PAY AND BENEFITS

As an active-duty member of the Coast Guard, you'll be privy to a benefits package that is largely unheard of for most people just starting out. College tuition assistance (the tuition assistance program may vary and is dependent upon funding. Speak to your recruiter about program details and eligibility;) housing and meal allowance; free heath, dental and eye care; and 30 days paid vacation are just the beginning of the benefits offered to active-duty members.

Pay:

All full-time enlisted Coast Guardsmen entering the Coast Guard make a little over $15,000 for their first year of service, plus they are entitled to other allowances depending on their status. Other allowances include sea pay, housing allowance (if you don't use the government housing that is provided), clothing allowance, family separation allowance and hazardous-duty pay. You also can depend on pay raises that are given based on growth in rank and length of service. For more information, download the most recent military pay scale .

Education:

Through the Montgomery GI Bill, we'll help you pay for college or vocational technical training. To find out more and also get up to date official information about the new "Post 9-11 GI Bill" (which offers a substantial increase in benefits) go to http://www.gibill.va.gov.

For maximum tuition and stipend payments by state reported in the Navy Times dated 16 March 2009, provided courtesy, Navy Times, Copywrite © 2009 PDF thumnail Click here to download.

Coast Guard members, both active duty and reserve, also can take advantage of the tuition assistance program. (The tuition assistance program may vary and is dependent upon funding. Speak to your recruiter about program details and eligibility.) Click here to learn more.

Housing and Meals:

You'll receive additional tax-free money for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), if government housing is not available in the area you are stationed; Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), if government dining facilities are not available in the area you are stationed; and a uniform allowance (for enlisted personnel only) to help maintain your uniform. Tax Advantage: All existing allowances for food, housing and clothing are not subject to federal or state income taxes.

Free Health, Dental and Eye Care:

While on active duty, you'll receive complete medical, dental and eye insurance, at no cost.

Vacation:

You'll receive 2.5 days paid vacation per month, for a total of 30 days paid vacation a year.

Free Travel:

As a member of the Coast Guard, you may get the opportunity to travel far and wide as part of your job. Not only will you get to see new places, you'll do it on our dime. Also, you will have access to military space-available flights. This is a unique privilege provided to service members, retirees and their families. Under the Space-Available (Space A) program, eligible passengers can fill unused seats on Department of Defense-owned or controlled aircraft, once all the space-required passengers and cargo have been accommodated.

Training:

You choose your career path based on your aptitude, physical abilities, security clearance, motivation and determination. Unlike other military services, the Coast Guard offers all specialties to both men and women equally - including combat roles.

Life Insurance:

As an active-duty member, you are covered for $400,000 in life insurance at a minimal cost. You also may elect to participate in the family life insurance plan and have your dependents covered. For more information, visit http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/SGLI/SGLI.htm.

Other Benefits:

The benefits you'll receive on active duty also include certain health care and other benefits for your family. Plus, we allow both men and women to take up to two years off (without pay) to stay home with a newborn. At the end of the two years, you can rejoin at the same rank as when you left. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2Foverview.

You'll have shopping privileges at military bases and access to all kinds of recreational facilities.

And, looking into the future, we offer various retirement plans, including one option that lets you retire and start receiving your pension after serving just 20 years.