Enlist as an Option?

GemStateMom

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Messages
134
Hi everyone. I realize how competitive it is to receive appointments, and we are trying to help DS figure out all his options if plans A, B, and/or C don't work out. If one enlists in the Coast Guard, is it possible to be sent to the academy while enlisted if one is a top performer? I am asking as I think DS would like to set up an appointment with a local Coast Guard recruiter (well, as local as we can considering where we live!). Thank you.
 
Consider everything...

Out of 300ish classmates I had originally, 4 were prior enlisted (I don't include the NAPSters, they don't really count for the reasons you're asking about).


Enlisting in the Coast Guard isn't the easiest right now. Of the five branches it requires the highest ASVAB score and....there are just too many people, it can be a very long wait.
 
Hi everyone. I realize how competitive it is to receive appointments, and we are trying to help DS figure out all his options if plans A, B, and/or C don't work out.

Have you considered the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI)? Many people are unaware of this program. It is open to college students age 19-27 who are attending a college or university historically serving underrepresented populations, (a list is here: http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whhbcu/edlite-list.html and here: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-hisp-tab.html. The program pays for the last two years of college tuition and textbook fees and provides a monthly salary of $2,200! Upon graduation from college participants attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) and receive a commission as an Ensign in the Coast Guard Reserves with a 3-year active duty service requirement. As there is no college ROTC for the Coast Guard, this is the next best thing. Applicants must have a 23 ACT score, or 1100 SAT, or a 4 AQR/4PFAR on the ASTB, or ASVAB GT score of 109, and maintain a 2.5 college GPA. Not sure where you live, but as an example, a Chicago area student could attend Triton College in the Chicago suburb of River Grove, Illinois or Northeastern Illinois University on the northwest side of Chicago for two years while still living at home and maintain a 2.5 or better G.P.A. and qualify for this program.

Here is a link to the Coast Guard website that describes the program: http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/officer-opportunities/programs/college-student-pre-commissioning-initiative-%28scholarship-program%29
 
Last edited:
Enlisting is not the best option.

I would recommend a year of college, taking appropriate (swab-level) courses (and excelling at them) as a better path that may lead to an appointment.

PS - The ASVAB is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, it's a placement test for all enlisted to determine eligibility for certain military specialties.
 
LineInTheSand, what is an ASVAB score?

ASVAB Score is the "Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery" given by military recruiters. The Coast Guard requires a minimum of 40 points on the AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test Score). A waiver is possible if a recruit's ASVAB Line Scores qualify them for a specific job, and the recruit is willing to enlist in that job.

Education - For a very few (less than 5 percent) who will be allowed to enlist with a GED, the minimum AFQT score is 50. The CG offers advanced enlistment rank of E-2 for 30 college credits, and E-3 for 60 credits.

The Coast Guard has the highest minimum AFQT score at 40. As an example, Navy is 35, Air Force 36 and Army 31. Keep in mind that a score of 40 is a minimum, and with the number of applicants today the average score of those selected may be much higher.
 
Last edited:
Thank you both for your informative replies. I do not imagine that the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, however, would be a viable option as we live in the middle of Idaho! I think the idea of attending college and trying again would be his best option at this point provided his other options do not work out.
 
Be aware that no colleges in the Northeast currently qualify for CSPI. I attend the University of Connecticut and contacted the local recruiter for this program.
 
Be aware that no colleges in the Northeast currently qualify for CSPI. I attend the University of Connecticut and contacted the local recruiter for this program.

According to the USCG CSPI website, the following colleges in the Northeast qualify:

Capital Community College, Hartford CT
Urban College of Boston, Boston MA
13 different colleges in NY
 
Another option is to self prep at NMMI Academy Prep Program. If you perform well then its likely you could receive an appointment. Contact NMMI to learn more:

academyprep@nmmi.edu

(575) 624-8480

http://www.nmmi.edu/prep/index.htm

So this would definately give one a "leg up" compared to attending a different university? This is a great idea, but has a higher price tag than our in-state college option. It would be worth it, though, if it will really help. Thank you for the idea.
 
So this would definately give one a "leg up" compared to attending a different university? This is a great idea, but has a higher price tag than our in-state college option. It would be worth it, though, if it will really help. Thank you for the idea.

I'm not certain the data supports that conclusion.

My evidence is anecdotal, but I know just as many USCGA appointees that have "self-prepped" at civilian colleges after applying and getting turned down, as I do those who "self-prepped" at a military prep school.

I'd be interested to see if this presupposition is true or not.

:cool:
 
While it's true that the Coast Guard does not have ROTC, there are a few direct commission routes that might interest you.

The State Maritime Academies have Direct Commission Programs into the Coast Guard and so do a few of the Senior Military Colleges. I've included the link. One Program is called "Direct Commission: Selected School," and it requires a 4 week OCS ( shorter than what you'd get if you didn't have military college experience). Maritime Academy grads have a similar program. Here are the links with more information:

http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-yo...ortunities/programs/maritime-academy-graduate

http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-yo...rtunities/programs/direct-commission-programs

If finances are a consideration, you should know that some of the SMCs are generous with aid while others are not. Regarding Maritime Academies, as you live in Idaho, Cal Maritime is the closest. Here is a link with the fee breakdown. It looks like $20k per year, inclusive of everything (tuition, room and board, other fees, personal expenses).

http://www.csum.edu/FinancialAid/Cost.asp

Other maritime schools are SUNY-Maritime, Maine Maritime Academy, Mass. Maritime Academy, and Texas A&M Galveston. There is one on the Great Lakes too, but I can't remember what it's called off hand.

The SMCs which qualify as a "selected school" for the USCG are

Norwich University
Prairie View A&M University
Texas A&M University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Military Institute
Mary Baldwin College, Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership

You can find a lot of info on these in the Public/Private Military College forum. They are Corps of Cadets programs with similarities to the Service Academies, but are not exactly the same. You'll note that the list doesn't include all the SMCs. The Citadel, for instance, is not listed.

I think these may be more beneficial routes than enlisting in the USCG. The Maritime Academies especially, as the expense is rather reasonable and the education is focused on something that is clearly beneficial to the USCG.
 
Agree with the above post. Additionally, Cal Maritime offers a "Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship" to applicants from Western states. I believe it's an academic scholarship where recipients pay 50 percent of out-of-state tuition thereby reducing the total cost of attendance.

I hope I get this correct :redface::

www.csum.edu/futurestudents/WUEWesternUndergraduateScholarship.asp

Or, contact admissions at:

707/654-1330

Good luck, and keep the faith!
 
Yes, Luigi, I was thinking of that when I posted. A year at a maritime academy, as a Plan B, and reapplying the following year can be a route to USCGA, can't it? And, if one lives in the West, Cal Maritime seems a good fit. I think the OP was asking about Plan B and Plan C, and maybe even, Plan D.
 
Yes, Luigi, I was thinking of that when I posted. A year at a maritime academy, as a Plan B, and reapplying the following year can be a route to USCGA, can't it?

Absolutely! In fact, I believe that after a year of being there that it would probably serve the student/candidate better to stay there! (I am assuming the goal is to become a Coast Guard officer)

But I understand that for some, the goal is to attend the Academy to realize that goal, above any other accession method.

And, if one lives in the West, Cal Maritime seems a good fit. I think the OP was asking about Plan B and Plan C, and maybe even, Plan D.

No doubt that the maritime colleges are excellent choices for those wishing to become USCG officers.

However, if the goal is a year of "self-prep" for a better USCGA admissions candidate package/profile, I'm not so sure "where" the candidate preps is as important as the courses they take and how they grade on those "swab-level" courses.
 
I want to thank everyone for all the replies. It certainly gives other options to explore. There is a lot of great info-thanks again! Of course we are still holding out hope that ds has a chance for USCGA admission this year yet!:wink:
 
Back
Top