
And basically, he doesn't know if I can have guaranteed station ...

So, everything is uncertain, except the fact that I am through. (Do you have any advice on this?)

About districts, which ones, in your opinion, are hot in term of advancement? (district that no one wants to go will be more open to advancement??)

On the USCG insignia, I don't see any IT there (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/training/org/rank.asp) Does it mean IT got merged with another department ?

Thank you.

quote:

And basically, he doesn't know if I can have guaranteed station

So I guess you are going to try for the guaranteed geographic assignment. Yeah, those have to be requested and are subject to availability. When I was recruiting, it seemed like everyone wanted the 7th, 11th, or 14th district.

As for the bonus request, I really don't know what to tell you there. Like I said, I never put anyone in with one. But I saw recruits who got one. From my understanding, it was paid after they completed recruit training or their job speciality school (class A school).

quote:

About districts, which ones, in your opinion, are hot in term of advancement?

The district makes no difference. It's the job that matters. That's why some schools have a much shorter waiting list than others, or can be guaranteed.

quote:

district that no one wants to go

Seemed like not many folks put in for the 17th District (Alaska). I used to teach the assignment data class sometimes. But almost everyone I know who was assigned there really liked it. I know one chief who went back there to retire.
The insignia information on the uscg.mil website is waaaaay out of date. There haven't been Radarmen in almost 10 years. Quartermasters and Telecommunication Specialists are long gone too. My guess is that the IT rating badge is probably like the Telephone Technician rating badge (a rate that is also no longer around).

Thank you for your advice.

omg ! I am studying the insignia from that page ... I gotta find a more update link then.

And just one more little question, about the bootcamp graduation ceremony, how many people can I invite? Since my parents can't go, can I invite their BFF to attend my graduation ceremony?
It sounds way ahead but honestly, I don't plan to fail bootcamp.

I really want to go to Alaska but since I have family and one kid, I am not "qualified" for that (as far as i know). I also heard that most poeple, they don't want to go somewhere near the great Lakes.

About the bonus, US Coast Guard manual said recruit will get his sign on bonus at the time he reports to his first unit.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: xtivater,

It's probably OK, I'd bet my bottom dollar you're ahead of about 99.9% of the recruits who are going to ship. With the exception of the rates I mentioned, the chart is accurate.

quote:

Since my parents can't go, can I invite their BFF to attend my graduation ceremony?

Sure. In fact, anyone in the community can attend. In the summer, they have sunset parades on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. The Mayor of Cape May usually attends, and many of the people from the town are there too. There is also a good share of people who are visiting the area in attendance. Unless it's really good weather with 0% chance of rain, the graduation ceremonies are held in the gymnasium.

If a bonus is important to you - you're probably dealing with the wrong service. I would be surprised if you get a bonus in your contract. Retention is at an all time high now and the amount of people we can put in is very low.

Good luck and stay flexible,

By the way, the military doesn't give 'sign on' bonuses. The military gives 'incentive' bonuses. BIG difference.

Thanks Downoutlaw for your comment.
Actually it's "incentive" my recruiter is talking about. And I know things are tight but it's my recruiter's idea to put me in that "incentive".

Although I am in for a much more meaningful cause than money, a little extra money would be nice

Most, if not all, of the people I put in just wanted to be in the Coast Guard. At the time I was recruiting, there were no guaranteed schools to speak of, and no enlistment incentives. Other than the pay and benefits everyone receives, all I had was the guaranteed geographic area assignment for those who qualified. Yet I was never hurting for applicants. I think much of it had to do with way we recruited: "If you want to join, fine if you qualify." "If not, no hard feelings, good luck in whatever you decide to do for a career."

As for enlistment incentives, I did see recruits at Cape May who had gotten them. I remember one recruit had an incentive for $9,000 because he enlisted with a guaranteed Food Services Specialist school. Another (younger brother of a woman I put in six years earlier) had a $2,000 incentive (well, a $1,600 incentive after our uncle took a bite out of it). He came in as seaman recruit with no guaranteed school. This was in April 2000.

Thanks Retired_CG_Recruiter!

If I live on base, does it mean I can go to work without a car? If I live off base, does it mean I have to have a car ? (it takes time to look for a car when I arrive at my first unit I guess)

My recruiter put me in for $6000 incentive and it will be nice if I have that amount of money, I can use that to finish off my Bachelor degree.

I'm not bargaining and I agree with all of you. My career with USCG is the most important thing.

My parents will be really happy seeing me graduated from bootcamp.

quote:

If I live on base, does it mean I can go to work without a car?

Yep. During my career I was only at one unit where a car was pretty much a necessity. In my opinion anyway. I guess you could have done without a car there if you didn't mind using public transportation.

quote:

If I live off base, does it mean I have to have a car ?

See above. Some assignments have no quarters available. They either have leased apartments or you will receive BAH to help to cover rent.

quote:

My parents will be really happy seeing me graduated from bootcamp.

Having been to more than a few recruit graduations, I can't remember seeing parents less than estatic when their son or daughter graduated. This was especially true of the parents of recruits who received recruit awards, or participated in the honor guard.

Yes sir.
I am aiming at the awards (at least, the academic one )
I love to use public transportation.
I will study the materials more and will be back here as long as I have something to ask.
Thank you for all your helps.

The recruit awards are as follows: Recruit Honor Graduate. You get a ribbon to wear on your uniform and a plaque from the Navy League for that one. Academic Award. Best in Military Drill Award. Seamanship Award. Best Shipmate Award. Physical Fitness Award. Most Improved Physical Fitness Award. You will receive a certificate and congratulations for receiving one of these awards.

Some recruits have copped two or three awards.

I wouldn't sweat the car thing. There may be a few units where a private automobile is required. But I think you'd be OK without one at 99.9% of the places you could be assigned after recruit training. With the deployment schedule of the some of the cutters, many times someone's car can sit for months.

I heard that Honor Graduates are from the top 3%. So if a Company has 50 recruits, only 1 or 2 will graduate with honor...
Best Shipmate Award is voted by shipmates in the company.
Academic Award - simply the ones with highest academic scores
The physical fitness award - the ones with highest physical scores

Is there an exam for military drill ? And how to get high scores on this.

About seamanship, I'm quite scared when there are tons of knots to study ... remembering the name of knots is already a hard task But I got some weeks to prepare for it.

To be competitive for the best physical award, according to your experience, how many pushups, sit-ups required, and how long it usually be for 1.5 miles running ?

Thank you.

Yeah, if I remember correctly, a company had to have 67 or more recruits to rate two honor graduates. I only remember a few that did. Prior service were not eligible for the award (they used to to through the full eight weeks of recruit training). So I'm not sure if prior service were figured in the total.

The military drill award was for the recruit most proficent in military drill. There was also a recruit honor guard in every company, they perform at graduation.

The most improved PF award was one, I believe, recruits voted for. Just like the best shipmate award. It was usually a borderline weight recruit who lost a bunch in recruit training. However, I remember one company had a small, frail, young woman who gained some weight and some muscle. She won the award that time.

The recruits in my company who'd been in Boy Scouts did real well in seamanship. They already knew the basic knots (bowline, clove hitch, square knot, etc.) I failed that test the first time. But I practiced and passed it on the retest.

And oh yeah, another award you can receive at graduation is the expert pistol medal.

As for the PF award, I guess you would have to the highest score on the final PF test.

Thanks Retired_CG_Recruiter ! Hope you had a wonderful Vet day !

This message has been edited. Last edited by: xtivater,