Posted on Jul 30, 2019
DD 368 Army Reserves to Coast Guard Active Duty?
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I am currently in the Army Reserves as a 1LT but have seen opportunities to do the same job (35 series) with the Coast Guard on the Active Duty side. I know I would need the DD 368 which brings into my initial obligation being met yet, it'll hit in 2022 as my initial was 6 years. However, the 6 years on my contract simply states military service obligation and could this be seen as just transferring branches but still staying within the realm of military service time?
Officer
Coast Guard
ARCC (Army Reserve Career Counselor)
Transfer
Posted >1 y ago
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It is possible but the Army has full discretion on whether they let you out of that obligation or not. The Coast Guard will not even consider your request to transfer until you have the release from service paperwork completed.
I wanted to expand a little bit on my comment so I came back and edited my original post. Sorry for any confusion it may cause. I understand what you are thinking in regards to your contract only stating "military service obligation" but that does not mean you can arbitrarily switch from service to service or even MOS to MOS when you want. As I noted, the service you are currently obliged to holds all the cards. If they want to keep you for the remainder of your current contract then you are stuck there until they say otherwise. The receiving service has no pull to get you over to their side.
With that, you can switch and that time will count toward initial service payback requirements (8 years). It is done regularly between all services. But your original contract is basically void if you switch. You will receive a new service obligation with your new service.
And Captain Cable, the Coast Guard is considered military duty because it is a military service just like the other services. It has nothing to do with the potential of transferring to the Navy which it has not done since WWII. Additionally, It doesn't automatically transfer to the Navy during a declared war. All or none if the service can be placed under Naval Command but the Coast Guard is still the Coast Guard, even when operating under the Navy. Similar to how the Marine Corps operates. As an example, Coast Guard Boatswain Mates were still in the Coast Guard when they landed troops on Normandy and in the Pacific Theater.
I wanted to expand a little bit on my comment so I came back and edited my original post. Sorry for any confusion it may cause. I understand what you are thinking in regards to your contract only stating "military service obligation" but that does not mean you can arbitrarily switch from service to service or even MOS to MOS when you want. As I noted, the service you are currently obliged to holds all the cards. If they want to keep you for the remainder of your current contract then you are stuck there until they say otherwise. The receiving service has no pull to get you over to their side.
With that, you can switch and that time will count toward initial service payback requirements (8 years). It is done regularly between all services. But your original contract is basically void if you switch. You will receive a new service obligation with your new service.
And Captain Cable, the Coast Guard is considered military duty because it is a military service just like the other services. It has nothing to do with the potential of transferring to the Navy which it has not done since WWII. Additionally, It doesn't automatically transfer to the Navy during a declared war. All or none if the service can be placed under Naval Command but the Coast Guard is still the Coast Guard, even when operating under the Navy. Similar to how the Marine Corps operates. As an example, Coast Guard Boatswain Mates were still in the Coast Guard when they landed troops on Normandy and in the Pacific Theater.
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I do not believe a DD 368 will be approved. At this moment, the USCG is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The only way to be sure is to do it.
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Even before the transfer to Homeland Security and even though it isn't DOD, Coast Guard duty is considered military duty. This happens mainly because the Coast Guard is transferred to the Navy Dept. if there is a declared war.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SCPO (Join to see) - You guys are firing at the wrong target. I understand that there is some sensitivity about the role being the new guys (except for the Air Force), but I do understand that the Coast Guard is part of the Armed Forces. We can quibble about the historical reasons why, but I don't think that's very important today.
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LCDR Keith Trepanier
CPT Lawrence Cable - You may want to review your military history a bit more. You seem to only have a minimal understanding of what the Coast Guard actually is. No worries, I was the same way when I was in the Army.
The sensitivity is not being "the new guys" since The Coast Guard has been around in one form or the other since 1790. It is the oldest continuous sea service in the US since the Navy was disbanded at one point. The Coast Guard started as the Revenue Cutter Service and the US Life Saving Service. They merged into the USCG in 1915 and then later integrated the light house service in 1939. So new kids doesn't really apply.
The "sensitivity" applies when one reads posts that state incorrect information such as a DD 368 will not be approved because the Coast Guard is part of DHS. Or your incorrect statement that The Coast Guard is considered military duty mainly because the Coast Guard is transferred to the Navy if there is a declared war. Both are wrong. So the sensitivity is to ensuring information is correct.
The sensitivity is not being "the new guys" since The Coast Guard has been around in one form or the other since 1790. It is the oldest continuous sea service in the US since the Navy was disbanded at one point. The Coast Guard started as the Revenue Cutter Service and the US Life Saving Service. They merged into the USCG in 1915 and then later integrated the light house service in 1939. So new kids doesn't really apply.
The "sensitivity" applies when one reads posts that state incorrect information such as a DD 368 will not be approved because the Coast Guard is part of DHS. Or your incorrect statement that The Coast Guard is considered military duty mainly because the Coast Guard is transferred to the Navy if there is a declared war. Both are wrong. So the sensitivity is to ensuring information is correct.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
LCDR Keith Trepanier - I did not state that the Army would not approve his DD 368, I simply replied to his question about would it fulfill his military obligation, which is yes.
Sir, and since you want to be correct, no, the US Coast Guard did not exist until 1915. Before that, part of it's duties were performed by two different Federal Agencies.
The Army National Guard claims a lineage back to the organization of the first Colonial Militias in 1636, but the resemblance between a Colonial Militia and a National Guard unit, which is effectively a Reserve of the US Army today, is pretty weak.
Sir, and since you want to be correct, no, the US Coast Guard did not exist until 1915. Before that, part of it's duties were performed by two different Federal Agencies.
The Army National Guard claims a lineage back to the organization of the first Colonial Militias in 1636, but the resemblance between a Colonial Militia and a National Guard unit, which is effectively a Reserve of the US Army today, is pretty weak.
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LCDR Keith Trepanier
I didn't say you said the Army would not approve the DD 368. That was someone else. The point was there was misinformation on this thread including yours.
The Resemblance between the Coast Guard and the Revenue Cutter Service as well as the life saving service is very strong. They just changed the name. Even the Service Academy just changed its name when the change happened. At least you learned something about the Coast Guard in the thread.
The Resemblance between the Coast Guard and the Revenue Cutter Service as well as the life saving service is very strong. They just changed the name. Even the Service Academy just changed its name when the change happened. At least you learned something about the Coast Guard in the thread.
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