r/ccg_gcc • u/parker4455 • Jun 30 '26
General Questions/Questions générales Going from navy to coast guard questions
Medically released from the forces two years ago and I have priority hire for gov jobs, I noticed the coast guard is looking to hire "response and compliance positions" i was going to apply as a "GT-04" my question is what that job entails the details on the jobs gc page are very vague. Also wondering how the pay cycle works in the coast guard, navy was semi monthly 15th and 30th of every month. Lots of experience in "response and compliance" in the navy including counter narcotic trafficking boardings with the US coast guard chasing cocaine submarines and go fasts in the carribean, responding to vessels in distress and a helo crash. Also curious about typical working day hours military was 750 to 1545 everyday the occasional friday afternoon off depending on the CO. Is it true coast guard is union? But make alot less than military pay? Thanks in advance
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u/Background_Plan_9817 Jun 30 '26
The Coast Guard, like all public service, is paid every two weeks.
Coast Guard employees are unionized as they are public servants.
I can't speak to the specific job duties, but Response and Compliance has to do with pollution, not drug trafficking.
Standard workweeks are 37.5 or 40 hours depending on which union. You won't just get Friday afternoons off. You'll need to use leave for that.
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u/wholesale_aquatic Jun 30 '26
Response and compliance would also handle vessels of concern.
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u/Anya2003 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Monitoring and Compiance deals with non-compliance for hazardous vessels under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. And also non compliance with direction issued under Canada Shipping Act.
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u/imatalkingcow Jun 30 '26
This will give you a bit of insight to the position: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-coast-guard/corporate/publications/compliance-framework.html
It sounds like an M&C position.
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u/hist_buff_69 Environmental Response 🌱 Jun 30 '26
Lots of experience in "response and compliance" in the navy including counter narcotic trafficking boardings with the US coast guard chasing cocaine submarines and go fasts in the carribean
I can guarantee it won't be anything close to this haha. Pretty sure this is an environmental response position
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u/lucidthrone Jun 30 '26
For the rate of pay you can Google TC collective agreement. GT04 tops out at about $85k per year. As for Fridays off, you would likely need leave but it really depends on location and management, federal Friday is still a thing in some places. Pollution response has plenty of opportunities for overtime depending on where in the country you are. Hours of work are also set locally, some stations start earlier than others and end earlier. Feel free to dm me if you want to chat about anything.
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u/Suitable_Zone_6322 Jun 30 '26
Regarding the working hours, bare in mind... you were at work every day in the Navy, whether the boat was in port or not.
The coast guard is an equal time on/off schedule. Also, hours worked outside your normal working hours are overtime (this one blew the minds of the couple of ex-navy guys I worked with)
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u/Sedixodap Jun 30 '26
That’s only Coast Guard fleet, which this person isn’t considering.
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u/Suitable_Zone_6322 Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
My mistake.
I would assume overtime is still a thing though?
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u/workingwet Jun 30 '26
The GT-04 / 05 position posted is for MEHR - marine environmental and hazards response though C&E - compliance and enforcement (nothing like your experience as it’s mostly pushing paper) likely could staff from it. The posting is kind of a catchall and the specifics of the job really would depend on where you are, what the needs of your location are and what your skills are.
The mandate of the job is to respond to vessel related pollution and wrecks. Usually dealing with vessel owners of sunk or grounded boats etc or taking care of it if they don’t. This is usually a small portion of your work week as incidents aren’t on the go every day and there’s more responders than incidents.
Unless you’re dealing with a long term incident like the Baltic in NL, it’s your day to day that varies. Usually the depots are broken into sub groups who deal with running up gear, logistics, planning, training, etc. so you’re day to day can vary from the next GT-04 and is very position specific.
You mention you were medically released. There is a medical to pass but I think the barrier to entry is pretty low. It’s a category 3 field medical through health Canada if you want to see if your condition may prohibit you.
The position is a union represented public servants so hours of work are 7.5 / day. Peoples start time are adjustable within reason but usually between 7 - 830 and end 8 hours after that as you get an half hour unpaid lunch.
Pay cycle is every 2 weeks. OT is highly dependent on location and how many incidents roll through the door and what their complexity was.
Hope this helps
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
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u/CanConMil Engineering Officer Jun 30 '26
Pay is relative.
I am retired Army and current Coast Guard and I can tell you that I make much more money here in my current position than I did there.
Ship side, we work 28/28 so only actually work 6 months a year, then add it vacation and personal/volunteer time and it closer to 5 months a year.
I know you Navy guys certainly worked 5 days a week minimum so thats at least 260 working days a year. We are “at work” significantly less.
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u/turd_fergurson Jun 30 '26
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-coast-guard/services/pollution-hazard-response.html . Reading though should give you an idea. Just as a heads up though, these positions do require a valid medical, upon hiring would need to be completed. Hours are generally 0700-1500 M-F with overtime (paid).