So I've always liked the water, and I've always liked boats. One of the reasons I was going in to machining is I wanted to get a job out in the ship yard and working on a ship or something. Apparently, the Navy shipyard has jobs a-plenty for machinists. I'm starting to think I'd much rather be ON a ship than simply working on one. I'm toying with the idea of joining the Coast Guard. Get some adventure in, get fit, do something honorable and spend a few years figuring my life out. I'm not exactly heading down the road of riches and glory...

At any rate, I'd LOOOOOOVE to be the helmsman to one of these things:



On that note, what does something like that take? To get behind the wheel of a cutter? Anyone here have any experience with the Coast Guard? I know there are a lot of military types here, but I don't know y'alls' areas of expertise.


Edited by DeTrevni - 22 September 2009 at 12:16am

I heard you spend you're first 2 years cleaning toilets no matter what job you choose.

Then they find something worse for you to do for the first two years.  (And no matter how much you beg, they won't even let you start training as a Latrine Sanitation Specialist until halfway through your second year.)

Nope, 2 years. The people I have talked to said there is little funding/over employment in the Coast Guard that the jobs are just not available. That will probably depend heavily on what job you choose. But as a whole, its not a sign up, get what you want kind of thing.

lol 2 weeks.

anyway, i had a buddy who was in, i forget his MOS but he rode a boat around a harbor and took it out into the ocean and loved it. with the coast guard it seems like you can go into a series of career paths (as with the other branches) but it seems like the major ones end up being machinist/engineering jobs or security forces. i would definitely look into the machinist/engineering jobs, you can look them up online or probably a book out there on it.

unfortunately thats the extent of my knowledge on the coast guard

Thanks for the responses! It seems like this would be a pretty good choice for me. I just wish I could find out about the funding/"job availability" thing. I know that's not exactly what the military is known for, but I'd love to get behind the wheel. I don't even want to be a captain, I just want the boat. :D

I had a roommate that was enlisted in the USCG. In 4 years, he says he never enjoyed any position he had. He's also a complete prick. It probably had something to do with his disappointment for his assignments.

Monk wrote: The people I have talked to said there is little funding/over employment in the Coast Guard that the jobs are just not available.

Yea I was down at MEPS a few weeks ago and over heard someone from the CG Liaison office mention how he couldn't accept many more. Apparently CG recruiters are a pain to get a hold of and rarely call you back.

EDIT: Your best chance is to become an Officer.


Edited by Bounty - 22 September 2009 at 2:09pm

brihard wrote: AHM ON A BOAT! AHM ON A BOAT! EVERYBODY LOOK AT ME CAUSE AHM STANDING ON A BOAT!

picts or shens!

Coast Guard: What Does it Take?

A good base tan.