Coast Guard Reserves?

eggnog

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Upon graduation can USMMA midshipmen sail on their license and serve in the Coast Guard Reserves?

It seems like most, who don’t commission to a service branch, serve in the US Naval Reserves while sailing on their license.

If it is possible to serve in the US Coast Guard Reserves while sailing on one’s license out of KP, what is the process for midshipmen to do so?
 
That's definitely an admin question, as far as I know, yes but that's definitely a question above my paygrade.
 
It is possible to be in the reserves in any branch out of KP, but really Navy SSO is the only viable option if you want to sail. In my time at the academy, I didn’t see many people at all do anything outside of Navy Reserves but I know it’s possible. I think it all comes down to the flexibility being an SSO gives you the other reserve branches do not have that
 
There isn't really an accession path direct to the Coast Guard Reserve. I know guys who commissioned into the Guard or Army and sailed, but I don't think there is a path anymore directly into the Coast Guard Reserve.
 
This has always been a gap. As a new Merchant Marine Officer (back in 1980-sailing on my license), with a USNR commission, I visited the Reserve Commanding Officer for USCG District. 1 (Boston) to discuss transferring to USCGR. Result-no real program to transfer from USNR to USCGR-no interest. Seems like the USCG is not taking advantage of skilled Mariners that wish to serve in a reserve capacity. It seems to me that a program to use Merchant Mariners in ship inspection, boarding and investigations could leverage off of their unique expertise.
 
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Seems like the USCG is not taking advantage of skilled Mariners that wish to serve in a reserve capacity. It seems to me that a program to use Merchant Mariners in ship inspection, boarding and investigations could leverage off of their unique expertise.
Interesting comment. Although, like anything else for me, it has been a few years, I did work as a Field Surveyor for the American Bureau of Shipping for about 10 years in the 90s. I would work closely with the local US Coast Guard inspectors, and we had a close relationship in Galveston, a relatively small port. Most of the inspectors were warrant officers. Like anything else, some were more capable than others. I don't recall any of them having any previous experience with commercial vessels prior to their assignment. Those that had been in the Inspection department for some time were very capable. I had a couple of them that were new to it, and they thanked me for bringing them up to speed.
 
There is a Program called MARGRAD. This offers graduates of a Maritime Academy (including USMMA) the opportunity for service in the USCG as an Officer. It is an active duty program I believe, not reserve, but if you check out the MARGRAD Program and contact someone more in the know they can likely answer your questions.
https://www.gocoastguard.com/active...es/programs/maritime-academy-graduate-margrad

This Program does limit your assignments somewhat so investigate that too. As for USCG Reserves, there is OCS if you want AD, and Direct Commission for certain specialties.

 
My son speaks very highly of the Kings Pointers that he serves with in the Coast Guard.
 
It seems like most, who don’t commission to a service branch, serve in the US Naval Reserves while sailing on their license.

First ... being an Officer in the Navy Reserve IS receiving a "commission to a service branch". Are you suggesting that being an officer in the Navy Reserve is somehow "less than" being an Active Duty Officer?

Second ... It's Navy Reserve and not Naval Reserve. The name officially changed around 15 years ago.
 
First ... being an Officer in the Navy Reserve IS receiving a "commission to a service branch".
Thank you.
Are you suggesting that being an officer in the Navy Reserve is somehow "less than" being an Active Duty Officer?
????? No, the question is solely whether a USMMA graduate who chooses to sail on their license can serve in the Coast Guard Reserve (instead of the Navy Reserve) to fulfil his/her obligation and, if so, how.
Second ... It's Navy Reserve and not Naval Reserve.
Thank you!
 
I don't know about using your license and also being in the Active Reserves for the CG. I know back when I served, I got my Merchant Mariners USCG License, but it was not "Active" as long as I was "Active". Reserves may be different, and many years have passed so things may have changed, but, and this is just a guess, you should be able to "sail on your license" for a full time job, but can not use your license to qualify as U/W OOD or Command at Sea Quals, those I think you need to do through the USCG Unit you are serving at for your Reserve Duty. Just a Guess, probably get a direct answer by talking to whatever Reserve Unit you are thinking about serving with. Way back when, most CG Reserve Officers did shore duty of some kind as Reserve Duty, not very many sailed on Cutters, so if that is still procedure your license shouldn't have any effect.
 
The hard part about going directly to the reserve in any component or community other than SSO is what qualifications do you bring and what will you do? KPers are well trained to be SSOs but anything else you would be starting from scratch with nothing really to offer when compared to a transitioning active duty officers.

As far as sailing and being a reservist, the Navy in general loves active reservists that can drill during the week instead only on the weekends. Not sure if one can do it in the CGR but all you would really need to do is reschedule your drills from sat/sun to mon/tue. I know some people also used to combine all of them in to one period so instead of 24 days of weekend drill they would do 5 consecutive weeks of weekday drill. You could also go back to back with your AT and do 7 consecutive weeks, sounds tailor made to me for a sailing mariner.

I think an actively sailing Merchant Marine officer would make an outstanding addition to the Coast Guard reserve as a foreign vessel inspector. I know there are reservist Marine Inspectors but the only ones I have met have been enlisted. From what I understand there is no real pathway to go from a maritime academy to USCG Reservist without going AD USCG first. Even then, your reserve job will not be inspecting vessels even if you have done that on active duty. By the time you are eligible to transition to the reserve component you will likely be too senior and not boarding vessels anymore. Theoretically (heavy emphasis on theoretically) there is a pathway to become a qualified USCG marine inspector through the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
 
From USMMA website…

Appointment in the U.S. Navy Reserve
In order to comply with your Service Obligation Contract you must apply for and accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, or any other Reserve or National Guard unit of an armed force of the United States. With the recommendation of the Officer-In-Charge, Department of Naval Science, and the Academy superintendent, you will receive your appointment at graduation. Although officer appointment applications may be made to any armed force, the majority of graduates will be appointed as ensigns in the Merchant Marine Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve. After appointment as Ensign, USNR, you must perform satisfactorily in the Navy Reserve for at least eight (8) years. An individual's requirements and options under this program will vary depending on whether the graduate is working at sea or ashore. Details will be provided by the Naval Science Department either through their course of instruction or upon request.

 
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