So DC has skills sets related to being a Firefighter soi plan on going active duty but i am and DC is one rate im interested in besides AMT, BM and MK. So im curious on how to tackle school for firefighting (which i know is a whole thing on its own) but im looking for advice on how to advance a career outside once i am done with the process. P.S. I have yet to enlist but i would like a heads up to know how to get a head start.

The story told to new Coast Guard members are different depending on the telling but the long version goes like this:

Early on in his 2016 campaign run for President of the United States, Donald Trump was a long shot in a crowded field of candidates hoping to secure their party’s nomination during the Republican primary. Trump was on his way back to NYC from a small speaking engagement at the Monmouth County New Jersey GOP party headquarters when he stopped at a gas station outside of Sandy Hook Bay, near Naval Weapons Station Earl. As he was waiting in the Escalade he looked over and saw a Coastie in uniform coming out of the gas station with a different color hat than the blue he had seen before. He was wearing a red hat with the words “Firearms Instructor” in white letters. Trump rolled down the window and asked him why his hat was red while the rest of his uniform was blue. He responded “To make assurances of safety again”. Trump, who had a hard time hearing over the sound of the gas pump thought he said “To make America great again.” He immediately told his campaign staff that he wanted a red hat made with white letters on it that read “Make America Great Again.” Soon he was seen wearing it everywhere and it became popular at his campaign rallies. The debut of the red hat is considered by most political analysts as the turning point in his campaign, inspired by a chance encounter with a Coast Guard firearms instructor.

Do you think the new S1 will give us all of these sweet liberty days? Will the precident set of Santa Mayorkas (The patron saint of special liberty days) last through the next Sec DHS?

My husband is set to graduate boot on the 23rd of December. We live in CA atm. I’ve tried asking his RO but it’s tough to get a straight answer out of anyone.

I just want to know what’s going to happen. Is he going to get to come home to help me move if we get orders across the country? What does that process usually look like?

Signed a nervous wife who has a hard time with uncertainty 👍

I’m having a hard time with the schedule family-wise. Just had my second little boy about a year ago and not being able to see them half the week is extremely mentally taxing. I missed my seconds first steps AND my oldest son’s first words. When I first joined it was great, I didn’t have a family so it was fun hanging out with the guys all the time. But now I’m to the point where I don’t want to reenlist just so I can be home with my wife and kids every night.

What is everyone's opinions on this? As someone who just graduated boot camp i can say that my recruiter experience and it's relevancy to boot camp was less than ideal. They took forever to text back if I had a question, never answered the phone and just provided inaccurate information.

I feel that with an actual recruiter rating you will have people that are more passionate/ have more knowledge regarding enlisting and the process not feel like you're stuck at a car dealership getting screwed over by the salesman that won't communicate all the details with you.

Contact a Recruiter for Accurate Information - To keep it simple, questions about how to join the US Coast Guard, please reach out directly to a recruiter. This is because recruitment details—such as processes, benefits, and eligibility requirements—change frequently. Recruiters have the latest, most reliable information, which is not available to other active duty members.

Bi-Weekly Recruitment Thread - Our subreddit hosts a bi-weekly pinned thread for recruitment-related questions, comments, and concerns. However, please note that commenters are not verified recruiters. Recruitment questions posted outside of this pinned discussion will be removed by the moderators or automod.

Finding Information - Many common questions have already been answered. Try searching within this subreddit or on Google by adding "reddit" or "r/uscg" to your search term.

Recruitment Office Locations - This a link to the official USCG recruitment office directory. We’ve also provided a list of current locations (last updated 11/09/2024). Some locations may not have a dedicated "storefront" but are linked to the Go Coast Guard website for additional details.

Aguadilla

Albuquerque

Anchorage

Astoria

Atlanta

Atlantic City

Austin

Baltimore

Boise

Boston

Buffalo

Charleston

Charlotte

Chicago

Cincinnati

Cleveland

Columbia

Columbus

Corpus Christi

Dallas

Denver

Detroit

Durham

El Paso

Elizabeth City

Europe

Fresno

Grand Rapids

Guam

Hampton Roads

Hartford

Honolulu

Houston

Indianapolis

Inland Empire

Jackson

Jacksonville

Kansas City

Knoxville

Las Vegas

Little Rock

Long Island

Los Angeles

Louisville

Memphis

Miami

Milwaukee

Mobile

Montgomery

Nashville

New Orleans

New York City

Newark

Northern Virginia

Oklahoma City

Omaha

Orlando

Panama City

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Pittsburgh

Port Angeles

Portland

Providence

Richmond

Rio Grande Valley

Sacramento

Salt Lake City

San Antonio

San Diego

San Francisco

San Juan

Savannah

Seattle

Shreveport

Spokane

St. Louis

Tampa

Tucson

Tulsa

Twin Cities

Vancouver

Ventura

Washington, DC

West Virginia

Wichita

Wilmington

Unsure if this falls here, if it doesn’t, sorry in advance. Currently hold a CG civilian position and I’m looking into getting a second job. I have questions I need answered as to what is or isn’t allowed, and what I need to fill out a DHS Form 480 for. But I have no idea who to even reach out to begin my inquiry. Last time I asked HR a question about something they asked my LT. Any guidance would be great. Thank you!

https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3652284/coast-guard-moves-reserve-positions-to-reserve-members/

Word is the CG is looking to put a PSU in the NYC/NJ metro area. Anyone know of where it could be?

What tailor is everyone using in the DC area for collar devices/bravos?? Myself and basically everyone around me is having issues with things being wrong even when given the manual printed/highlighted or examples and I'm not sure if this is a unit exclusive problem or an area wide problem.

I've never had issues at any prior units, usually I can just drop stuff off at the NEX/CGX and it be fine, but even the tailor at Belvoir messed my ODUs up last time... My size uniforms are too hard to find right now to risk them

Hello all, I’m currently a non rate at a station coincidentally 15 minutes away from my home town. I am boat crew, BTM, and I’m working on my tac crew qual. I’m almost dead set on going MK, and I plan to go to a-school in the spring. Is it possible to get Bahrain out of a-school? I know I can go to my next unit and look out for the solicitations but I have a wife & new born baby so it would be easier if I didn’t have to move them, then move them back if I get picked up for patforswa. I have heard of non-rates getting Bahrain out of basic, so I don’t see why it would be any different.

Thank you in advance.

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I hope this message reaches you well. Before I begin this post allow me to say I am not intending on making this a Dems Vs. Reps. argument no. My intention in posting this is to explain my genuine fears along with asking for advice, for my next steps as a black member of the United States Coast Guard. Project 2025, the conservative playbook created by The Heritage Foundation backed by now our Commander-In-Chief, President Trump is truly scary. Especially as someone who is close to the woman in his family (I am sure you all can agree with this). I am fearful for the overturning of things such as DEI, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as the disintegration of the Department of Education. As well as using the military to silence protests which is incredibly daming, especially because I have attended many BLM movements as well as Pro-Abortion protests. I'd be lying if I said that I am not fearful and I'm aware of the oath that I have taken, the same we all have taken but I cannot stand to say that this is Constitutional and I respectfully request for you all to provide your input. I am indeed aware that these things take time and it may not happen but with all things leaning towards this and the popular vote leaning in this direction as well as this shadowing much of "1984" again I am quite nervous. Any advice would be appreciated

Thank you very much.

The billets were removed from Direct access as of this evening.

Good Morning everyone,

I pray that everyone is doing wonderfully. I am an IT2 and a black member of the CG. I know for some that may be seen as a non important factor but it does play a heavy role in the question I am going to ask. This has always been a means to an end to me something I wanted to use to bolster my life to the next level. Seeing the results of the election make me genuinely scared not just for superficial reasons but seeing Project 2025 and reading it in it's entirety os something that makes me concerned. Them stating it's a playbook? With rules such as "overturning the civil rights act" citing it for reverse racism? A part of me is truly conflicted. Any advice would be more than welcomed.

Thank you

Hi! I'm going to shipping off to cape may in fall of 2025, and I'm from Seattle so I want to get put on the polar star. Does anyone have any experience on it? Why is one if its nicknames "wide ass government building"? Is there a gift shop in Antarctica? Thanks

Hello, I hope you are all having the day that you deserve. I ETS’d out of the Army in 2011 (Active), 2013 (ILNG). I was previously an Infantryman. In my civilian life I work Fire/EMS/LE (not current) and have some experience as an Emergency Management Director. I have interests in Marine Biology, Environmental/Nature, and generally being out on the water. I have spoken to a recruiter and things should be good to go, one minor waiver, my question is what would be a good fit for a career? I can obviously look them up myself, I have already spoken to a recruiter about this but I would like real world opinions. Thanks for your time, and thank you for your service!

Do we know the upcoming dates for Boarding Officer School 2025? Is there a way to see?

In the Coast Guard Reserve: "An E-6 used a water gun on a superior commissioned officer during colors. Awarded a reduction in paygrade to E-5." (source)

Anyone have more info on this incident? Maybe a video clip? XD

Hey everyone,

I just turned 25 years old and I have an Associates degree. My recruiter said I qualify for the DEPOT three week program.

Is it worth picking DEPOT over the 8 week Boot Camp? I feel like I might not be getting the full transformative "Coast Guard experience"

Has anyone that attended the TO screener this year received orders yet ?

Anyone that is interested in DSF (including officers, BM,MK,GM) I would recommend going.

Clarissa Thompson gave a shoutout to her sister Jennifer, who served in the Coast Guard during the TNF pregame show.

Joined the CG this year went to DEPOT and Aschool. I know we have to hit XX amount of points a year. can anyone verify if I have done that. Im new to the reserves and not sure on how to read this. Thank you.

Joined the CG this year went to DEPOT and Aschool. I know we have to hit XX amount of points a year. can anyone verify if I have done that. Im new to the reserves and not sure on how to read this. Thank you.

I’m 36 female with a bachelors degree, I was thinking about enlisting but I don’t know my options. I am in shape (can’t do a push up but I can learn) I really want a VA loan to buy a house and the whatever other benefits the CG gives. I was thinking about doing 6 years and coming home back to my job now at the postal service but still help the CG (what would this be called?) I just want to do something other than what I’m doing and it feels like a calling. Any info I’d be grateful. Thank you!

Just tore my ACL last night playing soccer and might need surgery. I’m a non rate on a cutter with only about a year and a half in the CG. What could happen to me? Any insight would be helpful

Hi. My friend’s son is in boot camp. And just got station key west as his first post. Anyone know if there are barracks there. It was super quick call and not much info. Thanks

I am moving from DOD NAVY as a CIV to the CG. How long does the background check process usually take ibknow we are encroaching on the holiday season but I'm officially at 37 business days. Seems a bit long for a background check. I've asked and they have told me it is sitting with SECCEN which I assume is the internal security team. I've worked a few civilian jobs and I don't belive it's ever taken so long.