HELLO EVERYONE IM SORRY TO HAVE TO POST THIS BUT I HAVE SOME IMPORTANT DESCISIONS TO MAKE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WOULD LOVE SOME INPUT.
I AM CURRENTLY A POLICE OFFICER IN VIRGINIA. I HAVE ABOUT 2.5 YEARS EXPERIENCE HOWEVER I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO JOIN THE MILITARY AND BECOME AN OFFICER WHICH IS SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED ON DOING RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I WENT TO COLLEGE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT A CRAP DEGREE( CRIMINAL JUSTICE TO BE EXACT).
SO I GO TO A FEW RECRUITERS ARMY NAVY AIRFORCE, AND THEY ALL TELL ME THAT MY GPA IS NOT COMPETITIVE 2.6, AND MY DEGREE IS NOT TECHNICAL. I WAS DRAWN TO THE COAST GUARD AFTER I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER DUE TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INFLUENCE I GAINED FROM MY NEWFOUND JOB. SO MY QUESTION FOR THE GROUP IS, ALTHOUGH I DONT HAVE THE COOLEST MAJOR OR HIGHEST GPA, WOULD MY POLICE EXPERIENCE, ESSAY AND LETTER OF RECOMENDATIONS, GIVE ME A FIGHTING CHANCE OF BEING ACCEPTED INTO OCS?
MY ASVAB WAS HIGHER THAN A 109 SO IM GOOD ON THAT. I HAVE PLENTY TO BRING TO THE TABLE FROM MY POLICE EXPERIENCE (GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILLS,TACTICAL EXPERIENCE, AWARDS ETC).
JUST LOOKING FOR OPINIONS. I HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED THE DCO PROGRAM HOWEVER I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS ONLY FOR RESERVES. DONT GET ME WRONG I HAVE NO PROBLEM GOING IN AS A RESERVE FIRST THEN SWITCHING TO ACTIVE IF I HAVE TO. WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BECOME AN OFFICER! HOWEVER I AM PRIMARYLY LOOKING FOR A FULL TIME GIG.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST I WANTED TO ASK YOU GUYS IF I HAVE TO GO ENLISTED FIRST, HOW FREQUENTLY ARE OFFICER POSITIONS AVAILABLE TO ENLISTED COASTIES? JUST WANT SOME PIECE OF MIND THAT IF I HAD TO GO ENLISTED I COULD MAKE OFFICER WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO. THE OBJECT OF ALL THIS IS TO ESTABLISH A GOOD CAREER THAT WAS JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER THAN BEING A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER.
I'm not an OCS grad or an officer but I've been assisting several subordinates who are applying to OCS. You have opportunity in the USCG. Do you wish to stay in the law enforcement realm? We have need of Legal/Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers. CGIS (Coast Guard Investigative Service) agents are needed but the selection process is tight. You need to talk to a USCG Recruiter about this matter because that's where it all starts for you since you're not an active-duty or Reserve Coastie. One other minor, but notable, item: use lower-case when posting. Upper-case letters = shouting.
OJ: Contact your local recruiter and talk with them about the Selective Reserve Direct Commission (SRDC) program or the possibility of an Enlisted Reserve opportunity. With as many units in VA that are in need of Reserves especially those with LE experience it would definately be worth your time talking with them. Don't rule out the Enlisted Reserve opportunities which would allow you to pursue a career in the military as well as keep your current career in LE. Here is a HUGE benefit for you Public Safety types MEDICAL INSURANCE!!!!! No matter what career path you choose in the Coast Guard it will be exciting and rewarding. Chief Thomas, Recruiting Office Denver
OJ, What do you want to do in the Coast Guard? If you want to do Law Enforcement, you should really look at coming in enlisted. As an officer, you might be able to go out and do boardings for about 5 years. At that point you'd be a Lieutenant and the opportunities for LE would start to taper off.
One other minor, but notable, item: use lower-case when posting. Upper-case letters = shouting.
lol i am aware of that. it is a habit of mine due to my job. most police reports are typed in caps in my department. believe it or not that is how the lawyers and courts request them from us. easier to read i guess.
What do you want to do in the Coast Guard? If you want to do Law Enforcement, you should really look at coming in enlisted. As an officer, you might be able to go out and do boardings for about 5 years. At that point you'd be a Lieutenant and the opportunities for LE would start to taper off.
law enforcement is great and all, but becoming an officer is more important in the long run for me. i belive career wise it is the more important factor right now.
If you want to be on active duty, then you need to look into applying for OCS. SRDC is an option but making the transition from reserve to active will take 4 years (I can go more into that process if you like). BTW, I was commissioned through SRDC.
Many people enlist first then compete for OCS. It's very common in the CG. There can be quite an advantage for them when their application goes before the selection board. That said, there are a lot of people who are selected with no CG experience at all. It all comes down to "the needs of the service." If it is determined that we need a lot of new engineers this year, then those with engineering degrees will selected. Or, it could be that next time around, we need exactly what you bring to the table. You'll never know until you try.
Go talk to a recruiter. You really can't start too soon on your package. Check out coastguardocs.org. Keep your questions coming. We'll help out as much as we can.
