Hey There,

I am currently in DEP, waiting for a ship date (looking like Oct 13th as of now)

My question is for any enlisted IS folks out there, what is the best recommened path to follow for the IS rate? I was just curious as to what types of things I can do now to help me progress towards the rate.

Also I'm still somewhat confused on the whole "strike-rate" thing and whether or not that applies to the IS rate and whether or not it should be pursued or not.

Also should my goal in boot camp, when I'm filling out the dream sheet, be to put down locations where IS rates are located?

As of now, these are the only places I am aware of..

SECTOR-NEW ORLEANS
SECTOR-LAKE MICHIGAN
SECTOR-MOBILE
SECTOR-JACKSONVILLE
SECTOR-MIAMI
DISTRICT 14
DISTRICT 8
PORT SECURITY UNIT 305

Are these correct? Did I miss any? Also are there any recommendations for places that would be best for me to put down on my dream sheet?

Any help or info that can be provided would be greatly appreciated! As for now, back to working on my pushups and situps!

Ok, here we go...

I am an IS3. I love my job, but more importantly I love the USCG. When I first enlisted I had guarenteed MK "A" school. I thought about it while I was in boot camp, and decided to drop the "A" school. Long story short, best decision of my life. I went to CG Station Freeport, Texas right out of boot. I got to experience some things that other people only have dreams(or nightmares haha) about.

anyway, IS is NOT A STRIKEABLE RATE!!! That being said, go to boot camp, put anything you want down and when you get to your first unit place your name on the waiting list.

My Senior Chief said that you just don't throw your name on the list and expect to get orders. You are chosen.

any questions, feel free to message me and I will help out.

IS3 Izzy

quote:

Originally posted by IS3IZZY:
Ok, here we go...

I am an IS3. I love my job, but more importantly I love the USCG. When I first enlisted I had guarenteed MK "A" school. I thought about it while I was in boot camp, and decided to drop the "A" school. Long story short, best decision of my life. I went to CG Station Freeport, Texas right out of boot. I got to experience some things that other people only have dreams(or nightmares haha) about.

anyway, IS is NOT A STRIKEABLE RATE!!! That being said, go to boot camp, put anything you want down and when you get to your first unit place your name on the waiting list.

My Senior Chief said that you just don't throw your name on the list and expect to get orders. You are chosen.

any questions, feel free to message me and I will help out.

IS3 Izzy

Izzy,

Hello, would you mind contacting me, via email at brianaf81@msn.com, concerning a few things about IS, what you did in bootcamp (dropping the MK), and how long you waited to get into IS A-school. OR perhaps I can email you my questions directly. For some reason, I can't message you on here. Thank you

IS Qualifications:
• Must be a US citizen
• Must have normal color vision
• Must have normal hearing
• ASVAB Score: AR+VE = 109
• Must be eligible for a Top Secret (TS) clearance
with Sensitive Compartmented Information
(SCI) eligibility

Send me an email with your specific questions and I will answer them as best
I can.
ISCM Paul
IS Rating Force Manager

quote:

Originally posted by zes2:
IS Qualifications:
• Must be a US citizen
• Must have normal color vision
• Must have normal hearing
• ASVAB Score: AR+VE = 109
• Must be eligible for a Top Secret (TS) clearance
with Sensitive Compartmented Information
(SCI) eligibility

Send me an email with your specific questions and I will answer them as best
I can.
ISCM Paul
IS Rating Force Manager

7213177,
This would be your best bet. I wish the best of luck to you.

Master Chief,
Thank you.

IS3,

Where are you stationed now? I tryed finding you in the global. Just trying to get some contacts at different locations for information sharing.

"Also should my goal in boot camp, when I'm filling out the dream sheet, be to put down locations where IS rates are located? "

A word of advice...DO NOT GO TO A SECTOR AS A NONRATE TO WORK WITH THE IS RATE...

If you want to go to a Sector and work on your grass cutting quals as a nonrate then by all means go ahead. But if you want to be underway or at a station and get the experience of that part of the Coast Guard before settling into the IS rating I would recommend it.

I am a nonrate on a 110' patrol boat, I'm currently on the IS A school waiting list. There is one IS3 at the Sector that I work at, and I am in a position to talk with him and see what he does just as easily as anyone at the Sector. Except I get to be on a 110' and getting underway instead of doing MAA and cleaning...

Just food for thought...

Basically put down what you want to do, whether there's 20 IS's at your unit or none within 200 miles it won't affect you getting on the A school list.

Good luck.

My advice would be to get some kind of operational field unit. Either a station or ship. To be effective in intelligence you have to KNOW something ABOUT something. Getting experience with CG operational missions is the best way to gain that knowledge.

I agree with Senior chief. Understanding how the CG operates will definately benifit you in the intel world.

Edited because my poor experience was all my fault and I have no clue what I am talking about.

Apologies for offending ArmytoCG.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ih8hippies2,

ih8hippies2 obviously you had a bad experience in your job, either your fault or just bad leadership. Also how can you say how the IS route is when you are seperated and it has only been around a year and a half. Either way that was you, don't put a bad taste in someone elses mouth becuse of your opinion, let them decide if they like it for themselves.

quote:

Originally posted by ArmytoCG:
ih8hippies2 obviously you had a bad experience in your job, either your fault or just bad leadership. Also how can you say how the IS route is when you are seperated and it has only been around a year and a half. Either way that was you, don't put a bad taste in someone elses mouth becuse of your opinion, let them decide if they like it for themselves.

Ok - the thread was asking for advice. I simply put my two cents in. Please ignore my 4+ years experience dealing with that side and direct knowledge of continuing practice. I have no clue what I am talking about.

Sorry, sir.