Job Responsibilities
Responsibility in the Coast Guard is based on two things, your
rate (job) and your rank. Since I am an E-6, I am considered a
superviser position. I can make the final decision if my chain of
command cannot be reached in an emergency situation. I can draft
policy for approval. I have to manage the training of new members
to my office. Now, my rate, is Public Affairs Specialists and
with that comes it's own responsiblities. I edit every story,
press release or important email before it is released to the
public. I have to attend the Admiral's briefing in place of my
commanding officer, if she cannot attend. When my commanding
officer is on leave or out of the office, I take her place. I am
in charge of assignment coordination to ensure someone is always
covering the office and in the field. I still get to write my own
stories and take my own pictures, but mostly I will be fostering
the skills of those below me, with on the job training and
classroom instruction. I am now in charge of training my outlying
units as I see fit. And of course, keeping up our community
relations program running well. The amount of time spent on any
one of the these tasks varies greatly. A lot depends on the
situation, in the Coast Guard, we have two work envirnoments -
when there is a case (rescues, pollution clean-up, law
enforcement, etc.) to handle and when there is not.
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Job Requirements
Once in the military the education opportunities are as little or
as much as you would like them to be. After the initial,
technical school to learn your rate (job) you can attend more
detailed secondary schools specific to your rate, if you want. It
just depends on how motivated you are. These secondary schools
are sometimes accepted at certain colleges as credits. The Coast
Guard offers college benefits exactly like the other services.
Sometimes better, right now the Coast Guard is offering 100%
coverage of your college tuition and books for active duty. That
is on top of your G.I. Bill benefits. Also most commands will let
you work flexible hours to attend classroom college settings, you
just have to ask.
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Uppers
The best part about the Coast Guard for me, is the diversity in jobs. I have
been part of a law enforcement boarding team. I have been part of a rescue team,
of which I personally rescued someone. I have assisted with pollution clean-up. I
have navigated a rescue boat in 15ft. seas, 20kt. winds at night to look for
someone lost a sea. I have documented through pictures and stories, hurricane
relief operations in American Samoa. I have flown for 14 hrs. one way in a C-130
to document the release of an endangered seal by other Coast Guard members back
into the ocean on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific. I have met people
from all backgrounds and ethicities and I now have friends all over the U.S.A.
and the Pacific. And I am only 23, imagine what is still in store for me ...
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Downers
The worst part about my job is under appreciation. The Coast
Guard is the lesser known service, so people don't truely
understand what we do, for strangers, for our country, for each
other. They don't know we have fought and still do today
alongside the other services in war (and yes that includes
war/conflicts overseas). More specific, we work some really long
days without time off for it, sometimes for the needs of the unit
your leave (vacation time) will get cancelled and some of the
places to be stationed are really boring.
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Lifestyle
The lifestyle of a Coast Guard member is regulated by policy as with any
military service member. Everything from uniform, hair, nails, to desk size,
parking space, work hours is written in policy. Depending upon your rate (job)
you could travel consistantly or never more than a few miles from your unit.
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Compensation
Base salary is decided by your rank and it is public knowledge.
You can look it up on the internet under "Military pay charts" to
see what enlisted E-1 to E-9 and officer O-1 to O-9 make. Then
there are benefits. If you are married or have children you get a
certain amount per dependent. You get a raise for the number of
years you have been in, up to 10. You get an allowance based on
the area you are stationed in to pay your rent. You get an
allowance based on the area you live in for food. You get free
dental and medical for active duty and a percentage off for
dependants. You have cheap health insurance offered through the
military. There are no bonuses, but you can increase your pay as
your advance in rank.
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Advice to Jobseekers
My advice for anyone looking to the military is be sure the
service you join is the one you really want. There is no getting
out after you sign on the dotted line. Not a positive way.
Research all five services, talk to a person in each service,
visit a base (contact the public affairs person for this), make
an educated decision based on YOUR opinion. I know so many people
who regret the service they joined becuase they didn't look into
all of them or they let a friend/family member talk them into it.
Be sure, it is your life. You are the one that has to go through
bootcamp and then serve your country, make sure you are wearing
the uniform you want to.
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