I'm trying to get some answers concerning enlisting and OCS. I'm 27 and have my BS. I'd like to enlist first before applying to ocs to get some experience on a cutter. Am I eligible to keep applying for ocs up until age 31?? Do I have to make the rank of e-5 if I enlist before applying to ocs as I've read or is that if you enlist with no Degree?? Finally, is there an age cutoff for the CWO To LT program??

your recruiter will have that answer for you.

There are officers aboard cutters. It might be more difficult to get a cutter as your first billet, but it can be done.

Besides, there's no guarantee that (a) you'll get a cutter right out of boot camp; and (b) once you get in, you'll get selected for OCS.

Shipboard life as a junior officer is very rewarding. I've never been a junior enlisted member aboard a ship, but being an Ensign & new LTJG aboard a cutter was the best job I've ever had.

Mr Ogle, et al.
Just for a persepctive, the most recent graduating class has 87 grads. Seven going to Cutters.
MC

For information sake; why do you want to get experience on a Cutter? What's your degree in? What part of the Coast Guard's job interests you?

As far as your age questions, according to the personnel manual:

"8. Coast Guard Personnel on Active Duty.
a. Members E-4 and below are ineligible for temporary regular commissions. If otherwise eligible, they may apply for Reserve commissions.

b. Enlisted members E-5 and above who meet the time in service requirement specified in subparagraph 9 below may be appointed temporary officers only in the grade of ensign. However, if they do not meet the time in service requirements, they may be appointed as Reserve officers if they meet the criteria for a Reserve commission.

9. Time in Service. Temporary commission applicants must have at least four years
of active duty in any Armed Forces branch by the published class convening date.
They must have served at least two years of their active duty in the Coast Guard.
They may not use active duty for training to fulfill this requirement."

I believe the cut off age now is 31 for prior enlisted which can get waived up to 35 and 26 for persons without prior military service (Check with your recruiter, these numbers might have changed recently).

Keep in mind that recruiters do not get credit for bringing Officers into the Coast Guard; they do get credit for bringing in Enlisted members (Only indicating this in case you feel that you're getting pressured to Enlist rather than pursue an Officer route).

SDFK, et al;

That post has a GREAT chance of confusing people!
There are three types of commisions in the military:
1. Regular: The ONLY accession point where you can earn this is the CG Acad.
2. Temp: As indicated a bit above, this is for folks with prior service. The TEMP part indicates that if the commision is removed, there is something to fall back on.
3. Reserve: This is what folks with no or limited prior service get anyplace but the CGA. It has ZERO reflection on their Active Duty Status, ZERO. Probably a vast majority of OCS and direct commision folks get a reserve commision and serve a regular AD contract.

#2 and #3 have a chance to integrate and obtain a REGULAR Commision at a specified point in the career.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:

There are three types of commisions in the military:
1. Regular: The ONLY accession point where you can earn this is the CG Acad.

Can't graduates of other academies (USNA, Kings Point, etc.) get a regular commission as well in the USCG? Not trying to split hairs, but I have seen midshipmen interning at a local Sector.

When I got commissioned and for at least a couple of years afterwards, all of the other military academies (USMA, USAFA, USNA) were granting their graduates Reserve commissions (i.e. a USNA graduate would be commissioned in either the USMCR or USNR). USCGA was the only academy still issuing USCG Regular commissions. I presume the policy hasn't changed.

LBC;
I suppose that is possible, but I would guess only USNA. Kings Point is NOT a 'service academy.'

I've worked previously with CG officers who were graduates of VMI and the Citadel. I believe that they still had to attend Coast Guard Officers Candidate School though. They were both excellent Officers.
Cheers!

As per CGRC age cutoff is 34 for OCS without a waiver, 31 for flight school. If you have a degree then you can actually complete your OCS packet with your recruiter prior to going to boot camp. One of my boot camp shipmates just graduated from OCS, was an E-3 with a degree upon application and attendance at OCS. There is definitely a better chance that you'll get a cutter out of boot camp than OCS because the underway ensign billets are reserved mostly for CGA grads.
The main benefit of going E first then O is this. First, for the four months you're in OCS you get paid at your enlisted pay grade versus a civilian applicant that would get paid as an E3. But if you're doing it for the money then you might as well stop now and go fill out an application for the Apprentice. Second, you will gain essential military knowledge that your civilian counterparts would not have. Third, if you stay enlisted for four years prior to going to OCS you gather extra pay (see pay charts O1E/O2E/etc). Again APPRENTICE. Fourth, and for me the most important...you learn about the fleet, the missions, how to lead people, and how not to lead people the CG way. Hope this helps.

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

quote:

The main benefit of going E first then O is this. First, for the four months you're in OCS you get paid at your enlisted pay grade versus a civilian applicant that would get paid as an E3.

Correction.......EVERYONE is paid as an E-5 while atending OCS, unless you were enlisted at a higher grade.