If I join the Coast Guard as prior service Army, do I have to go to Recruit Training?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 01:09:05 -0400

I'm planning to leave the Army and join Active Duty Coast Guard, since I am considered prior service do I have to attend Coast Guard Recruit Training?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 30 at 2016 1:21 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 01:21:54 -0400

Probably Yes. As a Soldier or a Marine you learn to be a Rifleman when all else fails. As any type of Sailor you need to be a Fireman when all else fails. Ships burn very well and you have to Learn Firefighting.

Response by CPL Wilfred Roberge made Apr 30 at 2016 2:04 AM

CPL Wilfred Roberge — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 02:04:30 -0400

having never been in the Coast Guard I would have to say maybe you wouldn't have to go through boot camp BUT you would have to go through some sort of "refresher" or "aquaintence" training besides your AIT to get you ready to be on a ship such as swimming, seamanship, and firefighting.

I

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 30 at 2016 2:17 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 02:17:20 -0400

That's a quite interesting question, one I've somewhat reflected on with various circumstances I'd seen. When I was at the USAF OTS at lackland before it went to Maxwell, there were numerous prior enlisted who were nevertheless reqd tro go through the whole thing. That being said, that was of course a fairly different circumstance, certainly. A good deal I might think could depend on what MOS you have now, relative to what uscg field you might want to be in. Certainly, if youre going to be shipboard, the point raised about fire and I should think damage control also raised here does ring true. However, if you're currently on active, I would think that, if you might want enlisted uscg, you might conceivably ask about an interservice transfer, and request to be allowed to go to whatever abbreviated uscg enlisted orientation is provided for in your circumstances, as I should certainly think such a conundrum might well of course have arisen before. Uscg must have had those seeking to go in from other services, incl army, so having said that, if you meet the requisite uscg PT aspects, you might need some custom and ceremony orientation training for a sea service, as well as, of course, the shipboard aspects, all of them. However, that again being said, it might depend on how fresh and current your army background is, how much pme training you've had in army, what tech schools in army you've had might equivalence to those of uscg, etc. Given that you're army, the thought obviously crosses my mind that if you've done any college, that might also be taken into consideration, conceivably. And, being as uscg does so much pure law enforcement, you might possibly I thought also have the notion of somehow morphing your purely army combat training into uscg law enforcement if that might possibly be your bent. Now, that wouldn't I think eliminate the necessity of you doing the purely shipboard training, which of course would obviously be necessary, by all means. However, of uscg got you oriented to their customs and ceremonies, then sent you to their specific schools for such training, and or possibly sent you to specific segments of the enlisted training at cape may NJ for their boot camp, yet not necessarily the whole thing, then had you move on to higher level schools for the shipboard aspect in some sort of tailored customized fashion, that might I think be at least well worth asking about. You hadn't said anything about college or your age, though I'm assuming late 20s to early 30s, they'd also look at your enlisted evald, of course, and your endorsements and or recommends, as well, certainly. One aspect you might consider is the the various maritime colleges, look into the uscg margrad program which is explicitly intended to let maritime college grads go uscg in an accelerated fashion . I also have seen that uscg has a college funding website, you'd find it easily with Google. The son of tje best high school friend of my mother in law had a very interesting circumstance, as he was army enlisted then went army wocs for helicopters at rucker. Then embry riddle Univ was to give him his Bach in aviation, so, he petitioned uscg to pick up his contract remaining for army, so, he asked army to let him go early on an interservice transfer, then uscg, recognizing his being an army warrant, sent him to I gather some sort of either abbreviated uscg OCS, or possibly an OIS or indoc abbreviated version or possibly also direct commissioned him based on his background cumulatively, I never knew much beyond that he finished out his 20 in uscg as a helicopter pilot, and is one now for a local cable TV news station by us on long island where we are, it was a really fascinating story. Now, clearly, you hadn't said if you'd wanted warrant or commissioned, or, of enlisted, what level you'd be allowed to transfer in at. Given your being prior army, I should think that, were you to completely reorient to uscg, that you might conceivably ask for whatever max higher rank they'd possibly allow you, beyond your present army rank, though that would likely involve some fairly protracted discussion I'd expect. I'd read some years ago a story about Michael Jordan the basketball star online. Interestingly, when he retired from basketball, hed apparently also been a very serious baseball possibility at some point. So, he evidently did in fact qualify for professional baseball, I did read that. Now, I myself have little interest in such sports, however, purely on an intellectual level, I found fascinating that the baseball recruiters or management clearly recognized that he, being a serious pro athlete, obviously couildnt be handled in a novice fashion both because of his pro basketball training, and his prior baseball ambitions and or exposure. So, in some fashion that I'd pose is at least somewhat analogous to yours, the baseball people recognized that reality, to try to make use of him though I'd read he of course no longer does it. Still, it was a fascinating read, especially in light of the story of the son of the friend of my mother in law, that's all I'm trying to say. I'd be most eager to hear your thoughts reactions and observations, if you'd care to chat further, I'd certainly be most interested I hope the info was of at least some ise and or interest, many thanks, fascinating problem, honest.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 2:41 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 02:41:01 -0400

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member Below is the information that you need regarding prior service entry into the Coast Guard:

http://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/enlisted-opportunities/participate-with-prior-service

Participate with Prior Service

The Coast Guard invites men and women who have served in the other U.S. armed forces to join our ranks and continue to serve our country.

Response by Cpl Joseph R. Connors / USMC made Apr 30 at 2016 4:57 AM

Cpl Joseph R. Connors / USMC — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 04:57:55 -0400

As far as from my base of knowledge, the only Branch of Service that is absolutely and unequivocally exempt from attending any form of Basic Training / Boot Camp when transferring and/or changing Branches post EAS is the United States Marine Corps. This is due to the rigor, length and higher initial training standards imbued by the Marine Corps. Keep in mind, if you weren't aware, USMC Boot Camp is 13-weeks in length, with an additional mandatory ("2nd Boot Camp") called MCT (Marine Combat Training) which is an additional 4-weeks in length. Totalling 17-weeks, roughly 4 & 1/2 months of training before even getting to your MOS / A-School / AIT. This is one of the official "perks" of being a U.S. Marine... Essentially, as a Marine, you inter-service transfer (rare, I know personally) or change branches (post-EAS) and are simply issued a new uniform and shipped off to your new MOS school. However, The Marines are the ONLY Branch that is allotted this unique benefit. Every other branch is required to attend their new respective branches' Basic Training / Boot Camp. So, to answer your question; Yes, coming from the Army, you WILL be required to attend the USCG Boot Camp.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 30 at 2016 5:12 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 05:12:14 -0400

Of COURSE!!! How else are they going to get to throw your ass in and see if you can swim?

Seriously? I'd guess so because of the radical difference in the Services.

Response by TSgt William Meyer made Apr 30 at 2016 8:34 AM

TSgt William Meyer — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 08:34:05 -0400

I was active duty Navy, afterwards I joined the Army Reserves and than the Air National Guard ( Air Force) I only had to go to one boot camp with the Navy. But I agree, go talk to a recruiter only they can tell you the right way to go.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 9:23 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 09:23:03 -0400

Yes, I was a prior Marine when I switched over.

Response by TSgt Anthony White made Apr 30 at 2016 11:18 AM

TSgt Anthony White — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:18:38 -0400

Yes you would have to attend recruit training.

Response by PO2 Katie Benson made Apr 30 at 2016 11:47 AM

PO2 Katie Benson — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:47:21 -0400

Yes, but it's short and mostly classroom!

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 1:31 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 13:31:21 -0400

Cody, you will both have to go to Boot Camp - AND you will lose rank.

We have a program in place called DEPOT (referred to above), but we haven't used it in several years. The only way to qualify for it was if your MOS directly translated in a USCG rating... and, because we have no engineers, you wouldn't qualify.

You'll also lose rank, because all E-4s and above are trained in a career field in the Coast Guard... and you'd need that training. This sounds sucky - BUT - there is a metric ass-ton of stuff you need to learn about living and surviving in the Coast Guard that you don't have a clue about as a member of another service, and coming in as an E-3 will give you some time to learn it without leading subordinates astray because of your ignorance.

Also, keep in mind that there are both age and TIS limits. If you just reenlisted for six, odds are that you'll have to serve all six before you could get out of your contract - especially if you got a bonus. This may put you over the age limit AND over the limit for time in service. We figure that if you have more than XX number of years in another service, it isn't worth the effort to retrain you - AND it's bad for your own career progression.

Holler if you have more questions. I got busted from SSG (E-6) to Seaman (E-3) when I came over - but it worked out GREAT for me!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 3:15 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 15:15:11 -0400

yes you will. The two branches are different enough in culture that you will need to have some sort of basic level training to be assimilated. I'm sure that there is some sort of reduced training for prior service cross-overs like yourself though

Response by SN Greg Wright made Apr 30 at 2016 3:35 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 15:35:25 -0400

Why the hell would you worry about CG boot camp if you successfully completed Army boot? As a run-of-the-mill high school athlete in 88, (when they were allowed to be a LOT tougher than they are now), even Naval boot was a joke, physically. I can't imagine the CG is any harder.

But, just to help you understand, here are things you'll have to learn that you almost certainly don't know yet: fire fighting (the hot kind, not the gun kind), water survival, damage control...just to start.

Response by PO1 Robert Gasser made May 2 at 2016 7:59 AM

PO1 Robert Gasser — Mon, 02 May 2016 07:59:34 -0400

I'm sure you've already received info. It's two weeks at camp and consists of class work and CG core values training. Walk in the park!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2016 4:57 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 May 2016 16:57:39 -0400

They have a program called DEPOT. It's 3 weeks long.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2016 12:47 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 May 2016 00:47:02 -0400

No, you will not. You are "RQ'd" by nature of your prior service. And you should not have to take a bust to join. That is if your recruiter is paying attention. Make it a condition of your enlistment. But you will love your new home, that's for sure.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made May 4 at 2016 2:13 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 04 May 2016 14:13:31 -0400

I worked at a MEPS and never heard of the CG accepting Prior Service. Even on that outdated website, prior service requires approval from the Coast Guard. What that means is a getting a waiver approved and if they are currently accepting prior service, and your MOS is a match to their needs. In my experience in 12 years of recruiting, most services are pretty strict in their policy with enlisting prior service of other branches or even their own. In the mid 00's, the Army needed people and was accepting qualified prior service from any branch. Currently, even the active Army has restrictions on PS. If you got out of the Army today, and a month later wanted back in the Active Army, you might not be able to. Reserves and National Guard may be the only option for a prior service wanting back in the military. It all depends on numbers and the HRC business rules regarding prior service given to recruiting command.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2016 4:05 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 May 2016 16:05:46 -0400

Yes you do.

Response by CWO4 Jeff Sander made May 8 at 2016 7:12 AM

CWO4 Jeff Sander — Sun, 08 May 2016 07:12:57 -0400

When I was a CG recruiter you had too but I'm not sure about today. You're recruiter will know for sure though. One piece of advice though, when you're frustrated (and everyone gets frustrated sometimes), do NOT put down the CG and hold up the Army as a better model. The CG people will always say or think "If the Army was so great you always had the chance to stay there". Otherwise I'm sure you'll find it a different culture one in which you can go as far as your ambition lets you.

Response by PO1 Dave Porter made May 10 at 2016 7:08 AM

PO1 Dave Porter — Tue, 10 May 2016 07:08:36 -0400

I was prior AF and had to go through Recruit Training at Cape May for the Coast Guard. However, it was more orientation than what a new recruit goes through. Civvies after the workday, allowed to go off-base on the weekends, and stayed in the permanent party barracks. Pretty easy going. Of course, that was 1984. May have changed since

Response by CWO4 David Smith made May 10 at 2016 10:07 AM

CWO4 David Smith — Tue, 10 May 2016 10:07:28 -0400

I don't know if things have changed or not, the answer used to be yes, but not the. Same as someone who has never been in. You'd go to classes to learn some history, seamanship, laws and treaties, different rates (what is available to do such as in aviation, engineering, admin, operations, etc, essentially your specialty), times in grade and vehicles for promotion, etc. Significantly better than new recruits who they are trying to teach how to work together as a team and not a group of individuals going their own way.
Best to go talk to a recruiter and get the latest skinny.....

Response by PO1 Terese Duffy made May 15 at 2016 9:48 PM

PO1 Terese Duffy — Sun, 15 May 2016 21:48:56 -0400

Cody, really the best people to ask this question is a Coast Guard recruiter. If you really want to be part of the Coast Guard then do it. If you would have to would be required to go back through a full boot camp it wouldn't be as difficult as your first because you are physically fit, have an idea of how the military works, and already have the mind set. You would only have to learn the Coast Guard ways. If your MOS doesn't match up to any of the CG rates you get to learn a whole new occupation.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2016 10:39 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 May 2016 22:39:25 -0400

Unfortunately, SPC Voye... You would have to attend Basic training again, as well as, either go to "A" school for a specific a Rating, or OJT a Rating (Called "Striking") in order to be made a Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4). The Coast Guard does not have an E-4 pay grade for Non-rated MOS. Furthermore, Coast Guard Basic is more focused on skills used by sailors on small boats and Cutters, with an emphasis on water skills and ship life, and not so much on combat. So it is an entirely different skill set. A crappy situation to lose rank, I know, but it is just the nature of the Coast Guard. As the smallest branch, there is a tendency to be stingy in the application of standards that may apply to other branches. Interestingly enough, several years back, I contemplated re-enlistment in the NG. The recruiter told me I would keep my rate/rank, and would not be required to go to basic, but would have to go to combat training.... So what's good for the goose was not necessarily good for the gander..

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2017 2:14 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 14:14:59 -0400

Yes you do. I was prior ARMY 95B(MP) and switched to USCG in 1997. USCG boot camp is required and I was there with prior Navy and Marines.

Response by CPO Robert Henry made Jun 26 at 2017 4:25 PM

CPO Robert Henry — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 16:25:23 -0400

I did and I was lucky to get in. This was in the 90's and I got out of the Army as a SGT went to college and then joined the CG just before I was too old to re-up. I was also told I was "too army" for the remainder of my 17 years in the CG so you'll have to be more flexible than my thick skull. I think however things may have changed and your best answers will come from the local recruiter. Depending on your time between services however it may be mandatory to do basic again.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2019 9:17 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 May 2019 21:17:37 -0400

is there a lot of yelling

Response by PO2 Eddison Schnee made Aug 15 at 2019 4:10 PM

PO2 Eddison Schnee — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 16:10:25 -0400

I believe it's now mandatory to attend BCT when joining the naval svc, including Navy or Marine.; not so sure about new MOS/ RATE (AIT)...

Response by SGT William Pelletier made Aug 16 at 2019 11:05 PM

SGT William Pelletier — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 23:05:14 -0400

Once you been through basic in any service you can change and not do basic over again