Has anybody here on RP converted from Navy to Coast Guard?

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 22:28:25 -0400

I'm in the SELRES trying to resume active duty but contemplating switching branches as a backup plan just in case. For all of you who went from the navy to coast guard, what was it like? That is, DEPOT, A-school, the experience of being underway, etc.
What are the similarities and differences to the overall experience of being a sailor vs a guardsman?
Where were your favorite places of duty you were stationed at?

Just FYI, I was an OS when I was on active duty, which a recruiter hinited to me it was on the ORL. Would I still be going to A-school in that case?

Response by SPC Yvonne Radu made Jun 15 at 2017 10:58 PM

SPC Yvonne Radu — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 22:58:20 -0400

I served in the Army and national guard and the joy of working on with the coastguard. I' etsed 20 years before I working with the coastguard. It took an adjustment o. The culture on my side. I totally loved how they treat everyone as a large family. As you know the cg is small and coastes so you may wear many hats. All. SMS I met. In the coastes were professional and enjoyed their service time.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Jun 15 at 2017 11:56 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 23:56:48 -0400

Never Navy, but attended a lot of Navy schools and tagged along with carriers to FFG7s. What do you expect to do in the CG? If you want Navy lite, then you must go a high endurance cutter or icebreaker. If you want to go to sea, but not for very long on patrol, select a medium endurance cutter. If you want to want to stay close at home, a small boat station is a good pick. Of course, the longer you stay, you may rotate among the ships and stations. Suggest you look go to USCG.mil to research vessel, ports, and stations.

As a GM, you options are usually limited to the medium to high endurance cutters and large bases. Small boats and small stations rely on regional armories for the weapons maintenance. GM is usually a sea-going rate. Depending on the command, you may be able to serve as a boarding officer. It's been awhile since I was Weps on a 378'. Below is a good website that might answer your questions.

http://www.uscg.org/Forum/aft/7360.aspx

7360.aspx

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2017 12:07 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:07:03 -0400

Although I have never been officially in either service. I have worked very closely with both. I was a civilian college instructor out to sea for 2 6-week periods aboard Navy ships. I have also been a Sea Cadet and Sea Cadet adult leader and have been aboard Navy ships underway for 2 week periods in those capacities. I also been out to Sea for 2 1-week periods with the Coast Guard as with the Sea Cadets and Navy League. I am also in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and have worked with the active duty officers and enlisted members of the CG. (Pretty good for an Army guy!) I thoroughly enjoyed all the above, however, I do pick up on cultural differences, I think the Coast Guard is more informal with rank; they follow military and maritime protocol, take there job seriously, but everyday contact seems more casual. I think Navy leaders tend to micromanage more than do Coast Guard leaders. I think that the CG, being a smaller service and having more real word missions on a daily basis, accounts for much of that. Young Coasties tend to get more responsibility earlier than in the Navy. As a result the morale appears to be higher among lower and mid-grades officers and enlisted. Again, this is gut-level generalization of things that I sense. However, I have a great deal of respect and admiration for both our Navy and Coast Guard personnel. They all work hard and long hours. I am very proud to have been affiliated with both services in those roles.

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Jun 16 at 2017 5:38 AM

PO1 John Johnson — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 05:38:18 -0400

You won't find any, because we don't let former Squids in the CG. They can't figure how to chill out and enjoy the job, and we don't want to spend years repairing the damage the Navy did!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 16 at 2017 12:42 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:42:27 -0400

Point of order: Puddle Pirates are Sailors, too.