Anyone USCG?

[threlevenguy]

Thinking about signing up, anyone in the US Coast Guard? If so, what's your MOS and how's the pay/benefits? I saw a recruiter today, just want some outside input. Thanks.

[Ral]

what are you interested in? I had some coastie friends in Pensacola, but they're all stll there. I might be able to shed a little light on it, depending on what more specifically you want to know.

[threlevenguy]

Well, I'm interested in 4 years because I still want to go to school and such. I'm interested in being a Gunner's Mate because I enjoy being around weaponry. I'm in VA so would I be stationed here, or would they move me? Also, is it an exciting life? I would like to see the world, and the military is always the best thing for that.

[Ral]

I mostly knew officers in the aviation pipeline, but one was enlisted first and the other had spent three years on a cutter. They loved it. And, it's a pretty nice life. You don't get deployed as much, you still do some really cool stuff (drug busts, rescue operations, etc). I don't have much for you other than that except to look into aircrew school. I think they're the ones who man the machine guns on helicopters when chasing down drug boats. But, I'm a bit biased towards aviation.

[Car Addict]

my best friend basically apart of my family is currently in the coast guard academy. he absolutely loves everything about it. so ya i can ask him what ever you want.

[325_e30]

I have a couple of friends in the CG and I have yet to hear a complaint. They all love it, but they're all in aviation.

[ChaseN]

Coast Guard is pretty f*ckin balls...my best friend is in it, we're from VA also, and he got stationed down near Norfolk. Spends 3 months out on a cutter in the Carribean mostly, hits some sweet port of calls, and then spends 3 months stateside (most of which it seems like hes home in NOVA for). He's a Gunner's mate, and has some pretty rad stories about boarding ships suspected of smuggling, etc. He even made the news once down in Florida for some big heroin bust.

It all depends what you want out of the military. I'm in the Marines (wouldn't trade it for anything) but sometimes, the chillin out in the Carribean seems pretty attractive compared to where Uncle Sam tends to send peeps like me these days...

Go for it. You'll love it, at least after the first 8 weeks ;)

Edit: As far as seeing the world, you aint gonna see much outside of the Americas in the CG...join the Air Force if thats what you want. Low deployment rates, sweet bases all over the world (Italy, Japan, Germany, etc.) and some pretty sick bonuses it seems.