Military question

[DaisyD]

My son is graduating next week and just sprang on me that he wants to join the Coast Guard! He apparantly has been looking at this for sometime as he knew the answer to every question I had. I don't know what to think. He has been in the jumpstart college program his entire senior year and I thought he was going to get the basics there and then transfer over to a four year college. Anyone have anything good to say about the USCG or have any experience at all? Bad enough he graduates but now it seems he is flying coop already!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Great experience. He'll gain leadership skills, teamwork skills, a trade, money for college, work experience and countless other skills and attributes.

 

[DaisyD]

He has informed me that he doesn't really want a degree anymore. He wants to go technical. We were going to pay for as much college as he wanted so that wasn't a problem. Of course the other skills he would learn would be great. I have just never heard much of the USCG.

 

[ElizK]

God bless him for wanting to serve! You must have done a great job as a parent for him to be the kind of person that would want to do this. I have so much respect for the military.

 

[jsmith]

the coast guard ROCKS-they are so important to water safety and the safety of our territorial waters-have him look into the Coast Guard Academy ( suprise surprise there is one and like the other military academies a great education).

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

Daisy D,

My husband has been in the Coast Guard over 20 years and as loved every minute of it. I think it would be a great opportunity for your son. Since the Coast Guard is the smallest of the military services you are not just another number but a real member of the organization. There are so many areas to choose from. Aviation, marine safety, and drug enforcement just to name a few. Of course, I am a little partial to the aviation side. I would be very proud of his choice.

 

[minkydog]

I come from a big Coast Guard family(Outer Banks, NC) so we think everybody should join. My Brother bucked the trend by joining the Navy--you know, Join the Navy, see Norfolk. I digress...

I think the CG would be an excellent move for your son. Especially if he isn't quite ready for college. He will learn skills and figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.

 

[LadyZolt]

My DH is retired Coast Guard and we both served in the Navy before he joined the Coast Guard. He switched because the Coast Guard has more "shore" billets (jobs) than the Navy and I wanted him to be around when the kids were born, etc., which he was. I can't think of a "down" side to the Coast Guard. The duty stations are mostly in the United States (not true for the other services), the Coast Guard is a smaller branch (as another poster said) so there is greater camaraderie and you get to really do things like save lives, stop drugs from entering the country, doing lots of search and rescue. Most of the military now does tend to want their people to go to school, so there's no reason he cannot work on a degree while he's in the Coast Guard. In addition to formal education, he'll get a wealth of on-the-job experience that will really be helpful when he gets out, if he chooses not to make the Coast Guard a career. It is hard when you're not familiar with what your son is talking about, but I hope it eases your mind a bit to hear from people on this board who have "been there, done that, got the T-shirt." LOL!

My own DS19 just joined the Navy. He's in "A" school now (training school after boot camp). Of course, since both his mom and dad are Navy vets, this seems like a natural choice, but I think he would also have done well and enjoyed being in the Coast Guard. Hope this helps!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt) (Navy vet, daughter of Army vet, wife of Navy/Coast Guard vet, mother of Navy son)

 

[Barb D]

The Coast Guard Academy doesn't require a congressional appointment as the other service academies do. It may be too late for him for this year, but maybe he could apply for next year. I wonder how hard it would be to go from enlisted into the academy in case he changes his mind and decides to go for the degree after all.

 

[Pin Wizard]

My nephew went through his first year of college begrudgingly for the most part. As soon as it was done, he joined the CG. He LOVES it!! Good luck to your son with his decision!

 

[JPN4265]

The Coast Guard Academy doesn't require a congressional appointment as the other service academies do. It may be too late for him for this year, but maybe he could apply for next year. I wonder how hard it would be to go from enlisted into the academy in case he changes his mind and decides to go for the degree after all.

Because the USCGA does not require Congressional Appointments you have to be able to get in to the academy on your own merits. When my daughter entered the Academy in 2001 it was listed as the hardest and most select college in America to get in. If you ask her, it was the best decission she ever made to join the Coast Guard. As to your son, if he really wants to make this a life choice he should consider joining as an inlisted personnal and possibily going through OCS or waitiing a year, going to a standard University for a year and then appling to the Academy. He also might want to consider going through AIM. This is a week long look into the Coast Guard Academy, Highly recommended if your son anticapates going into the Coast Guard as an officer. It is not for sure that he would be accepted either way, as the Academy will have in upwards of 7,000 to 8,000 applicants each year and only accept about 5% or less. If he makes it to the Academy, he will then be requried to stay a minimum of 5 years after graduation. Have him meet with the local Coast Guard Recruiting Officer to discuss his options. Good luck on your son's choice. GO BEARS!!!

 

[DaisyD]

Thank you all so much! You have certainly put my mind at ease and I feel much better. It is nice to hear from actual CG folks! I didn't think there were any on here. Hopefully he will make a good choice and do what he feels he needs to do. I will be happy for him no matter what he choses. Thanks again!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

DH and I are hoping our DS will consider the CG when he gets to be that age. I think your DS is a wise young man.