Hi all,

A little background on me:

I've got a bachelor's degree in Business Economics from UCSB and currently work for a software developer.

I also work with the Sheriff's depratment Search and Rescue unit and am a licensed EMT-B in the state of CA (I'm also NREMT certified).

I'm currently looking at jumping ship and joing the Guard.

I was curious as to which test you recommend taking (ASVAB, ACT or SAT) as any will do.

I'm recovering from a hip surgery (sports injury) so I'll not be joining until my surgeon clears me at 100%.

Thanks so much,
Robert

Just take the ASVAB, the CG will pay for it and it is like a high school exit exam. You should come close to a perfect score if you paid attention in high school.
But of course until you're medically qualified by a military doctor (not just your own physician) all of this talk is theoretical.
Good luck!

Good to know!

I'll most likely end up taking an ASVAB practice test because practice makes perfect.

I was curious as to know whether an officer can be an AST?

I was told a while ago that officers don't get to become rescue swimmers or perform much of the Search and Rescue aspect of the CG.

they can however work as pilots on SAR calls...

So I guess out of OCS, Aviations would be the way to go?

In regards to the surgery, the feedback I've got from research shows that as my injury occured directly from a sport, and I had an elective (not required) surgery to fix it... I should be AOK

I'm already back to 99% (meaning I do 99% of activities I was doing prior, at maybe 70%). Come end of August I am hoping to be at 100%/100%...

So from now until 100% I'm just going to get all the paperwork done and get my ASVAB cranked out.

Thanks,
Rob

Definitely the ASVAB. Are you set on becoming an officer? Have you looked at enlisted opportunities?

An AST is an enlisted rating. However, as you are aware, officers fly helicopters and planes, drive cutters, and direct search and rescue operations (SAR controller) ...so they have a very "hands-on" role in CG search as rescue.
Keep in mind military doctors may have a different opinion than other doctors and cannot be overuled once they make a decision.

I am definitly interested in a commisioned position.

As far as the doctors go on my hip, I'm not too worried.

Again, it was a injury from playing a competitve sport. My overall health is top notch, so I doubt they'd DQ me over an elective surgery (so that I could go back to doing my martial arts).

I could have had no surgery and been fine... but then I couldn't do Jiu Jitsu

I'll just have to let them eval. me and see what they say.

As I look more and more into it, I'm thinking the Aviation program is going to fit in with my interested. I'd love to be an AST, but as you said, it's an enlisted position...

Could be fun to fly some planes/copters :-)

On a side note, do you know if the CG has programs for Officers/enlisted to aquire their paramedic license?

I'd love to get my Paramedic as I'm already an EMT-B.

Thanks,
Rob

USAR, EMS, CERT, etc. are not related to CG missions. There are at least 4 times the number of professional firefighters in the US than members of the Coast Guard, and their pay and benefits are probably just as good or better than the military. Some coastal fire depts have marine units if you're wanting to get on the water.

thanks for the feedback.

The only "problem" with the FD is that in California at least, they're 99% of the time hiring Paramdeic's over EMT/Non Paramedic.

That still didn't answer my question of whether the CG would put you through getting your medic license.

I know the AST's up in Alaska (or so I've heard) are required to be medics due to the remoteness of their location.

Again, thanks for the feedback!

-Rob

AST's in Alaska are required to be EMT Basic qualified just like they are everywhere else. The CG will not pay for you to be a medic. If your frustrated that the FD in Californa won't hire you because your not a medic, sounds like you to get off your bottom and get the medic training no matter how tough or expensive if that's what you want.

You should really think about what you want to get out of the CG, and what the CG is going to get out of you.

You seem like you are all over the place. We have ASTs (enlisted rescue swimmers who jump out of perfectly good airframes), pilots (commissioned folks who fly those perfectly good airframes), boat/ship drivers (enlisted, warrant and commissioned), DCs (enlisted folks who build things and also fight fires), and HSs (who probably have the best chance of obtaining a CG-paid for paramedic's certification).

If paramedic is your ultimate goal, consider going HS; first enlisted, then to Warrant. It's going to take you a while (you have to be at least an E-6 on the upper 50% of the E-7 advancement list to apply for CWO (MED)). There may also be an opportunity to go CWO-to-LT. It would have been MUCH better if your Business Economics degree had actually been in Pre-Med, if this is the route you want to go.

Figure out what you can give to the CG first.

Consider what has been mentioned before: come into the CG enlisted as a non-rate and get exposure to a variety of different jobs before you make your decision.

Good luck!