Coast Guard Ladies

[ali1005]

I'm not sure if this is where this goes but anyway.

I think to think I know a fair amount about the military, because of my exDB and brother and other family members being in, but the one branch I know absolutely nothing about it the Coast Guard, and one of my good friends is seriously considering joining.
So...I'm interested in just knowing some basics I guess. I've looked at the website but it's all greek to me pretty much. I guess I just want to know the main gist of the Coast Guard...I don't know if that's even possible haha. Just info about jobs, deployments, locations of bases...things like that I guess. Any info would be appreciated.
TIA.

[USCGBoxerMom]

I would suggest your friend talk to a recruiter and look at ww.uscg.mil for information. The Units are broken down into "Districts" and the mission is pretty well outlined on there as well.

[gunsgirl]

well let see;

first the CG is a seagoing service- most of the jobs in the CG need sea time to advance.

we have been and are currently involved with the Current War- with over 250 members PCSed unaccompanied to the persian Gulf.

since the CG is a sea going service- underway times ( patrols) average in length from 2 days to a full 6 months- we have underway rotations of as little as 5 days out 5 days in to 2 months out 2 months in, 3 months out 3 months in, to in 2 weeks out 4 weeks, in 4 weeks out 5 weeks- these vary by type of boat.

unlike the other branches we transfer more frequently- from 1 -4 yrs, with officers transferring ever 2 yrs.

the CG is small- and with that come "small" issues, we don't always have bases big enough to housing, commisaries, exchanges and MWR services- we Piggy back off the other branches alot.
also with it being small the commands are small- some with as little as 14 people to as much as 350.
Dh was on a boat that had 14 members on board and is now at a base that has 200 members.

we have bases all over the US, not just in coastal areas, we have bases in Iowa, MI, AR, WI.
we also have bases in Guam, PR, HI, AK and the IS virgin islands.
also we have alot of bases in high cost areas- San FRAN, san diego, Miami, NY, NJ, CON,
just to name a few.

over all we have enjoyed the time in- dh is at 18 yrs.