Son considering Coast Guard

[Sail123]

Watch these two video clips about military service today, before signing up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmhRvvMu_cs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8253uMoIo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[KD3PC]

18 is never too young to decide to change your life. I have several friends who did quite well (money, family and life) while career military AND now have a very successful career in the private sector. Going in at 18 will get you out and a pension by 40 which will let you build another retirement in the private sector before you really retire at 60.

Were I in charge of the nation, I would guarantee every active duty military a college career and NO federal income tax with held. These folks EARN it every day, protecting the freedoms I have. Just have the college of your choice, once you are admitted, send the bill to the office of the president. Too simple, really.

To those who have served, a really big thank you!

 

[drumbeater]

Watch these two video clips about military service today, before signing up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmhRvvMu_cs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8253uMoIo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

You should search "19 year old college party" also, or go pick up a copy of the Jail Report. Lots of bad stuff going on out here also.

 

[xcyz]

I'm sorry but send the bill to who?

Were I in charge of the nation, I would guarantee every active duty military a college career and NO federal income tax with held. These folks EARN it every day, protecting the freedoms I have. Just have the college of your choice, once you are admitted, send the bill to the office of the president. Too simple, really.

Yeah right, send the bill to the President who will then reach in to your wallet not his... I guess I have a different perspective on things in that service to our country should be honorable not profitable.

For those who serve honorably, Thank you.

 

[Chief RA]

A married E3 under 1 yr makes $3500 a month and much of it is tax free! Family medical, dental, all family transfer costs paid, etc! My granddaughter and soldier husband got a $1500 a month pay raise when he joined! Military retirements are large. My civilian friends do not make a retirement like mine!

Chief (CWO3)

 

[Gudenuph]

Coast Guard

A married E3 under 1 yr makes $3500 a month and much of it is tax free! Family medical, dental, all family transfer costs paid, etc! My granddaughter and soldier husband got a $1500 a month pay raise when he joined! Military retirements are large. My civilian friends do not make a retirement like mine!

Chief (CWO3)

That's sure a lot better than my 2- $20, 1- $10 and a $2 bill every month, rain or shine. I must have been in the wrong branch of the service. LOL
Geohan

 

[xcyz]

A married E3 under 1 yr makes $3500 a month and much of it is tax free! Family medical, dental, all family transfer costs paid, etc! My granddaughter and soldier husband got a $1500 a month pay raise when he joined! Military retirements are large. My civilian friends do not make a retirement like mine!

Chief (CWO3)

My point exactly. Although not close to the higher percentages of income, it's enough compensation, no need for a free educational ride...

 

[MSN-Travelers]

Our son graduates this year and has no clear plan for college. He loves the ocean and boating and had recently considered signing up for the Coast Guard and then later attending college on the GI bill, or maybe just working in the marine industry or even stay in the Coast Gaurd. Any "Coasties" out there with any advice?

Our concern is if 18 is too young to sign up and get a decent shot at something other than potato peeler first class.


Or

Looks like this thread is about to take a left turn into the world of political BS. Let's get back on track with answers to the OP ....

I'm recently retired from the Air Force after 36 years. The uniformed services can be a great place for a young adult to learn both people skills and career skills while living in a somewhat structured environment. At the end of their initial enlistment, most will know if they wish to stay in the service or move on to a civilian career.

The US Coast Guard would be a great service to look at. It will give your son an opportunity to figure out what he wants to be "when he grows up"; All while he is out of the house and serving his country "at home".

 

[KD3PC]

Yeah right, send the bill to the President who will then reach in to your wallet not his... I guess I have a different perspective on things in that service to our country is honorable not profitable.

For those who serve honorably, Thank you.

of all the things this nation pays for with my tax dollars, this is one that I would endorse....not so much with a lot of the other things.

 

[Rick Webb]

It is going to be Tough to Get In but it is Worth the Effort

The coast Guard recently cut its manning and offered early outs to meet its numbers.
I grew up in the Air Force my dad did 32 years. I spent 26 years in the military most in the Air Force, a period in the Army, worked for the Navy and am a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. My wife did 23 years in the Air Force. There are quite a few things in this thread that are not quite accurate from my experience. Dental is not covered for family members you must buy insurance. An E-1 should not expect to make more than $40,000 a year and will pay plenty of taxes on what he earns to the state and federal coffers (some states offer better deals than others on this one). My point is take him out to the recruiter listen to what they have to say then go out to a Coast Guard Station and talk to some of the young Coasties and get their perspective.
There is no rush to go to college it will be there when he is ready or it is not something everyone needs to do. A trade can be just as rewarding. Any of the military services can offer a chance to get trained and grow up. The big difference is the crowd that will surround your son while he is in the service and how the service treats your son. The top of the list from my experience is the Marines. I did not think much of the Marines but after working with them I was very impressed. After that is the Coast Guard or the Air Force. The Coast Guard is smaller in numbers than the New York Police Department so it is a much closer group than the other services and only the truly exceptional are able to rise to the top.
Here is a bonus for reading to the bottom. There are opportunities to join the Coast Guard Auxiliary and go in as an E-3 vs. an E-1. As a member of the Auxiliary he would also get an opportunity to spend some time with the active duty Coast Guard and decide if that is what he wants to do.
I'd be happy to answer any questions or point him to the right place to get those answers

 

[capta]

I'm sorry to be the one "nay sayer" in the crowd, but there are some serious problems with the USCG right now.
First and foremost they have been assigned way too many tasks and have not been allocated the funds to properly carry out any of those tasks. Much of their equipment is many years beyond it's expected life span and there is no way that things will improve in the foreseeable future on either score.
I cannot imagine the total frustration of the officers and lower ranks in being unable to complete the important tasks assigned to them because of a lack of funding and obsolete equipment.
I would recommend a merchant marine academy; they provide a much better and broader marine education and it can lead to more lucrative career choices.

 

[Me and Boo]

You have a lot of information to dig through. Let me pile more on.

USAF 1972-76. Sgt. Bennett when I left. Most of a MBA too.

First, research the Coast Guard, call the local office and ask to talk to someone. Do not talk to a recruiter. Never talk to a recruiter - of any branch of the military.

The rest.

You will never be rich as an enlisted anything, unless you are an E-9. Your retirement will be nice, but another job will be important to survive daily life (and not go nuts). Gen. George Washington complained all the time about how the Congress did not pay his troops and give them the uniforms and equipment they needed to do the job. Nothing has changed.

Sign on to Military.com and enjoy the read.

You can find pay information by searching for military pay. Pay and benefits information for the military is public information. As are the IRS tax tables. We always complained about having to pay our own pay through federal income tax. Military pay is taxed at the same rate as everybody else. Combat zone pay is different and still a joke, especially if you are taking fire.

Joining the military is more than joining a choir. You are signing your rear end to Uncle Sugar for X number of years. A great percentage of those years are active duty, the remainder are reserves.

Reality hit me when the intake airman asked for identifying marks. I said a birthmark in my armpit. He said no, something on the trunk. This was before DNA was available to ID little pieces of body parts. His request meant that something to identify a body part of me that would be left over after everything else was gone.

You learn to enjoy your buddies company, especially after one of them left a pubic hair on a toilet seat and you do KP for a few days together.

You get to learn how to kill.

As an 18 y.o., 19 y.o. you will be entrusted with people's lives and millions of dollars worth of US government (US citizens) property. You will not be legal to drink in the U.S. yet you will see and do things civilians will never have the chance to even dream about.

The years you spend in the military are years you give to keep our country our country.

You make friends, great friends.

And, it can be down right boring. Learn to play poker.

Now to the Coast Guard. Right now it is under DoD and gets the benefits of the military, even though it is part of DHS. You never know when some president will declare victory over whatever it is we are fighting in Western Asia and the Coast Guard goes back to non-military.

For now, the Coast Guard would be fun. Rarely sitting in a hole with someone shooting at you. Rarely driving along a road and have your vehicle do bad things and you end up at Bethesda. And you have sea duty.

Enlist and experience as much as possible. 20 years in the service goes fast and the benefits are more than physical. And, become a member of a very small and exclusive community, it is hard to join and less than 1% of the US population has served in the military.

 

[jepomer]

In 1971 at age 19 I signed up for the 4 year plan with the Coast Guard (draft number was in the 300s). My intentions were simply to gain a technical skill, then the benefits of the GI Bill to complete my college education, but not for "über-patriotism" (if you remember that era). It was simply a practical way to accomplish what I wanted to do.

I thought I might enjoy the adventure on ice breakers or search and rescue, but I was trained in electronics - specifically LORAN. Other than significant amounts of technical training based on Governors Island NY, I had tours of duty in Thailand and on the island of Iwo Jima.

I saved a bit of money and took several of the general distribution courses I would need in college. Because of that I was able to complete my bachelors degree in 1977.

The experience and training gave me much more than I ever expected when I first joined. The combination of the technical training, military (self) discipline, and college education gave me the skills and perseverance to not only do well in supporting my family, but also how to deal with issues when things don't go "perfectly".

As I got older, I recommended the military for anyone who wasn't quite sure what he or she wanted to do coming out of high school.

Today working with younger people in the workforce, it is easy to see those individuals who have had military experience. These people are easier to train in technical areas. They stay focused longer. They get the job done either individually or in a group — whatever is needed.

The Coast Guard, like the Marines, is a smaller organization than the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Like the Marines our mottos both start out with "Semper" — Latin for "Always". The Marines are Semper Fidelis" — "Always Faithful". The Coast Guard is "Semper Paratus" — "Always Ready".

The decision to join was one of the best I made in my life.

 

[Indysailor]

When I was in high school, my guidance counselor recommended the military, but made it sound as if he was doing so because my future seemed so grim, otherwise. It made me mad and I countered by pursuing a career in firefighting, which I did for a while before eventually going to college. To this day, I have some regrets about not serving and wish my name had begun with a different letter so that I'd have had a different counselor.
Three cousins of mine did go military; one just retired from the Navy and the other two make more money than I'll ever make, courtesy of the skills they learned in the Air Force and Marines, respectively. All have said the same thing, that the military like so much in life, is what you make of it.

 

[jepomer]

Notable people who served in the Coast Guard:

A
John C. Acton is a retired Rear Admiral who serves as the Director of Operations Coordination for DHS.[1] Acton formerly served as Director of the DHS Presidential Transition Team.[2][3]
Derroll Adams — Folk Musician
Nick Adams — Actor (Served 1952-1955)
Thad Allen — former Commandant and Incident Commander for Deep Water Horizon oil spill and Hurricane Katrina disaster recovery operations.
Gerald Arpino — Choreographer

B
Al Barlick — Professional Baseball Umpire, National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (Served during World War II)
Edward T. Barry — American Professional Hockey Player
Humphrey Bogart — Actor (In 1944 Bogart volunteered his yacht Santana (as well as himself) for service with the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve)
Lee Bonnell — Actor (Served during World War II)
Milton H. Bren — Producer ("Tars and Spars"), Writer, Director
Beau Bridges — Actor (Served from 1959 to 1967 in the Reserves)
Jeff Bridges — Actor (Served in the regular Coast Guard in the 1960s and as a reservist in the 1970s
Lloyd Bridges — Actor (He was a member of Coast Guard Auxiliary and did a number of public service announcements for the Coast Guard)
Frank Brimsek — Professional Hockey Player, National Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee (Served from 1943 to 1945)
Aaron Brown — Broadcast journalist, Professor of Journalism at Arizona State
Erroll M. Brown, the first USCG African-American admiral
Nathan Bruckenthal, the only Coast Guardsman killed in action in Iraq, and the first KIA since the Vietnam War
Daniel C. Burbank, second Coast Guard astronaut, Captain, USCG

C
Sid Caesar — Comedian
Richard R. Callahan, Coast Guard Medal Recipient
Gower Champion — Dancer, Actor, Director
Howard Coble — Congressman (NC)
Hamilton Cochran — Writer
Lou Carnesecca — College Basketball Coach
Chris Cooper — Actor
Art Coulter — Professional Hockey Player, National Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Warren Covington — Musician, Band Leader (took over Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra)
Richard Cromwell, actor
Walter Cronkite — Newscaster - member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and an honorary commodore

D
William D. Delahunt — Congressman (MA)
Jack Dempsey — Professional Boxer
Marlene Dietrich — Actress
Robert Domholt — Sword fighter
Don "The Dragon" Wilson — Martial Arts Master, Actor

E
Buddy Ebsen — Actor
Blake Edwards — Writer, Director, Producer
Edwin D. Eshleman (1920–1985), former U.S. Congressman, Pennsylvania

F
Arthur Fiedler — Conductor, Boston Pops Orchestra
Anton Otto Fischer — Artist
Preston Foster — Actor

G
Neal Gay — Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductee
Charles Gibson — Newscaster
Arthur Godfrey — Entertainer
Gale Gordon — Radio, TV & Movie Actor
Sid Gordon, 2-time All Star major league baseball player
Otto Graham — Professional Football Player and Coach

H
Alan Hale, Jr. — Actor
Alex Haley — Writer
Wynn Handman — Actor, Director
William O. Harbach — Producer
Michael A. Healy — 1st African American to Command a USCG Cutter
Jim Hegan — Professional Baseball Player & Coach
Christopher Hibler — Producer, Director
William Hopper, actor
Robert Horton — Actor
Tab Hunter — Actor

I
Charles Isaacs — Writer

J
Lew Jenkins — Professional Boxer & World Lightweight Champion
Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., retired Coast Guard Vice Admiral, Deputy Director FEMA
Victor Jory — Actor

K
Michael Kilian — Author, Writer (CG Auxiliarist)
Jack Kramer — Tennis Professional

L
Jacob Lawrence — Artist

M
Guy Madison — Actor
Monte Markham — Actor, Producer
John Mariucci — Professional Hockey Player, National Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Victor Mature — Actor (Served during World War II)
Bruce E. Melnick — NASA Astronaut, First Coast Guard astronaut
G. William Miller — Businessman, Secretary of the Treasury
Bubba Morton — Baseball Player
Douglas Munro, the only Coast Guardsman to be awarded the Medal of Honor
Frank Murkowski — Governor of Alaska & former Senator (AK)

N
Frank Newcomb — Commodore, USCG and Congressional Gold Medal recipient
Sam Nunn — former Senator (GA)

O
Edwin O'Connor — Pulitzer Prize winning Author
Thomas F. O'Neil — Executive
Jess Oppenheimer — Writer, director, producer of I Love Lucy television show

P
Arnold Palmer — Professional Golfer
George S. Patton, Jr. — awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal for saving 3 boys from drowning
Vincent W. Patton III — 1st African American to become Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG)
Claiborne Pell — former Senator (RI)
John Perry — Producer
Tom Philpott — Editor, Navy Times Magazine
Popeye — Cartoon Character
J.D. Power — Businessman (Served from 1953 till 1957 as a line officer)
Ronald C. Prei, Coast Guard Medal Recipient
Pluto — Cartoon Character

Q
Richard Quine — Actor

R
Cesar Romero — Actor

S
Walter Sande — Actor
Charles S. Shapiro, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela
Carlton Skinner — first Civilian Governor of Guam
Ted Steele — Radio Personality
Robert Stevens — Actor
Dorothy C. Stratton, first director of the SPARS

T
Gene Taylor — Congressman (MS)
Mel Torme, jazz musician
Emlen Tunnell, Pro Football Player
Ted Turner — Businessman

U

V
Rudy Vallee — Entertainer

W
Tom Waits — Actor, Singer, Song Writer
Patrick Wayne — Actor
Henry Wilcoxon — Actor
Thornton Wilder, writer
Sloan Wilson — Writer
Kai Winding — Musician
Lothar Wolff — Producer, Director

Y
Gig Young — Actor

Z

 

[Pat T]

My story is similar and runs parallel to others. Was a mediocre HS student with little direction in life. Enlisted at 19, Navy. No where is a college degree worth more than in the service as it usually grants you a commission as an officer which means you start out 10 -14 ranks higher than a HS graduate. I found that out quickly and upon release from active duty went straight to a 4 year college on the GI Billl. I was determined. Had I not joined the Navy I doubt I would have made it through college. Not that I didn't treasure my enlisted time either - would not trade it for the world as I at one time cleaned heads for months but also flew as a flight engineer on p-3 aircraft. Well, long story short is I stayed in the reserves, was commissioned and retired as a LCDR. In 3 years I can start to collect my retirement!
So if your son is committed then I say go. He will never, ever wear a finer uniform whether Coast Guard or other service.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

I'm sure I'll take a lot of heat for this but I wouldn't encourage him to join any of the branches of military (long term) unless he wants just a below or average income and no quality of life raising a family. It's damn tough...

Dang -- and this coming from a Hunter owner?!! Oh .... what did I say?

I think we should ask my wife and kids what they thought of Dad and his commitment to Mission, Men, and Self. I believe that would say as I do, it was tough at times but the Corps was always good to us.

Average income? It is what you make of it. I guess I should also count my Bachellor and Masters Degrees (as Uncle Suga paid for both), as well as travel around the world on his dime, experience that I could not pay for anyplace else, and friends for a lifetime.

'can't say too much about the USCG -- other than the cool ribbon they gave nine of my friends and me for helping them out in 1987, and that the chow on their boat was pretty good.

But maybe having gone from jerking cows teats to being a Major (now retired) in the Marine Corps somehow colored my opinion.

Ah, maybe it's just me.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I served for 20 years (Army) and it is certainly not about the pay. now that I'm a dirty nasty contractor type (and making a lot more $$$) I look around and see lots of folks that did not go the government service route and they have some pretty boring stories to tell.
I would not do it just to get some cool stories but it certainly was an experience that I would not trade for anything.
AND
If he starts at 18 he can have a 20 year retirement at 38. Plenty of time left to start all over if need be.

 

[kesagape]

Enlisted Seaman Recruit...Retired LCDR

I enlisted in 72 after the draft lottery assigned me no. 21. Went to Class A School after Boot Camp avoided the potato peeling. Advanced to E-6 first four years while completing last two years of college after hours. In my 5th year selected for Officer Candidate School. Served half of my career at groups and bases (small boats, search and rescue, law enforcement, fisheries, and more) and the other half in staff jobs in finance, supply, and yes 3 years as Chief of Recruiting for the Fifth Coast Guard District which covered Maryland, Virginia, DC, North Carolina. During my 20 years I received 100's of hours of training. Retired as Lieutenant Commander in 1994. Coast Guard experience qualified me instantly for purchasing management position with State of NC...will soon retire for the second and final time.

The Coast Guard was an unbelievable enriching and rewarding experience. Made many lifelong friends and always smile when I think about things I have done, places I have been, and experiences I had in the Coast Guard. Even today I have two Coast Guard Posters in my office of search and rescue boats in action...great conversation pieces.

My strongest advice is visit a Coast Guard Recruiter and talk openly and honestly and visit a Coast Guard unit and talk to the people in uniform...especially a small boat station. Also I would be more than happy to talk with you offline...let me know and I will give you my contact information.

 

[Freedom77]

I'm reminded of the story of a guy in a bar who runs into a Coastie. Guy asks, "where are you stationed?" Coastie, "Omaha Nebraska." Guy, "How do you gaurd the coast from there?" Coastie, "Have you noticed any of it missing?":dance: I am proud of anyone who enters service to our country. Semper Paratus