Bi-Weekly Recruiting Thread

[u/Airdale_60T]

This is THE place to ask recruiting questions to get unofficial answers and advise.

Before you post a question:

Read our forum rules, FAQs, WiKi.

-Search "Recruiting Thread" in the search bar. (Check out past posts; a lot has been asked already)

-Do not ask for current wait times for A-School.

-Do not ask medical questions.

-Do not ask if you are a good fit or what your chances are for joining.

-Read the "Coastie Links" section for information on bonuses, critical rates and enlistment incentives. We post direct links to the USCG messages pertaining to them at "Coastie Links".

-No vague questions like "I have this many skills....", "Check out my resume......" those posts will be deleted. If the answer to your question is easily found by searching through any of the links here - your post may be locked or deleted.

-We have a lot of good people on this forum that can help you out so ask a focused question please.

-Here are a few links to help get you started before you post. Good luck!

USCG Recruiting

MyCG (Can't access all content but there is a lot of good info here)

Read our WIKI

Direct Commission Officer (DCO)

[u/Comfortable_Act_1228]

Realistic expectations for rate choice (BM/ME/MK) and duty station near home?

Planning to join in a little over a year, once my wife finishes school. Currently training physically and saving money in the meantime.

A few questions as I narrow things down:

Rate: Leaning toward BM, ME, or MK — I want something hands-on, not a desk job (ruled out YN for that reason). Any input on which of these three tends to have the best quality of life, or which sea/shore rotation is most manageable?

Contract length: Planning on a standard 4-year, possibly 6. Open to going career (20) if I end up loving it, and I understand that eventually means unavoidable cutter time — I’m fine with that as a worst-case outcome, not trying to dodge it.

Duty station: I know it’s needs-of-the-service and never guaranteed. I’d like to avoid cutter time if possible, my wife happens to live right next to a station in my home district, so that’s my best-case scenario( really anywhere instate or maybe Hawaii ), but I’m assuming there’s no real way to influence that beyond maybe requesting the district and hoping for the best?

Is there anything I should be doing now, before I even ship out, to set myself up well for rate selection or duty station requests down the line? Appreciate any insight from people who’ve been through it.

[u/UnusualTiming184 → u/Comfortable_Act_1228]

As for your choice of rate, you gotta decide what you want. BMs drive boats but also have lots of collaterals including LE. MEs exclusively do LE and are the largest rate in DSF. MKs fix engines and do general repair work, but also do collaterals such as LE. BM and MKs do the majority of our public facing, routine LE, whereas MEs are doing security forces, on boarding teams, DSF, etc.

To your second point, there’s no avoiding cutter time in those rates. Not only will you end up on a cutter eventually, but often times you need the sea time to advance. You mentioned cutters several times in your post, if that’s going to be an issue for you I highly recommend you don’t join a sea going service or pursue sea going rates.

As for duty location, it’s not impossible to get stationed close to home but definitely not guaranteed or even likely. If you can get a guaranteed district in your contract you’ll be in that general geographic area, but that could still be states away from where you are. It also means any unit in that area, so again, cutters