OK, the other thread kept drifting off topic, so I am starting a new one.

As event at least one recruiter has said, we could use some work on the CGRC Website description of our rating. I REALLY need you folks, the younger ones especially, to put this in YOUR LANGUAGE.

shoot.

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but here goes...

Do you like to be informed about what's going on around you? Do you enjoy knowing things before others? Do you want to interact with all levels of the chain of command? Do you find satisfaction in knowing that through your actions you can be a huge deciding factor in whether or not a life is saved? Do you like the idea of being a "silent professional?"

As an Operations Specialist in the U.S. Coast Guard you have an opportunity to partake in many different aspects of one of the world's finest sea going services. You can be responsible for the safe navigation of one or many multi-million dollar vessels or aircraft through all types weather conditions. You can be responsible for the communications for your unit whether ashore or at sea. You can be a part of the hub of operations on a cutter or command center. You can be the voice of HOPE for a stranded seafarer. While being an Operations Specialist you may not get showered with recognition for the many tasks that you perform while standing long watches throughout the night that may make or break a drug seizure. One thing for sure is this...what you do, regardless of where you do it, it MATTERS. It WILL make a difference.

I tried to mention most of the jobs associated with being an OS but as all of us know, this thing would go on forever. If I left anyone out don't be offended.

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

Tim;
I like that. Thoughts anyone else?

quote:

While being an Operations Specialist you may not get showered with recognition for the many tasks that you perform while standing long watches throughout the night that may make or break a drug seizure.

Looks good, but I would remove the quoted statement.

I understand that is must appeal to the younger generations, but it's sounds so superfluous.

The first two questions are way to general. The second question is... I don't know. Kind of pretentious. Do I want to know things before others? You mean like - REDCROSS messages? Hell no I don't.

I like the second paragraph for the most part but Ski's right. That sentence should be removed.

The CG WANTS to attract intelligent, articulate, and sharp individuals. Why do we want to "dumb down" the descriptions?

Obviously a bunch of acronyms would do nothing for the attraction of the rate, but there's got to be something more eye-catching.

I wouldn't say we want to dumb it down. What we want to do is make it so we can hand it to the kid at Walmart, McDonalds or at the High School counselors office and the can paint a picture in their mind. To us, that may mean it is 'dumbed down' to US, but not the target. We aren't even looking at current non-rates for this. They can normally find one of us.

quote:

Originally posted by JekelKat13:
The first two questions are way to general. The second question is... I don't know. Kind of pretentious. Do I want to know things before others? You mean like - REDCROSS messages? Hell no I don't.

Thanks for the input. This was meant to be a starting point. "Knowing things before others" was meant as a way to include the intel side of the job. As all of us know, even though Intelligence Specialists are around, working in intel is still a common job for many OS types. So it may sound pretentious in a certain light but we are trying to SELL the job. I don't think that describing the destruction process is really going to excite anyone. As for the long watches part, I think it is a small way of providing some foreshadow, it gives them a hint of what they can end up doing. No one ever told me I was going to have to stare at a green screen for eight to twelve hours straight on my first deployment. I will say that the sentence could use some re-wording though...unfortunately, I haven't thought of a better way to say it yet. As for the entire thing sounding superfluous, that is the point. If the salesman/pitchman doesn't make it sound pretty cool/interesting, how do you expect the customer/target to feel that way?

I think the first sentence may sound a little better if it were worded like this...

Do you like to see and understand the "big picture"?

I understand the nature behind marketing and advertising. Don't get me wrong, I think its a good start and it's difficult task to begin with - trying to describe the OS at the civilian level.

I know that the OS rate is the "jack of all trades, master of none" (so to speak) so it's almost impossible to describe everything. I definitely think that the job of VTS should be described in layman's terms. When I was a TC2 coming out of CAMS LCC and received orders to VTS NY - I was like... WTF is that? When I called up and someone described it to me I was really excited about the prospect.

The OS rate is (particularly in Key West) heavily involved with migrant interdicted (even at a shore-based station), and general Law Enforcement. Those are highly appealing to young folks.

I wasn't on a guaranteed "A" school list. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do out of boot camp. During the "dream sheet" process in boot camp they had a representative of a couple of rates. My decision to go to TC "A" school was SOLELY based on a TC1 that told me about receiving those MAYDAY calls and how it made her feel. Plus how she liked being the "administrator" of various equipment. (should have gone IT!) That stuck with me even through my first unit. Even when my gut instinct was telling me that I should choose a different rate (BM, MK, EM?) - her story kept with me and eventually I wound up going to TC "A" school even with my doubts. So it was an, obviously, powerful story.

"See" and "understand" are bland words. Keeps you uninvolved or seems your involved only at the basic level.

How about the word 'involved' in general. Spice it up with some sassy adjectives.

Here are some words that draw folks in:
Involved
Administer
Emergency
Gratification/Personal Gratification
Engage
Necessitate
Intense
Focus
.......

I'm starving....

I agree, "involved" does imply a more hands on experience with the "big picture." However, every Coastie is involved in the big picture, but how many actually see or understand it? If they all did, I wouldn't have so many people asking me and my coworkers what's going on, especially at the unit level and higher. Heck, that's a huge part of what being an Operations Specialist is all about. OPERATIONS.

IMO - if you don't 'see' and 'understand' it then you're DEFINITELY not involved. There's no way you can truly be involved in the current operations if you don't see and understand it. OK - with your opinion of the words "see" and "understand" how about some synonyms?

See:
envision
apprise
comprehend (the big picture)

Understand:
appreciate
discern
assimilate

So the sentence could be something like:

Would you appreciate comprehending and becoming thoroughly involved with "the big picture" of... (Search and Rescue, Migrant Interdiction, OPERATIONS (to include...), etc)? I know we need to use "civilian" jargon - but such simple words will attract simple people. If someone reads a word (let's say the word Interdiction) and they don't understand it, or the use of it, I'd guarantee they would look it up. So not only is it interesting to read but it attracts those that want to learn (e.g., they'll go to dictionary.com to look up the word - that shows a willingness to learn and a true curiosity in what they are reading)

Fair enough, sounds good to me. Whichever works the best for the recruiters.

Mind you - I don't want to take away from what you've written. I certainly think its a viable beginning of change for the rating description.

If I were to sell the rate...

Do you like to have all night movie marathons with your friends? (midwatch, opcen) Do you like to play the Atari? (SPA 23) Do you like the thrill of action, without the possibility of personal danger? (OUC) Do you desire a rapid and easy upward mobility? Do you enjoy listening to an ochestra tuning up at high volumes for 12 hours at time or more? (HF radios) Do you like learning a completely new skill set every three to four years? Are you comfortable knowing that a data entry error could send you to jail? (EKMS)
As an OS, you can be the guy that sleeps through certain drills, is always first in line for midrats, and can watch movies in the rec deck during the work day. You will work behind locked, thick doors in either over lit or ridiculously dark spaces. You will speak to boaters that think running out of gas because they didn't check their tanks is cause to yell "mayday", and if you're lucky speak to various members of "the deadliest catch" while querying ROA's in the Bering Sea. You will rack up hours of internet surfing daily with impunity. You will have dirt on everyone, and always have an excuse to make "mail runs". You will grow to dread finger printing other members, because evidently only 12% of people can get the ring finger right before they run through 25 cards. You will learn to type 120 wpm with out ever even trying. Your motto will become C.Y.A., and you will endevour to never be last person holding information.

All tongue in check, of course.
I could go on and on, but I have to get back to work.

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

Operations Specialists perform a central role in the execution of nearly all Coast Guard operations. Operations Specialist are tactical command and control experts, coordinating responses to a wide variety of Coast Guard missions, including Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Environmental Protection, Homeland Security, and National Defense. Operations Specialists operate state of the art communications systems, tactical tracking and identification systems, shipboard navigation systems, and advanced operational planning applications.

Types of Duty:
Operations Specialists are stationed throughout the Coast Guard, serving primarily at operations and communications centers and aboard larger cutters around the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Both afloat and ashore an OS can expect to participate in all aspects of operational planning and execution, working with decision makers and operators to accomplish Coast Guard missions 24 hours a day.

Training Available:
An Operations Specialist can expect to receive extensive training in communications systems and software applications used for planning Search and Rescue and performing tactical operations.

Qualifications:
You should have the ability to work in a stressful and high paced environment, aptitudes for working with computer based applications, and exceptional attention to detail. You must have normal color vision.

UW;
I like that!

UW,

That almost sounds as if you plagerized it straight from a recruiting website. Which means... it's better then a recruiting website. I like that a lot. It's well-written. It's not dumbed down, but would appeal to an intelligent 15, 16, 17 year old which I think are the ideal ages to grab their attention. Those intelligent kids are the ones that are already thinking about what their next realistic step would be. It also appeals to older teens/early 20's who may be in college but need to work to support the family (like I did)

Lots of good keys words that keep interest (SAR, LE, HS).

Well done.

UW,
Very nice! I would not be surprised if I open a CG pamphlet and see that in the near future. Very well organized and informative.

quote:

Originally posted by underwhelmed:
Operations Specialists perform a central role in the execution of nearly all Coast Guard operations. Operations Specialist are tactical command and control experts, coordinating responses to a wide variety of Coast Guard missions, including Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Environmental Protection, Homeland Security, and National Defense. Operations Specialists operate state of the art communications systems, tactical tracking and identification systems, shipboard navigation systems, and advanced operational planning applications.

Types of Duty:
Operations Specialists are stationed throughout the Coast Guard, serving primarily at operations and communications centers and aboard larger cutters around the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Both afloat and ashore an OS can expect to participate in all aspects of operational planning and execution, working with decision makers and operators to accomplish Coast Guard missions 24 hours a day.

Training Available:
An Operations Specialist can expect to receive extensive training in communications systems and software applications used for planning Search and Rescue and performing tactical operations.

Qualifications:
You should have the ability to work in a stressful and high paced environment, aptitudes for working with computer based applications, and exceptional attention to detail. You must have normal color vision.

That's exactly what I was going to say, you just beat me to it.

What we have:

Operations Specialist (OS)

The primary duties range from search and rescue and law enforcement case execution, to combat information center and intelligence operations. You should have an intrest in computers and communications, an apitude for detailed work, mathematical aptitude and normal color vision.

Related civilian jobs include: intelligence specialist, emergency operations coordinator, data base manager and air/vessel traffic controller.

What I give them:

I show the OS Rating video.

I give them the web-site to OS School(**"A-C" School) **They should have this while waiting for school.

I show them the OS Force Notes from the MCPOCG's Corner on uscg.mil

I show them the OS Board on Fred's Place.

I show them how to find information on the uscg.mil site (about us, units, multimedia, etc)

The multimedia site can be the close on an applicant!! Make a Video!

I talk with them about Security Clearance jobs after the CG $$.

I have them talk with an OS.

luke