I am in no way attempting to be critical, but, in most instances, there are two sides to every story. Here is the other side.
Whistle Pig said:
USCGA seems to have a high degree of satisfied customers with over 80% going beyond minimal 5 year hitch post commissioning.
This is really a non-statistic. At both academies, officers will normally stay through their first shore duty assignment, which is a year or so beyond the minimum commitment. When comparing those who make it a career, the percentages are comparable.
Whistle Pig said:
It would seem like CG would be more conducive to quality family life than some of the other services.
Let's not impose our middle-aged family value requirements on our young adventurous offspring and make this an issue when it is not. There aren't many places in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Far East I haven't been. I have been in places in the Vatican which the general public will never see. I saw the Mona Lisa when she was just a nondescript painting in an out-of-the-way third floor hallway. I have sat on the Spanish Steps and watched cute young American girls line up in the morning at the American Express office to receive money orders from home. I have played golf with the future sultan of Oman, hitting the ball off Persian carpets and putting on oiled sand greens. I have skiied the Alps with expatriate CIA agents. I have caught bonefish, permit, and tuna in the Indian Ocean until I was tired of catching them. I have played W Somerset Maugham and taken the three day train trip from Singapore to Bangkok, overnighting in little coastal villages. I have sat in sidewalk cafes in little Vietnames villages eating roast monkey on a stick with very spicy noodle soup, knowing that my waiter would, that very evening, don black pajamas and come after me, trying to kill me. The earliest memory my oldest son has is Christmas shopping in El Corte Ingles in Madrid. There are bars all over the world where, to this day, I could not buy a drink. Millionaires could not afford these experiences. I would not trade these memories for anything in the world.
And not forgetting that for whice we are deployed, a trained crew on a operational ready ship is a team and an experience that few will experience. The operational requirements are there and the funding is available to operate on the cutting edge of one's abilities. It is truly an opportunity to savor.
And, as has been mentioned on this thread, CG ships do deploy. My understanding is that billets on these type ships are extremely competitive since a deployment is a very nice "tick mark" when being considered for promotion. So perhaps for comptetitive promotable CG officers, family separation is also an issue. Maybe someone with more current knowledge can comment on this.
Whistle Pig said:
Lots of opportunity to fly, just not jets.
About 45% of the USNA class of 2005 is presently in aviation, over 400 officers. About half of the 800 or so CG pilots are transfers from other services. Maybe 12-15 of each class at USCGA go immediately into aviation with a few more later on. The fact is only 15 or so new USCG helo pilots are trained annually and even less fixed wing.
Whistle Pig said:
And you don't have to generally land 'em on a postage stamp in the middle of a typhoon.
You might want to tell this to the USCG helo drivers. The typical SAR scenario is to get a cutter on scene as rapidly as possible to serve as a refueling platform. A night SAR condition in the Bering Sea makes for a mighty small postage stamp, and an erratically moving one at that.
Whistle Pig said:
All that said, the USNA is THE greatest fraternity in the history of humankind,
Very well said. And the greatest job-hunting network in the world for recently retired USNA officers. Graduate contacts, willing to help, are everywhere doing everything.
Also, the group that you spend four years with at either academy will be the closest friends you will ever have.
Whistle Pig said:
Tough to beat the many opportunities for those that can abide the downsides.
I have always hated the "been there, done that" statements but I have to invoke that statement here. Unless you have experienced the opportunities of the Navy, don't try to compare them to the downsides. Any young person contemplating the Academy has to condider these "downsides" as an adventure and an opportunity. In short, you are correct, if they do not, they are probably at the wrong institution. Again, a middle-aged family guy's downside is a twenty-something's opportunity and adventure of a life time. Let's not hold them back.
Whistle Pig said:
They're both amazing opportunities for a young person setting the course of their life's calling.
Without a doubt.
And good luck to all who do it.
