PAY AND BENEFITS

As someone entering the Coast Guard as a Reserve 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.

You'll also make a good salary, receive medical and dental coverage while serving in a drilling status, and have access to money for education, as well as eligibility for retirement benefits.

Officers in the Coast Guard Reserve receive the same pay that other military members receive with the same pay grade and status. For more information, download the most recent military pay scale.

Here's a quick list of the tangible benefits you can receive as a Reserve Officer in the Coast Guard Reserve:

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 denotes pay increases based on both rank and tenure while in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Advancement:

You are promoted based on your knowledge of your chosen career field, your performance, and time in pay grade.

 

Training:

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

 

Medical and Dental Care:

Reservists qualify for medical and dental coverage while serving in a drilling status through our TRICARE program. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2Foverview.

 

Life Insurance:

Reservists can also apply for Service members' Group Life Insurance. For more information, visit http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/SGLI/SGLI.htm.

 

Education:

 Through the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve, we'll help you pay for college or vocational technical training. To find out more go to:http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH1606/CH1606_Pamphlet_General.htm.

Get up to date official information about the new "Post 9-11 GI Bill" (which offers a substantial increase in benefits) at http://www.gibill.va.gov.

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, travel, survivor benefits, Veterans Administration home loans and more. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2Foverview.