Enlist or go to Academy

Hey! Assuming one goes to the academy, would you be able to go to the ME “A” School and that would be your job in the CG, or do you need to Enlist to do that. Basically, can you become a ME officer after going to the academy or do you need to enlist to do that.

You cannot go to ME A school following the academy, ME (or Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist) is an enlisted rating so you would need to enlist and go through boot camp in Cape May. Now, you can (and most likely will) have the opportunity to attend Boarding Officer School in your first tour as an officer which will qualify you to lead law enforcement boardings once you return to your unit (usually a cutter during your first tour). You can also go into the Response Ashore - Enforcement career path where you will continue the law enforcement side of things - these jobs are at land based units called sectors. However, unlike the enlisted ratings, the Coast Guard likes its officers to diversify a little so you won't always have the opportunity to be at these kinds of units, you'll likely need to move around and try different jobs.