Coast Guard Reserve Officer Program

n1b4c8g9ot1

5-Year Member
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May 15, 2011
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I was having trouble finding any information on the reserve officer program using the search function. If anyone knows of any threads l'd appreciate it.

I'm prior enlisted CG and have been working for NOAA since 2007 in the NOAA Corps (currently 03). I'm planning on getting out of NOAA and going to the Merchant Marine sector after upgrading my license. However, I'd like to stay in the reserves and finish my 20 years that way.

I know the reserve officer candidates go to the Academy for 3 weeks of training. Just wondering if there are folks out there that have done something like I'm about to do and what their experience has been.

Can my rank carry over to the CG Reserves? Or will I start over again at 01?

Will you be a desk jockey when you drill? Or will you actually get to do something interesting? I suppose for the benefits, I wouldn't really care if I was getting some Captain his coffee for one weekend a month anyway.
 
http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/reserve-opportunities/reserve-officer-opportunities/

This link might be what you are looking for. I spoke to someone recently who has prior USCG experience and completed a Masters degree and was applying for Coast Guard Reserve Officer Candidate School. He related there is a waiting list for the program and it is extremely competitive right now. Best to get the latest information from a local USCG recruiter. OCS is at the Academy but they don't really mix with the cadets. Hope that helps.
 
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ROCIs mix even less with cadets. Talked to a direct commission aviator last week. In his experience, Army pilots to where DCAs dropped down to O-2. That included a few O-4s.
 
ROCIs mix even less with cadets. Talked to a direct commission aviator last week. In his experience, Army pilots to where DCAs dropped down to O-2. That included a few O-4s.

You are correct, if you're saying what I think you're saying. I've known 4 guys who went to the Coast Guard. The 3 O-3's became O-1's again and the O-4 became an O-2. It's one of the only things that keeps guys from wanting to do it more...you lose so much pay in the process. If you're single it's ok, but it's really tough on a family.
 
We could pick out the prior Army guys because they all had bronze stars.
 
Not sure. I've seen pilots with them, even one with a Flying Cross...just not sure where he got it.
 
Does the CG award air medals?

The Air Medal was authorized by President Roosevelt by Executive Order 9158, dated 11 May 1942, and established the award for "any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard of the United States subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight."
 
The Air Medal was authorized by President Roosevelt by Executive Order 9158, dated 11 May 1942, and established the award for "any person who, while serving in any capacity in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard of the United States subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes, or has distinguished, himself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight."

I'm aware it's allowable. My question was more on the practice of awarding them. Some awards never seem to see the light of day.
 
Not sure. I've seen pilots with them, even one with a Flying Cross...just not sure where he got it.

Yeah, it's possible he carried it over from another service. They're awarded so differently. The Army gives them out pretty sparingly anymore. The USAF gets them just for starting the engines (despite the prohibition against awarding them simply for hours flown).
 
Yeah, it's possible he carried it over from another service. They're awarded so differently. The Army gives them out pretty sparingly anymore. The USAF gets them just for starting the engines (despite the prohibition against awarding them simply for hours flown).

Sounds like how the Army gives out bronze stars these days...
 
The medal I'd love to see (besides the Medal of Honor or Navy Cross) is a Gold Life Saving Medal. I've seen two Silver Life Saving Medals.

My highest medal was the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. I'm ok with that. Life saving medals are pretty things to see, but very rare.
 
The medal I'd love to see (besides the Medal of Honor or Navy Cross) is a Gold Life Saving Medal. I've seen two Silver Life Saving Medals.

The only Gold Lifesaving Medal I can even remember is for the guy who jumped in the Potomac after the Air Florida crash back in the 80's to save a woman.

The last active duty CG recipient was back in 1997.

My highest medal was the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. I'm ok with that. Life saving medals are pretty things to see, but very rare.

Rare, indeed as they are the only medals actually made from silver and gold.

And what's cool about the Lifesaving Medals is that the CG is who decides who gets them, regardless of military branch (or civilian).
 
I have to qualify what I said. I have seen two silver lifesaving medals being worn by Coasties. I've never seen a gold lifesaving medal worn. I was on a ship as a cadet with a YNC whose grandfather received a gold lifesaving medal. I'm talking OLD gold lifesaving medal, the kind that was over sized. He brought it onboard USCGC ACTIVE one day while we were in port so we could see it.
 
I have to qualify what I said. I have seen two silver lifesaving medals being worn by Coasties.

Ever notice that Gen George S Patton had a Silver Lifesaving medal?

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He received it for saving 3 boys from drowning when he was a Major.
 
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