Posted on Apr 30, 2016
If I join the Coast Guard as prior service Army, do I have to go to Recruit Training?
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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?
Coast Guard
Training
Prior Service
Inter-Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 28
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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!!
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!!
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MCPO (Join to see)
Brad, you've got "Reserve" time - if you had more than 6-years AD time, it would be VERY difficult to get in, and most Recruiters wouldn't touch you. We have comms folks, but our LEOs are totally different than MPs - ours actually enforce federal and international laws rather than just UCMJ. Check out Operations Specialist (OS) and Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME) for possible ratings.
Now the bad news...
Odds are, you'll have to lose a stripe - AND - odds are that you'll have to go through Boot Camp as well. Yeah, it sucks, but unless you have an MOS that directly translates to one of our ratings, you are considered a "noob" and will need all the training to get there.
As for law school, outside of Tuition Assistance, we really don't have anything for that. We get our lawyers after they've graduated and passed the Bar.
Now the bad news...
Odds are, you'll have to lose a stripe - AND - odds are that you'll have to go through Boot Camp as well. Yeah, it sucks, but unless you have an MOS that directly translates to one of our ratings, you are considered a "noob" and will need all the training to get there.
As for law school, outside of Tuition Assistance, we really don't have anything for that. We get our lawyers after they've graduated and passed the Bar.
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SGT (Join to see)
What if I stay in my exact same field. For example, I am a cook in the Army so will I still lose rank if I switch over as a cook in the Coast Guard?
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MCPO (Join to see)
Sorry, Logan - I haven't been on here for quite a while...
Cooking is a special situation - and /MAY/ qualify for DEPOT training and being able to retain rank (rate). Problem is that ONLY a Recruiter can answer your questions accurately. I can guess all day long, but odds are that I'd just piss you off in the long-run for being wrong (and/or out of date). Good luck!
Cooking is a special situation - and /MAY/ qualify for DEPOT training and being able to retain rank (rate). Problem is that ONLY a Recruiter can answer your questions accurately. I can guess all day long, but odds are that I'd just piss you off in the long-run for being wrong (and/or out of date). Good luck!
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SSG(P) (Join to see) 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
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.
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MCPO (Join to see)
Bad news, Ted, but the CG Recruiting site is HORRIBLY out of date. While DEPOT is still on the books, it hasn't been used in about five years because of "abuse." To qualify, your career field has to match the entirety of the CG career field - and for Army personnel, that never happens - the "abuse" consisted of folks being sent to DEPOT and not qualifying for it - then being sent out to the fleet without a clue as to how to do their jobs. When the Army has eleven MOSs for admin/personnel actions/records and the CG has ONE... they only know 1/11th of the job.
Sorry.
Sorry.
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LCDR (Join to see)
My email [login to see] . Send me an email and we can talk. I can talk to you truthfully about MOS and expectations.
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MCPO (Join to see)
Commander, they haven't used PITSTOP or DEPOT in years, and to qualify, you were SUPPOSED to have a career field that directly pathed over... and almost none qualify.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Seriously? I'd guess so because of the radical difference in the Services.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
PO3 (Join to see) - I figured as much! You Coast Guard duds will do anything for a laugh! I got a good friend who was prior Navy, got out for a while then went back as a CG. He really enjoyed it.
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PO3 (Join to see)
Back then, in the early nineties, we would catch a lot of crap from the other services, but it was a great job. The Captain, of my cutter, a LCDR was an avid scuba diver. When ever we had fair weather and no Ops, he would have us drop the RHI with 3 crew as shark watch. We would then jump inthe ocean... He even let mekeep my personal dive gear in his quarters next to his. Days off in port we would dive together... It was a good life....
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
PO3 (Join to see) - Actually a good point. Many moons ago when I was a recruit, you had to be able to pass a basic swim test. As I recall it was 100 meters swimming, (4 laps if I remember right.), 1 lap simulating an oil fire on the water, a jump off the tower with life jacket on, jump into the pool fully clothed, inflate shirt, shed boots, shed trousers, inflate trousers, and drown proof, for 15 minutes I think. No big deal to me, I had my BSA Senior lifesaving, my WSI, and had worked through HS as a life guard, but I know some really struggled with it.
At least that's what it was in '72. Dunno what they require today.
At least that's what it was in '72. Dunno what they require today.
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PO3 (Join to see)
I remember it being timed at 500 meters or something... It was a long time ago.... But we definitely did the tower and the survival swim with the trousers over the head... Had to tread for like ten minutes and retrieve a brick from the bottom.... Don't know what it is now... Probably have to swim the English Channel... Or some other crazy shit..... Worst was the cold water survival in freezing water off NY Harbor.... Wearing either the mustang suit or the "Gumby" suit....
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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.
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CPO Joe Jester
I've known a few prior service Coasties. After a shortened boot camp, One Navy ET kept his rate and rating. The other attended "A" school to obtain his rating and rate. The recruiter has the best information on the current policies, but the one's I described above were from the 1970s. Sounds like, what is old is once again new. The policy has come complete circle.
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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.
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