FAQS
- What are the enlistment options for my son or daughter?
- What kind of training will my son or daughter receive?
- What kinds of jobs and training are available?
- What kinds of benefits does the Coast Guard provide?
- What happens during deployment?
- What is a typical day on a Coast Guard facility like?
- How will I communicate with my son or daughter?
- How do I learn more about the Coast Guard?
- How can my son or daughter prepare for boot camp?
- Can my son or daughter attend religious services?
- What kind of training will my son or daughter receive?
- What kinds of jobs and training are available?
- What kinds of benefits does the Coast Guard provide?
- What happens during deployment?
- What is a typical day on a Coast Guard facility like?
- How will I communicate with my son or daughter?
- How do I learn more about the Coast Guard?
- How can my son or daughter prepare for boot camp?
- Can my son or daughter attend religious services?
What are the enlistment options for my son or daughter?
Your son or daughter can join on a full time (active duty) or part time (reserve) basis. Depending upon their citizenship, education level, and or any prior military service, they can enter at either the enlisted or officer level. Enlisted candidates must have a high school degree or equivalent. Officer candidates must have or be working on a college degree. Active-duty enlistees can select from among a variety of job specialties (ratings). Officer candidates may be able to select from various career fields. Many officer programs are available targeting college sophomores and juniors, college graduates, those with professional degrees and aviation training, and current Coast Guard enlisted personnel with college degrees. Enlistment terms may vary.
Your son or daughter can join on a full time (active duty) or part time (reserve) basis. Depending upon their citizenship, education level, and or any prior military service, they can enter at either the enlisted or officer level. Enlisted candidates must have a high school degree or equivalent. Officer candidates must have or be working on a college degree. Active-duty enlistees can select from among a variety of job specialties (ratings). Officer candidates may be able to select from various career fields. Many officer programs are available targeting college sophomores and juniors, college graduates, those with professional degrees and aviation training, and current Coast Guard enlisted personnel with college degrees. Enlistment terms may vary.
What kind of training will my son or daughter receive?
We're not going to sugarcoat this; Basic Training is tough. It's eight weeks of physical and mental challenges. We want to shape your child into a fully prepared Coast Guardsman, who can take charge and execute during the most harrowing situations. When your child graduates, he or she will be a stronger person, and you'll be a prouder parent.
We're not going to sugarcoat this; Basic Training is tough. It's eight weeks of physical and mental challenges. We want to shape your child into a fully prepared Coast Guardsman, who can take charge and execute during the most harrowing situations. When your child graduates, he or she will be a stronger person, and you'll be a prouder parent.
They will receive additional training depending upon their job specialty and enlistment status as either active duty or reserve.
What kinds of jobs and training are available?
Please see the Find Your Fit section of this site for the job specialties available for your child within the Coast Guard at both the enlisted and officer levels and the training available.
Please see the Find Your Fit section of this site for the job specialties available for your child within the Coast Guard at both the enlisted and officer levels and the training available.
What kinds of benefits does the Coast Guard provide?
We offer all incoming full-time Coast Guardsmen a decent salary, benefits that are hard for young people to come by in the civilian world like free medical, dental and eye care, housing and meal allowances, and more. Plus, your child will have the chance to make a difference.
We offer all incoming full-time Coast Guardsmen a decent salary, benefits that are hard for young people to come by in the civilian world like free medical, dental and eye care, housing and meal allowances, and more. Plus, your child will have the chance to make a difference.
What happens during deployment?
Deployment generally refers to an extended assignment away from your child's assigned home base. Larger Coast Guard cutters may have extended deployments of up to three months during which they patrol and visit other ports. However mid size and smaller cutters as well as air assets generally function in and around the home base to which your son or daughter are assigned.
Deployment generally refers to an extended assignment away from your child's assigned home base. Larger Coast Guard cutters may have extended deployments of up to three months during which they patrol and visit other ports. However mid size and smaller cutters as well as air assets generally function in and around the home base to which your son or daughter are assigned.
What is a typical day on a Coast Guard facility like?
It really depends on the type of unit. Life at a small boat station is different than life on a ship. Most boot camp graduates will receive orders to a ship. They must remember that everyone in the Coast Guard has started at the bottom and worked their way up. It is very important that your child maintain an excellent attitude during this time! Their supervisor will be watching to determine what type of worker they are. Opportunity and respect are given to those who deserve it. At this point, they will start to perform the duties of a crewman at their unit. They must learn everything about their ship and/or small boats at the station. Your child may be going on rescue missions, assisting with law enforcement, working aids to navigation, or whatever the mission of the unit may require.
It really depends on the type of unit. Life at a small boat station is different than life on a ship. Most boot camp graduates will receive orders to a ship. They must remember that everyone in the Coast Guard has started at the bottom and worked their way up. It is very important that your child maintain an excellent attitude during this time! Their supervisor will be watching to determine what type of worker they are. Opportunity and respect are given to those who deserve it. At this point, they will start to perform the duties of a crewman at their unit. They must learn everything about their ship and/or small boats at the station. Your child may be going on rescue missions, assisting with law enforcement, working aids to navigation, or whatever the mission of the unit may require.
How will I communicate with my son or daughter?
During boot camp, letters are welcome, but "care packages" are not. Phone calls are not permitted unless it is an emergency. If there is a family emergency, you should contact your local Red Cross office who can relay messages to U.S. military personnel worldwide. Upon arrival at Cape May, a letter from the Commanding Officer is sent home by each recruit within the first few days of entering recruit training. In the later weeks of basic training, recruits may be allowed to use pay phones at the discretion of their company commander. You are invited and encouraged to attend their graduation from basic training. After graduation and assignment to a unit, they can communicate with you during non-duty hours as they wish.
During boot camp, letters are welcome, but "care packages" are not. Phone calls are not permitted unless it is an emergency. If there is a family emergency, you should contact your local Red Cross office who can relay messages to U.S. military personnel worldwide. Upon arrival at Cape May, a letter from the Commanding Officer is sent home by each recruit within the first few days of entering recruit training. In the later weeks of basic training, recruits may be allowed to use pay phones at the discretion of their company commander. You are invited and encouraged to attend their graduation from basic training. After graduation and assignment to a unit, they can communicate with you during non-duty hours as they wish.
How do I learn more about the Coast Guard?
For recruiting literature, please call 1-877-NOW-USCG or simply fill out our Request Form. You can also contact a local recruiter. To find a recruiter nearest you, go to our recruiter locator page. Or, to speak directly with your local recruiting office, just dial our toll-free number and you will be connected to the office near you.
For recruiting literature, please call 1-877-NOW-USCG or simply fill out our Request Form. You can also contact a local recruiter. To find a recruiter nearest you, go to our recruiter locator page. Or, to speak directly with your local recruiting office, just dial our toll-free number and you will be connected to the office near you.
How can my son or daughter prepare for boot camp?
Their recruiter will provide instructions regarding both physical and mental preparation for basic training. As well, they will receive a copy of the "Helmsman" recruit guidebook which details items that they can and cannot bring to basic training. The recruiter will guide your son or daughter through the process.
Their recruiter will provide instructions regarding both physical and mental preparation for basic training. As well, they will receive a copy of the "Helmsman" recruit guidebook which details items that they can and cannot bring to basic training. The recruiter will guide your son or daughter through the process.
Can my son or daughter attend religious services?
The Coast Guard does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. Members are allowed to participate in religious services as the mission permits.
The Coast Guard does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. Members are allowed to participate in religious services as the mission permits.
FOR PARENTS
