PAY AND BENEFITS
As someone entering the Coast Guard as an officer, you'll gain both tangible and intangible benefits.
Let's begin with some of the intangibles. First, you'll hone your leadership and management skills. You'll also become proficient at administrative and supervisory duties as you'll take on important responsibility quickly.
On the other hand, you'll make a good starting salary, receive allowances for meals and housing, and be given comprehensive medical and dental plans at no charge. You'll also have access to money for education and eligibility for retirement benefits.
Here's a quick list of the tangible benefits you can receive as an officer in the Coast Guard:
Steady Income:
You are paid twice a month, on the 1st and 15th of every month, based on your pay grade. An established salary chart defines salaries for both increases in rank and increased tenure in the Coast Guard. For more information, download the most recent military pay scale.
Advancement:
You are promoted based on your knowledge of your chosen career field, your performance, time in pay grade, and service requirements.
Paid Vacation:
You earn 2.5 days paid vacation per month for a total of 30 days each year.
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.
Health Care:
While on active duty, you will receive complete medical and dental care at no cost.
Life Insurance:
As an active duty member, you are covered for $400,000 in term life insurance at a cost of less than $26 a month. You may select a lower amount of coverage. For more information, visit http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/SGLI/SGLI.htm.
Allowances:
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. One more thing you should note, all existing allowances for food, housing and clothing are not subject to federal or state income taxes.
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 
Click here to download.
Coast Guard members, both active-duty and Reserve, also can take advantage of the tuition assistance program to help pay for higher-level education. Find out more information at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/cfa/cfa.asp.
Additional Benefits:
There are exchange and commissary privileges, moving allowances, temporary lodging expenses, travel, survivor benefits, Veterans Administration home loans and more. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2Foverview.
