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Military.com Forums Coast Guard Discussions Operations Specialist (OS) "Go Coast Guard" website Rating description|
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Experienced Member |
Below is the Recruiting Web Sites description of the Rating.
It can be found here: http://www.gocoastguard.com/fi...tions-specialist-(os) (Mods - this does in in dot com, but it is the official CG recruiting website. Hopefully you canleave the link up I often here folks say that the web site doesn't give a good description of the rating. About once a year I have asked you folks to review it and offer up changes. I will ask again to keep it positive on this string and focus on improving OUR recruiting (and maybe retention) tool that the recruiters use to find folks for us. The operations specialist is the tactical command, control and communications rating. These specialists perform functions ranging from search -and-rescue and law enforcement operations, to combat information center operations. Operations Specialists operate the most advanced tactical computer systems the Coast Guard has, incorporating satellite communications, global position navigation, electronic charting systems to real-time target acquisition, tracking and identification utilizing a vast array of systems. An OS handles and coordinates operational case management functions, using state of the art system tools and team work. Types of Duty: Operations Specialists are stationed throughout the Coast Guard, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. An OS enhances and uses all skill sets aboard cutters, and they apply their specialty knowledge in operational and communication centers that are located all throughout the United States. An OS often works with and along side policy-and decision-makers; members of other military branches; and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Operations Specialists can expect to spend a majority of their careers as shift workers, staffing a 24 hour a day operation. Training Available: An OS can expect to receive extensive training in search-and-rescue planning system programs and tools, navigation and communications. Qualifications: To be an OS, you should have an interest in computers and communications, an aptitude for detailed work, and an above average ability in solving mathematical problems. You must have normal color vision. Related Civilian Jobs: Emergency Operations Coordination City/County Emergency Operations Centers Data Base Managers Air/Vessel Traffic Controllers |
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Experienced Member |
OK folks - 81 views and no comments?
Comms Ninja - I believe in a thread about guaranteed A-Schools, you mentioned that this may not describe the rating well. What is your input? |
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New Member |
Maybe a sentence or two about EKMS, so boot to A school-ers aren't shocked. Although I don't think dropping EKMS in there will improve sign ups or retention.
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Experienced Member |
for instance...........
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New Member |
Kinda off topic, but what really frustrates me about that website are the pictures that are used on the Intelligence Specialist (IS) rating description page. Picture 1 shows an OS School student training on COMARPA/SCCS, picture 2 is an OS looking at a SPA-25 and picture 3 are OS's on duty in a 378 CIC. Granted, I don't have the foggiest idea what pictures one could use showing IS's at work, but showing those particular pictures is at least somewhat misleading...
Those pics should be integrated into the OS page since the ones on there now I believe are somewhat bland, solely showing a sector command center. |
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Member |
MC,
Perhaps it could mention some of the C4IT and security stuff. If you want to be blunt and honest about the description, mentioning EKMS would be appropriate also. Maybe shine a light on EKMS that it's really not the "Career Killer" as it's been dubbed in the fleet. Just need serious attention to detail and one would be rewarded with a valuable skill. In the qualifications section, it should be noted that a security clearance is required. In the related civilian jobs, obviously the EOC jobs are on point. Vessel traffic controllers, yes, air.....not so much, not with out further extensive training. Maybe identify a few additional fields that could be easily translated. Just some thoughts MC, figured I'd give it a shot since you weren't getting any other feedback. |
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New Member |
EKMS stuff should be mentioned, but maybe jazz it up a bit along the lines of
"Operations Specialists are also responsible for the handling and utilization of secure cryptological material." Also, I wouldn't take out the part about air traffic controllers, I've seen people relad from my shop snatched up by the FAA real quick. Granted being a flight follower/ADC on a cutter is not the same thing as ATC, but in both cases you are looking at aircraft on RADAR and speaking to them on the radio. It can get pretty harry when you have 3 MPAs and 2 helos all orbiting a single TOI and you are trying to keep em from crashing into each other. |
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New Member |
I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't a correct generalization of what we do. My opinion is that it is a recruiting tool and is meant to "sell" the rating to people who have no idea what we do. The people who have complained to me and others that this job is "not what we signed up for" often feel misinformed because the website didn't include some of what some might consider drawbacks to the job. The biggest one that they mention is the length of the shift work. Most sectors/CAMS and Commsta's do anywhere from 4-12hours. The website makes it sound very exciting, which it can be. We all know that there are exciting cases when the Command center is a blur with activity. We also know that a lot of the times we have a watch where almost nothing happends. I think that if we put that on the site it would not make for a good recruiting tool, so I am not suggestion putting that in there. "Qualifications"- Canidates should be able to work shifts up to 12 hour in the same room indoors on nights, holidays, during major storms and weekends." I don't think that would sell many folks to the rating tho. It all comes down to advertising really. Coke bills it as refreshing, not as a sugary drink that can cause health problems. I don't find that our rating site lies or misleads anyone, it just omits some of aspects of our job. Let me just state this for the record, I love my job and I think the positives out number the negatives. Should the site mention the negatives? I don't have an answer for that one. |
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Experienced Member |
Max - I will pass on the photo stuff to the IS RFMC
CN - Roger, thanks for the input. I am OK with the site mentioning 'negatives,' but I would prefer them phrased as the 'challanges'. All - great discussion so far. If anyone cares to take their general ideas and turn them into direct quotes YOU think should be on there, feel free. Just so you know, the one that is there now came from one of you - verbatim. I actually prefer to do that instead of taking your ideas and putting them in my words, since most of you are a little closer to the target age of the folks using it. |
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New Member |
I think it is an accurate description of the rating. The only thing that stands out to me is the second sentence in the first paragraph. I can see where a civilian could easily translate that to mean they are directly involved (in the field) in search and rescue and law enforcement operations. I would reword that sentence to read something like....."These specialists perform functions ranging from (managing or facilitating) search-and-rescue and law enforcement operations in Command Centers around the country, to combat information center operations aboard Medium and High Endurance Cutters."
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Experienced Member |
Should we limit that just to SAR and LE?
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New Member |
I think SAR and LE are buzzwords that the target audience can relate to. I don't think pollution response, marine casualties and other Prevention issues would mean much to the average recruit.
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New Member |
Operations Specialists are just that: we specialize in whatever is needed to get an operation done. Frequently we are the brains, coordinators, and communicators for an entire unit or area. This can mean memorizing areas of responsibilities at a sector, answering the panic of a mariner in distress over radios, and coordinating units to respond. During a pollution spill it can mean mobilizing the correct units to respond and interagency work. On board a cutter it could mean doing a law enforcement boarding to stop drugs from crossing our boarders or doing navigation runs during heavy fog. No matter what unit we are the security, cryptographic, communication, radar, and tactical command experts that makes and coordinates the coast guard assets to be able to get the job done. Somestimes this requires long hard hours of watch both boring and exciting. But knowing that you were instrumental in saving a life or stoping a drug runner makes the hours worth it.
__________________________________ I think the biggest thing that needs improvement is theres no real examples of WHAT we do. Okay we use satalitte coms. So does a lot of agencies right now. I think a lot people who I've talked to just don't understand WHY it is important that we are doing what we do down in our "caves" on the cutters. It's hard to recruit non-rates into OS if they aren't interested in communications already bc they don't see much of what we do. We just go behind our closed doors. I think the job description needs something that actually shows why we are just as vital as the other rates to what the missions are in the coast guard. |
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New Member |
Alot of students here at A school thought they were getting an intelligence related job, many such as myself started looking into the CG before the IS rate was out and the gocoastguard website had a different description with the intelligence part added on. The "Above avg ability in solving mathematical problems" should be replaced with must have good organizational skills and be able to multi-task, ability to work under pressure sounds challenging. Throwing in a link to the A school curriculum wouldnt be a bad idea either I think more could be added there as well. http://www.uscg.mil/petaluma/O...SchoolCourseInfo.asp RELATED CIVILIAN JOBS: Emergency Operations Coordination City/County Emergency Operations Centers Data Base Managers (WHAT?) Air/Vessel Traffic Controllers Office Assistant Secretary |
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Experienced Member |
Well, that's why the last time I offered this up we pulled the Intel stuff. Obviously before the IS rating, we did most of the intel and even now, we still deal with intel in most of our billets and in some billets, we remina the intel folks.
Why would you want to pull the math problems statement? Maybe add a couple of those things you added. Sorry - I hear where you are coming from, but no way would I add Secretary/Office Assistant.  |
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New Member |
Here's one to play with. Use it as you like, if you like, MC:
P.S. - I might have left off a couple of places for EKMS school. I can't remember them all. And I might be incorrect about the length of school in Petaluma. P.P.S - I have inserted two funnies. See if you can find them.  The Operations Specialist is the tactical command, control, and communications rating. In command centers around the Coast Guard, these specialists perform operational coordination and management of a variety of Coast Guard missions, to include search-and-rescue, law enforcement, pollution incidents, and protection of natural resources, among others. Onboard Coast Guard cutters, an OS performs target acquisition, tracking, and identification with targets of interest. Onboard cutters and in communication centers around the Coast Guard, an OS enables and operates several types of satellite, radio, and collaboration communication technologies for operational, mission use. An OS can also be responsible for managing the personnel security clearances and electronic key for cryptographic equipment at their unit and other units associated with it, on shore and on cutters. Vessel movement coordination at shore units is also done by an OS in some of the nation's busiest ports. Types of Duty: Operations Specialists are stationed throughout the Coast Guard, including Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and onboard cutters serving in the Middle East. OS positions exists at all Sector, District, and Area units, as well as onboard all major cutters, Air Stations, VTSs, and CAMs. An OS often works with and alongside policy/decision-makers; members of other military branches; local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. An OS can expect to spend a majority of their careers as shift workers, staffing 24-hour operations. Training Available: An OS can initially expect to receive extensive training in search-and-rescue planning system programs and tools, navigation, and communications, during a 14-week course in Petaluma, CA. Depending on length of enlistment, additional schools for specific systems or key management will later be needed and are located in Petaluma, CA; Yorktown, VA; Seattle, WA; or Norfolk, VA. Qualifications: To be an OS, you should have an interest in Chess, planning and coordination, communications, an aptitude for detailed work, be eligible for a clearance, have normal color vision, and successfully complete initial training at Petaluma, CA. Related Civilian Jobs: Federal/State/City/County Emergency Management Vessel Traffic Controller Police/Fire/Medical Dispatch Search and Rescue Controller Janitor |
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Experienced Member |
Thanks Dennis!
I don't think I would go too much with the PERSEC deal as COMDT Insts very, very clearly put that with the YNs for a vast majority of the CG. Hoping to make that ALL of the CG. MC PS: I would have said cribbage, not Chess. (Oh wait, that was the RM description) |
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New Member |
I think the description of the rate on the recruiting site is extreemly general. I think more details on what we actually do might help promote the rate.
For Example: "An OS often works with and along side policy-and decision-makers; members of other military branches; and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.". . . . Okay, but what do they do with these agencies and decision makers? Just offering up an idea here. I can sit down and write something when I have more time, but I would touch on more specifics like: -Monitoring vessels, ports and waterways -Managing search and rescue -Monitoring navigation and radar systems on board ships -Radio telecommunications specialists -Managing Cryptographic accounts -Monitoring classified traffic for intellegence on drug trade, illegal immigration, ect. -Security specialists Like I said, I'd be happy to write something recruiting-worthy. |
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Experienced Member |
Standing by! That's why I posted this. Please remember the audience - 17/18 year olds who aint gonna have a clue what "Cryptological Accounts" are. |
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New Member |
I wish I would have read this before I made my post. This is exactly what I was getting at. Love the "interest in Chess". That's too funny. For the sake of recruiting, I'd probably leave the "deployable to the middle east" part out. While some of us would jump to the occasion (it was a blast for me!), others may be joining the Coast Guard because they don't want to go to the middle east. Other than that, I like it! For those who havn't done a OOH patrol, I definately recommend it. You learn a TON of good stuff on those patrols. Fleet movements are pretty neato. |
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Military.com Forums Coast Guard Discussions Operations Specialist (OS) "Go Coast Guard" website Rating description
