Should I fly for the Coast Guard?

[captdorn81]

Ok, i am at a loss as to what I should do. I just graduated college, im 24 and I am working for an FBO flight instruncting out of Orange County California. I have a few friends who are in the air force and they are all currently in UPT.They have been, since I have known them, all die hard gun ho military prodigies. I love the military but I'm unsure if it's for me. I only say this because I kinda have a good life here in cali and why change a good thing. However, My passion for the airlines is dwindling, and I don't know where to go. I have had an intrest for the costies for some time time now. But, Its a big comitment. I still have a few more years to decide until i'm 27. Do any of you guys have some advice. Thanks

 

[Slice121]

If you need to ask then it's probably not for you. Plus, I'm pretty sure you got to be on the boat for two years before you go to flight school.

 

[captdorn81]

Thanks. I see you are a CRJ/ 1900 pilot. who do you work for now? and do you like the industry or are you fed up as well?

 

[Vingus]

Ok, i am at a loss as to what I should do. I just graduated college, im 24 and I am working for an FBO flight instruncting out of Orange County California. I have a few friends who are in the air force and they are all currently in UPT.They have been, since I have known them, all die hard gun ho military prodigies. I love the military but I'm unsure if it's for me. I only say this because I kinda have a good life here in cali and why change a good thing. However, My passion for the airlines is dwindling, and I don't know where to go. I have had an intrest for the costies for some time time now. But, Its a big comitment. I still have a few more years to decide until i'm 27. Do any of you guys have some advice. Thanks

It sounds like you are afraid of a committment. If that is the case, I would recommend you find work somewhere else.

I'm not trying to sound gung ho, but the military/coast guard is all about committment.

Sounds like you need to stay civilian.

 

[PAA744]

Go Coast Guard!!!!

YES, go fly with the coasties...

It's a great exprerience - enjoy it ALL.........

 

[afres bum]

look into the guard or reserve....

c-17's in March, there are 130's somewhere in socal.... March had tankers also, all will keep you within an hour of where you live now!

good luck!

 

[psysicx]

The Herks are out of Ventura.

 

[captdorn81]

Ok, so If I do decide to go to the coast guard, What is my first step. Also, I know that the coast guard does not have a reserve slot for pilots. So how do I know that I will get a fixed wing slot? or is in UPT that I find out what I'll fly?

 

[Falconjet]

Wow, where to start? First of all I have to qualify my comments by saying that I have been out of the CG for 4 years, so some or all of my info could be obsolete. I will try though.

First of all, with a degree, you will need to talk to a recruiter about Officer Candidate School (OCS). That is about 18 weeks of indoc and how to march and salute. At OCS you can apply for flight training. With some flight time already you will likely get a slot, but it is not guaranteed. If you have to go to a regular job, it will likely be a shore billet because most of the sea billets are filled with Academy grads. Once in a job, you can continue to apply for flight training, and your performance in that job and your boss' recommendation will be what determines if you get flight training.

Flight training used to take about 16-20 months. At some point during flight training you will get to pick (based on class rank or something) or will be assigned fixed or rotary training. The CG has roughly 140 helos and maybe 47 fixed wing aircraft. You can tell by the math that your chances of getting helos is greater. When I went through (84) you could pretty much pick what you wanted but I have no idea how it goes nowadays.

You will have about a 10 year commitment if you go to flight training, again I'm not sure of the current numbers. If you go to OCS and don't get flight training you would do that commitment (5 years maybe, used to be 3 I think) and then you can move on if you want to.

The main thing to consider at this point is do you want to be a pilot or do you want to be a CG officer who happens to fly? The CG is a great service with a great mission, but you will spend a lot of time doing collateral duties in addition to flying aircraft, just like the other services. Not necessarily a bad thing, but something to consider.

I would try to visit a nearby air station and talk to some current pilots to see how they like it. Plus there are some current CG pilots on here who will probably reply in the morning who can give you some more info. See if its something you might be interested in, and then get ahold of that recruiter. You could always apply and see what happens and then make your decision.

I could bore you with tales of rescues and drug busts, but I will save that for some other time. Suffice to say that CG aviation is an exciting career path and they do their actual mission of saving lives and enforcing fisheries and drug laws every day. It can be very rewarding and satisfying, which makes up for a lot of the boredom and BS that you will have to put up with in any governmental agency.

Good luck.

FJ

 

[CGPILOT]

Concur with FJ. I'm glad he answered first so I didn't have to do all that typing. The flying is top notch and challenging. It may be the most rewarding career you ever have. I recommend you "join to make a difference" not "join to pad your logbook". V/R