OK, so here's the scenery. Going to Basic in a week, aiming for AST. There is the obvious possibility that I won't make it, and as much as some of the AST's I've spoken to would disagree with my strategy, I'd like to have a firm backup plan if I fail to get AST, or for some other reason I can't go that route.

Stats are normal color vision and no other health issues, high score on ASVAB, college degree, want to do SAR tasking.

As for the specific questions, are there average deployment lengths for various cutter sizes? What exactly is striking as opposed to "A" School? How long does it take to get on the "A" School list out of Basic, and how long between that time and getting into the school? What kind of unit would be best suited to someone looking for SAR responsibilities? What's the chance of getting into those SAR units out of Basic, and out of "A" School?

Any information provided would be helpful, so thank you in advance!

Dave

Well you are looking at Opposite, Airdale or Cutterman/SurfMan. An AST is the BM of the aviation side. One of my Seaman wanted to be a AST he was not BM material (he was a computer Nerd) He want to prove to him self that he could do any thing, He when to AirSta and Saw that AST was not his thing and changed his mind.

To answer your questions
1. Is there average deployment lengths for various cutter sizes?
Yes, the Bigger the boat the longer you are away from home. The maximum that I have heard is a 378, 6 months but that was because it went to the Persian Gulf. Normal is 60 to 90 days for a 378.

2. What exactly is striking as opposed to "A" School?
Striking is where you learn your rate at your unit. Basically you are doing on the job training. The draw back is you are learning everything that BM knows for example he might know how to drive a small boat but does not know the QM side of this Rate. A Good BM is well rounded. A school is like College but in Military form. The learning is standard you don't get the BMC or the BM1 opinion on how to do some thing. You learn all the area of your rate with a few exceptions.

3. How long does it take to get on the "A" School list out of Basic and how long between that time and getting into the school?
At minimum 4 months, or unless your at my unit and you have to get fully Qualified before you go any where. The wait to get to school can be a while EI 3-6 month depending how long the list is.

4. What kind of unit would be best suited to someone looking for SAR responsibilities?
First off "someone looking for SAR responsibilities" this is not AN ARMY OF ONE. The Coast Guard is a team and we work together to get the job done. If you are looking to do search and rescue go to a Station or a 110.

5. What’s the chance of getting into those SAR units out of Basic, and out of "A" School?
Very Good Chance. I am stationed in Alaska on a 110. Sense we are the only coast guard in the area we become a Station in the summer. When we are in port we put are small boat in the water and have a ready boat crew. So in a way you could call us CGC Station Mustang.

Interesting, thanks for the information! There is that possibility that I'll find out AST isn't for me, so that's why I'm asking these questions now. Better being prepared than shocked.

Sorry for the relatively stupid question regarding "SAR responsibilities." I know the Coast Guard is a team, wouldn't question that. I only meant to figure out where I should look to go if I want to get into SAR. New to this whole thing, no prior military or government experience, not asking the right questions yet.

As for the 110's, how do they fit into the deployment time spectrum? In other words, if a 378 can normally be out for 60-90, how long would a 110 be out?

Thanks!
Dave

Your was was ok there is no suching as stupid question, I tell my guys to ask as many question as possible but use common sense. A 110 can go about 5 to 7 days before they need to pull in to resupply. What we on my boat is that we do over night trips during the winter because the weather is so bad then in the summer we are underway most of the time, last year we did a 3 week patrol down to Southeast Alaska but we were pulling every few days.
When do you ship out?

Yeah, no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people, right?

Realized only when you corrected me how the question sounded.

To answer your question, I ship out on Tuesday.