Looks like we have some problem

summer1942

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May 19, 2010
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My son just received a call from Coast Guard admission local representative guy to inform that USCGA will send him an official appointment very soon. He wants to take my son out for dinner sometime next week to talk about USNA and USCGA (he knew that my son had the usna LOA).

In the family, we are 50-50 about either academy. Looks like we have a big problem here. I really don't know what is the final decision. So many discussion about pro and con between navy and coast guard. i think may be we need to flip the coin for this time.
 
Your "problem" is one that many people probably wish they had. Congrats to you and your son. I don't think he can make a bad decision either way. :thumb:
 
I had appointments to both USCGA and USNA. Both are great schools but each has a different mission/purpose/career path. And the SAs are somewhat different (in particular, USCGA is much smaller). It's a great decision to have to make!
 
Congrats to your son. I know it was probably just a tongue and cheek comment, but the flipacoin method could be helpful at least to get the gut reaction from your son (wouldn't use it for much other than that). Have your son seriously think about what he wants for a career, along with the short term of which type of college he would prefer. Make sure he knows the missions of both and the jobs available to him as a graduate of each, and then he has the luxury of choosing the one that his gut tells him is the one. A candidate visit to each is probably a good idea (not sure if USCGA does those post appointment or not)
 
I think the real question is "What does he want to do, and who does he want to be?" Does he want the military or does he want an agency that, while military, focuses more on enforcement and security? Does he want to fly? Does he want to be a Marine? Does he want to be a submariner? Does he want to be on a surface vessel?
 
I think the real question is "What does he want to do, and who does he want to be?" Does he want the military or does he want an agency that, while military, focuses more on enforcement and security? Does he want to fly? Does he want to be a Marine? Does he want to be a submariner? Does he want to be on a surface vessel?

He can not be a pilot since he wear glass, I don't think he want to be a Marine (his mom and his girl friend say so) . He does not want to be a submariner (too crowded). Therefore either in navy or coast guard he will be on surface ship.

He went to AIM last summer so he has some ideas about USCGA, USNA rejected his NASS application so he never known what Annapolis looks like.
I request an weekend visit invitation from his BGO so he can have a chance to learn about Annapolis. I think he will make his decision after the USNA visit.
 
Let the process run its course. He will still need nominations and I dont recall if you stated he cleared DoDMERB. There will be alot of emotions clouding his thinking so let him get as much information as he can. Visit the two schools...they are very different. Speak with Navy and USCG recruiters. Go visit ROTC people at a nearby school for even more information about careers and missions. Let him sift through all of this and by the time the nominations and the actual appointments arrive....could be as late as February...he will have a gut feeling that will be the right one. Good Luck!
 
Let the process run
its course.

I agreed with you. I tell him he has to make that decision since this is his life, this is his future.
He will still need nominations and I dont recall if you stated he cleared DoDMERB.

Yes, He cleared everything including DODMERB. Nomination is the last one. He will interview with two state senators this Nov. Still no word from the congressman.

He will have plenty of time to think about it.
 
Speak with Navy and USCG recruiters.

I heartily disagree.

Enlisted recruiters are one of the worst sources of information about the Service Academies.

They are neither trained or experienced in speaking about the academies, and are the source of much confusion and misinformation.

Conversations such as
"Oh, he's going to the Naval/Air Force/Coast Guard Academy? Well what's he going to do for college when he finishes?"​
actually have happened to me.

Talk to a BGO and an AAP, talk to active duty officers, visit both schools, but run away from the enlisted recruiters when seeking information about the academies.

:cool:
 
I know that Navy has thousand of ships, but I do not know how many big cutter USCG has? Anyone have a number ???

Some one posted that at CG, if you are Lt , you can be a CO of small boat. How small is this "small boat" ?

Right now, I try to get as much information as possible. I will sit down with the whole family, bring out all pros and cons then let him make a final call.
 
I think a career in the Coast Guard is more conducive to having any semblance of a family life. You will be deployed and away from home much more in the Navy as compared to the Coast Guard.

I don't know about the dynamics in the Coast Guard, but I *do* know that rising through the ranks in the surface Navy is very cutthroat.

On the other hand, the Navy offers a wider selection and more diverse selection of career paths.

As a midshipman, I remember whenever we had the opportunity, when referring to the Coast Guard, we used to always add the tagline "... the Department of Transportation's finest", never allowing them to forget that they were not even part of the Department of Defense. Of course, now, that has all changed. With the increased threat of terrorism within our own borders and on our shores, the Coast Guard plays a much more essential role and now operates under the Department of Homeland Security.

They are both very good options.
 
I know that Navy has thousand of ships, but I do not know how many big cutter USCG has? Anyone have a number ???

The current fleet = http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/#cutters

Some one posted that at CG, if you are Lt , you can be a CO of small boat. How small is this "small boat" ?

Typically it is a 87 ft Coastal Patrol Boat. Some are commanded by a LTJG who may be less than 2 years removed from USCGA graduation.
 
Luigi59:

Thank you very much for the information.

Any infos, comments from anyone, will be valuable inputs. you known, it will be a tought decision to make.
 
Luigi59:

Thank you very much for the information.

Any infos, comments from anyone, will be valuable inputs. you known, it will be a tought decision to make.
 
Like they say CG and over six feet tall and you can always walk to shore if the boat sinks. Just a joke. CG is one of the most unrecognised and unapreciated services. They are the best ! They go out in everything and answer all calls. I have also heard that CG pilots are the best since they always have to fly in the worst weather.:thumb: I think they are the only service that rolls their rescue boats 360 in big surf just so they can teach the boat Captain how to handle it. That must be some drill.
 
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What famous Supreme Court decision does a CG Capitan look to when he decides to abandon ship?

Row versus Wade!


The CGA is a lovely place, smaller than USNA and, as a consequence, offers far fewer areas of study. Annapolis is much nicer than New London but also much more expensive. Being D3, the opportunity to play varsity sports is open to many who would not get a look at NA. But, again, there are far fewer teams. My DD looked at both and chose USNA because they offer the major she wanted and CGA didn't.

As has been said, your DS will get a great education at either. Plus there’s always cross commissioning.
 
Plus there’s always cross commissioning.


There's sometimes Cross-commissioning. The Coast Guard is starting shrink, and OCS and recruit classes are smaller.

I knew a girl from 2004 who commissioned straight into the Coast Guard after graduating USNA (she was an exchange cadet, knew nothing about the Coast Guard before she went to CGA).
 
The current fleet = http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/#cutters



Typically it is a 87 ft Coastal Patrol Boat. Some are commanded by a LTJG who may be less than 2 years removed from USCGA graduation.


Typically they will be 2+, as their first afloat tour (a must for being a second tour 87' skipper) is a 2 year tour.

Typically 87's are LTJG, going on LT. Some, in very difficult areas are senior chief petty officers who have experience.
 
He went to AIM last summer so he has some ideas about USCGA, USNA rejected his NASS application so he never known what Annapolis looks like.
I request an weekend visit invitation from his BGO so he can have a chance to learn about Annapolis. I think he will make his decision after the USNA visit.

I recommend making a week/weekend of it.

As a high school senior I had USCGA, USMMA, and USNA to choose from. It wasn't until I spent the night, hung out with cadets and midshipmen that I made my final choice. It felt "right". AIM and beansprouting are two different experiences. Do them back to back and see which is the best fit.
 
He can not be a pilot since he wear glasses.

Son was told at Annapolis that vision (nearsightedness) is no longer an issue for admissions at USNA; many of the mids no get PRK their third year and opt for flight school. I believe that the number of waivers for colorblindness at USNA is limited - have to be able to tell green starboard from red port. Luigi or LITS can tell you if that's also the case at USCGA.

Last, the LOA from Annapolis is great, but don't turn down USCGA until your son has the appointment in hand! [By the way,LITS, what's "beansprouting?"]
 
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