Coasties sound off

[theblackknight]

Tell about yourself, what you do(or did),where your stationed,good things,bad thngs.Reason I ask is because im seriously considering cross decking to the CG with my time is up here.

A lot of people know Chris Costa was CG but I did'nt really know about the HSLD stuff they do till I started researching it. i.e. this>http://www.uscg.mil/smtc/Training_USCG_BTOC.asp

[brian556]

I am not currently in the CG but am going through the process of enlistment. I am also very interested in hearing from others who are in or have been and there take on it. I am going for the ME rating and starting out in the reserves because of my age (32) hoping to transition over to active as soon as Im eligible. Taking the physical on the 22nd of this month. the billet I will be filling is with the St. Pete/Clearwater Port security unit 307

[tampam4]

I am not currently in the CG but am going through the process of enlistment. I am also very interested in hearing from others who are in or have been and there take on it. I am going for the ME rating and starting out in the reserves because of my age (32) hoping to transition over to active as soon as Im eligible. Taking the physical on the 22nd of this month. the billet I will be filling is with the St. Pete/Clearwater Port security unit 307

/threadjack start/ there is a decent outdoor range 5min away from there. Wyoming Antelope Club./threadjack end/

[theblackknight]

Nice. I was just down in Bradenton last weekend visiting family. That would be a awesome duty station.

[mtneer13]

uscgc munro 92-94...fire control technician...bootcamp in cape may, nj...fire control "A" school at great lakes...mk-92 "c" school in yorktown, va...then off to rainy kalifornia for 2 yrs of ALPATs...we were a flagship for the uscg, went to petropovlosk, russia...several trips to san diego/coronado/tj...lots of fun...

played for the uscg eagles travelling softball team for a year...very good times for sure...lots of basketball, flag football and softball...really fun times travelling all over the place for sports as well once i left the boat...

once i left the boat, the good trips started happening...hawaii and mazatlan, mexico to name a couple...i didn't realize how good i had it, just knew i was 3K miles away from the girl i wanted to be with at the time and that's tough at 21...no internet, cell phones or communicaton other than writing letters...good luck getting a woman to understand why you can't get in touch with her...

we had lots of ex-navy guys joining back then, hell, i had the highest ranking female fire control tech in the uscg as my boss...that pretty much sucked!!!! but overall it was an excellent experience for a 19 yr old to go through for 4 yrs...have fun and enjoy your time, just don't drink too much...

[zx10razor]

Currently serving in the Coast Guard I am a prior service Marine, joined CG about 15 years ago. I would join the Corps if I was in your guys situation. The Coast Guard advancements are getting slow and our budget next year is getting jacked with so it will get even slower.

Also I found the Coast Guard to be a little less forgiving on youthful exuberance. A lot more straight laced then the other services. However if you have all the drinking, fighting on other things out of your system then the Coast Guard is for you. I have enjoyed my time but you have to really watch your back. Good luck what ever you do.

Oh yeah as far as the ME rate I would consider a rate where you can learn a skill for the outside MK, EM or ET. ME will not really help with LE on the outside. Trust me on this. If you have any other questions you can PM me.

[LockenLoad]

not a coastie but you guys are the best

[ThirdWatcher]

not a coastie but you guys are the best

+1

[mtneer13]

i definately agree on the youthful exuberance statement as well as the slow advancements...when i was in, our SRB for fire control went from a 4 or 5 down to ZERO just in the time i was in "A" school, mostly due to the navy guys influx into our rate...made it extremely if not impossible to advance at all...

it was a great time but very straight laced as stated above...i had a chief from another unit that threatened to kick my ass for an alcohol related incident and i don't take too kindly to threats like that!!! we went round and round when he was temporarily on my cutter for the CIWS installation...i had no respect for him whatsoever, i just knew i couldn't kick his ass without a captain's mast in my future...

[cosmok]

Currently at Air Station Elizabeth City, NC getting ready to transfer to San Diego this summer. Good luck getting in though, we are already downsizing in preparation for 2011 budget cuts.