Coast Guard

[scout2191]

I wabt to become a coast guard pilot after college, and i was wondering if there were any USCG pilots who could maube give me a hand in the best ways to get there. I am currently a senior in high school. I work at an FBO at a local airport. I am trying to get my private pilot and then maybe my commericial. I was wondering if there are any specific things that they look for when you apply.

Thanks
Evan

 

[Falconjet]

Coast Guard Aviation

Scout: I sent you a PM with some info that I hope will be helpful. If any other folks out there are interested in some info or opinion on CG aviation feel free to PM me and I'll give you my take on the CG. I recently retired from the CG and flew Falcons (hence the name) only during my career, but I know lots of helo and Herc guys and can get you in touch with people who can give you more recent info if you want it. Best of luck to you Scout.

 

[Mu2Driver]

How about the chances of a cross commission????
I grew up living on the coast and I miss the ocean now more than ever living in Colorado.
Besides I think it would be much cooler living in Miami or Kodiak, Alaska than North Dakota or Montana...

 

[Falconjet]

Direct Commission

The CG gets a lot of pilots from the other services, although they have obviously completed their obligation to their former service. The process is Direct Commission Aviator (DCA) and I'd estimate that nearly a third of the CG's 600 pilots at any one time are DCAs. The down side is they usually come in as an O2 (LTJG), regardless of their current rank. Two reasons for this, one fairly sensible the other perhaps not so. You actually need the time in the CG to learn the CG way and your new mission before going up for a promotion board to ensure success (fairly sensible). The other reason is because thats the way they've always done it (not so sensible, but consider that many of the DCAs also come from the Army and if they were warrants in the Army they are actually getting promoted up). (CG doesn't have warrant officer pilots. They do have warrant officer aeronautical engineers and flight crew members and they also have commissioned pilots who don't have college degrees). Back in the 70s there were some pilots who came over as interservice transfers and maintained their rank but that program has pretty much been abandoned as far as I know.

Anyway, the CG does get a lot of excellent pilots through the DCA program and you shuld check it out if you want to fly over the water in crummy weather and save lives.