This is going to be a somewhat broad question, and for that I apologize, I know how annoying those can be.

I just got out of Cape May on the 25th of April, doing a month of HTR, then have orders to Station Gloucester just north of Boston. It was my first choice because they've got 47's, lots of SAR and MLE responsibilities, and a real good reputation. So I'm pretty damn happy about that.

I went to Cape May thinking I had what it takes to go for AST, but had a change of heart after realizing that I'm young, I'm fit, but not enough to go for AST and not kill myself. Taking the next best thing that still allows me to be in the thick of it, and going BM.

I know some of the paths available to a BM, but I'm looking for a full range of possibilities from people who have been there and done that. I'd like to formulate a few plans of my own and not just wing it through my time in the service.

Thanks for the help!

SN Bajorin

SN Bajorin,
If you really want to be a swimmer suck it up get in shape and be a swimmer. Either way go to your unit pay attention and get qualified. Take it one step at a time. If you want to be a BM your going to a good unit to get started. Take your crewmen and BTM certifications seriously. Make BM3 and speak with your senior BM's for career advice. There are many paths that you can take once you become a BM but they all start with making BM3 so just worry about that for now.

BM1

Point taken. Worry about the critical things first. That said, I'm still not sure about AST. Basic was supposed to teach us all how much we're really capable of, and at the same time what our limits are, and my limits are below those of a rescue swimmer.

As for BM, I have some basic idea of roughly where I'd like to take this, but Plan A never works out perfectly, so I might as well have B, C, D, and E in the background if I need 'em.

As a BM variety is definately a possibility. I have been to a small boat station, a buoy tender twice and EAGLE. I have loved every job but found ATON as my sweet spot. I have had no reservations about my choice but I came in wanting to be a BM and after time on a buoy tender still wanted to be a BM. If AST was your initial desire, don't quit just yet. I do believe exposure in the fleet helps in decision making but if BM is a second because the physical requirements are a little above you then you might be disappointed a couple of years down the line. I will always welcome new BMs to the fold but only if it is their passion and they give it 100%!!! Good luck and have fun.

Your going to STA Gloucester a Heavy Weather station, you'll get to see a little weather and do some cool stuff. Also if I am correct I belive that your OINC is a Surfman, so if your looking to talk to someone about that route use your Chain of Command and respectufully ask him questions about it. All in all the Coast Guard is what you make of it. Ask questions , do a good job in all you do, keep your nose clean, and the rest will fall into place. Good luck to you.

Also if you still think AST is for you, get qualified and ask to go visit AIR STA Cape Cod, I'm sure any swimmer would gladly talk with you.

BM1 P

SN Bajorin,

You come across as a guy with a good head on his shoulders and a positive attitude. Stay that way and you'll go far in your career.

I, like you, went into the Coast Guard thinking how great it would be to be in the Air Program. I would have liked to have been on an air crew, possibly as a swimmer but for me I was concerned about my academics, not physical capabilities.

I went with my second choice, BM and had a great time being a Cox'n/Boarding Officer down in South Florida.

Before I went to BM School, I served a year at Station Merrimac River which the next station north of Gloucester. I enjoyed the surf training we did at the mouth of the Merrimac and since I grew up in NH, I enjoyed being close to home as well. Before that, I served almost two years on the Chase WHEC-718 out of Boston.

I'm guessing with your planning, you may likely come away from Gloucester possibly a BM2 already. Then you can decide where you want to go and what you want to do.

With Merrimac River, the one thing I was a little frustrated with was the lack of time underway. That may not be the case at Gloucester. During my year 84-85, the station handled about 35 cases. The next year I was in the Florida Keys at Station Islamorada where we handled roughly 350 cases per year and that is the pace I enjoyed.

I have never heard anyone speak bad of Station Gloucester so I think you will enjoy it and learn a lot there. (It's only about 40 mins from where I live now back in NH.)

Whether you make the Coast Guard a career is up to you when your four years are up. Again, I'm guessing you will go far. I got out after six years and switched over to Customs as a boat captain. My brother is still in the USCG in his 13th year now I believe.

I wish you the best of luck and stay safe,

Don

MrFreeFall,
As Don said above, you seem like a level-headed kid with a good attitude. I will say this, however. I have never been an AST or been to AST school, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have been good friends with two Navy SEALs and an Army Green Beret, and have spoken with several AST's at one point or another. They all say the same thing about their training. It is as much about not allowing yourself to quit, not even allowing it to enter your mind, and being able to mentally file pain and fatigue away somewhere where it doesn't stop you, as it is about being superhumanly fit. None of those training pipelines are easy for anyone. But, the ones who make it are the ones who want it badly enough. So, if your experiences at boot camp cause you to believe you aren't good enough, you may not be what they're looking for. But, if you are able to put away your insecurities and fear and take whatever they have to throw at you, you may want to consider doing it.

That said, BM is a fantastic job, one that I would not have traded. Just don't do it because you're settling, because it's the easy way to third class. To be good at it, you have to love it. Basically, don't be the "I was gonna be an AST but the waiting list was too long and my ankle injury from high school badminton disqualified me" guy.

Freefall-

Boatswain's Mate is no doubt the best rating in the Coast Guard. No other rating will offer you as much variety and as many challenges as a BM.

I was contemplating changing from GM to BM many years ago, just because there were so many different things you could do.

I would suggest that when you get the chance you get onto either a WMEC or WHEC. Those units give you the best opportunity to travel. After that you can always move towards small boat stations or whatever else may appeal to you.

If you can fit a buoy tender in, take it. best duty in the Coast Guard!

Good luck in whatever you may choose.

Thanks to all for the input!

To answer d1b3, I went into Basic without a backup plan, which is something I don't do. I always have a Plan B, and I pride myself on being flexible enough to use Plan B whenever A goes friggin' south. I went to Cape May completely confident that I could become a rescue swimmer. But yes, I did start having second thoughts while I was in training, and I realized it was pretty stupid to go in blind.

So while I was in training, I started thinking about what else I could do, and I started liking the idea of going for BM. I don't really see it as settling, because I've driven boats before, and had a friggin' blast doing it, and I love being on the water. I know I would still enjoy the hell out of BM, I don't need to go for AST to be happy in the Coast Guard. I just need to figure out all my options so that if my current plan doesn't work out perfectly, I can adjust paths and still do good things with the rate.