I was hoping someone could help me out. I was recently looking into joining the Coast Guard, but I realized that the ratings in the Coast Guard weren't exactly what I was looking for. In other words, none of them fit me.

I started looking at the Navy and the Master-At-Arms rating interested me greatly.

I was hoping someone could tell me the pros and cons of each branch and tell me more about the MA rating.

I've researched like a mad woman, but I look forward to your input.

Thanks in advance.

BTW, I just wanted to point out that I HAVE read most of the previous posts on MA, but I was hoping I could get a more in-depth look at the rating, seeing as how most of them were just brief overviews.

what more do you want? all you'll get is an overview, for a few reasons. In depth could, for one, be a OPSEC issue. Also, it varies o much from day to day and location to location that in depth in one place is VASTLY different from another.

Also, don't forget you have to be at least 72" tall to join the Guardians of the 1 fathom curve.

don't join the coast guard they are a bunch of land lovers.

quote:

Originally posted by CadetSchwan:
don't join the coast guard they are a bunch of land lovers.

You know, you don't even have a friggin clue. I'm willing to bet most of my Coast Guard brethren have more time at sea on the crapper than you even have in DEP. So if I were you, I would close my mouth and open my eyes and start learning. Leave the inter-service jabs to those of us who have BTDT.

quote:

don't join the coast guard they are a bunch of land lovers.

It is Land Lubbers. Dang NUBS

And I have more time on the crapper at test depth than you do in DEP.

And no that wasn't meant for you TMC.

Hehe, its actually been a while since a knuckle head popped in, almost like a breath of fresh air

Nothing like fresh meat to liven up the party ain't there. And he listed himself as active duty E-1 to boot. My guess he isn't out of high school JNROTC yet let alone been to boot camp.

Give you a hint kid. Eyes and ears open, mouth shut till your E-4. Then keep your eyes and ears open.

quote:

Originally posted by CadetSchwan:
don't join the coast guard they are a bunch of land lovers.

________________________________________________

You might want to tell those 'land loving?' Coasties that ran the LCVP's in WW2 that, or maybe those "land lovers" that the US Air Farce shot to pieces off the coast of Vietnam in the 60's, or maybe those "land lovers" that do the rescue jobs in Bering Sea now days (in your vast storehouse of Naval lore, did you even know there is a Bering Sea?)

The long and short of what I'm trying to say here is. Until you've ACTUALLY had some Blue under YOUR ass, you'd be well advised to heed the sage advice the REAL Sailors on here have given you with such rare good grace.

Respy,
BMCS, Ret.

Also if anyone watches Deadliest Catch you know how brave the 'Coasties' are. Long hours in a helo looking to jump into the Bearing Sea to save lives.

Im serious, coasties, go to sea in the worst conditions in small ships/boats. Talk about rough seas...whew!

its a joke, get your panties out of a bunch. geezzz. Arguing and slinging insults at a person on the Internet is simply immature. I thought i'm supposed to look up to people like yourself?

Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You threw out a general insult to an entire branch of service, to which you likely have had very little exposure. General disrespect, joke or not, is not well tolerated on these boards and many of us have BTDT and probably even know and respect a few Coasties. One of my good friends is a Coastie and a Stater Trooper to boot...where do you get off disrespecting the way he chose to serve his country without knowing anything about him...hell, he's as salty as I am!


Now, go to bootcamp and cock off to your CCs, you little troll....

quote:

Originally posted by CadetSchwan:
its a joke, get your panties out of a bunch. geezzz. Arguing and slinging insults at a person on the Internet is simply immature. I thought i'm supposed to look up to people like yourself?

What you think counts for zero. You have nothing to bring to the table that we haven't already experienced and then some. The immaturity is yours by insulting the Coast Guard.

I can put up a picture of my father leaving the bridge of his sinking tanker and jumping into the Coast Guard lifeboat from Glouchester Station. The Coast Guard was always respected in my home and always will be. I don't need junior wannabes comeing here and insulting people who have more than earned the respect of the people here and the thousands of people they've assisted over the years.

Make another joke about any service or try to lecture us on what is right or wrong and your history on these forums.

Having done almost ten years in both services I am a bit biased on which one is the best. Both of them are unique in there own way and I wouldn’t give up the experiences I have had in them for anything.

quote:

Originally posted by CadetSchwan:
its a joke, get your panties out of a bunch. geezzz. Arguing and slinging insults at a person on the Internet is simply immature. I thought i'm supposed to look up to people like yourself?

You are supposed to be looking up to people like ourselves but part of that is keeping your mouth shut and your ears open so you can learn.

CadetSchwan

quote:

simply immature

________________________________________________

"simply immature" is making comments like your original comment and not expecting to get your head handed to you by ACTUAL Veterans.

All you've gotten here online is a verbal dressing down.
Try making that wise ass comment face to face with some of the Coasties I've known and you are subject to get the taste slapped outta your mouth.

quote:

Originally posted by SeaBoundWoman:
I was hoping someone could help me out. I was recently looking into joining the Coast Guard, but I realized that the ratings in the Coast Guard weren't exactly what I was looking for. In other words, none of them fit me.

I started looking at the Navy and the Master-At-Arms rating interested me greatly.

I was hoping someone could tell me the pros and cons of each branch and tell me more about the MA rating.

I've researched like a mad woman, but I look forward to your input.

Thanks in advance.

There is a lot of discussion about MA out there, but if you have a more specific question you can't find, please ask for the info that way, the question here is still very vague as to what you are looking for.

Why the interest for MA, are you interested in experience for a law enforcement career as a civilian?

Reason asking is that the Coast Guard does more Law Enforcement type of activity than what an MA does in the Navy. Coasties are typically assigned to some Navy ships doing counter drug operations. Coast Guard has the capability to make arrests where the Navy doesn't. Coasties are also virtually everywhere and you can get several types of assignments and see more law enforcement activity, especially as a new person, vs being an MA in the Navy. Most new MA's tend to get sent to the sandbox and it takes awhile to get assigned a ship. Security wise, it doesn't appear as MA's do much law enforcement activity as the Coast Guard does.

Also, I don't know if the CG has rate specific jobs for law enforcement and that outside ratings may also be able to do the job. A friend of mine was a BM in the CG and had law enforcement experience, well enough experience to land him a job for a public safety dept.

For your question...pros and cons

MA...most new MA's get to the sandbox.
Little law enforcement type of activity with security being a primary concern (just what I gathered from these boards)
It takes a long time to make rate as a MA because the rating fills quickly.
Specialties seem to go to those who are a higher paygrade.

CG...More actual law enforcement experience, from drug ops, to poaching.
Other ratings may qualify to do law enforcement
more opportunities for law enforcement experience

quote:

Originally posted by CadetSchwan:
don't join the coast guard they are a bunch of land lovers.

Dude, just looked at your profile. Really??!! A Seacadet calling a Coast Guardsman a landlubber? Do us all a favor,a dn shut your suck hole!