Naval Academy vs Coast Guard Academy

Old Navy BGO said:
Do you want to drop Bombs ...or Life rafts ?

Seriously, there are big differences between the two schools as well as subsequent service. There are definitely pro's and cons to both-- don't think you can go wrong either way.
Click to expand...
Or do you want to paddle around on little rubber boats while others drop bombs on you.

Then the decision is easy——USNA followed by The Basic School .
 
Where will you be happiest studying at 2am in the morning. Knowing you have to get up and take car of your military obligations before going to class all day. Then starting all over again. Go where it makes your heart sing.
 
I think that after all these valuable comments from people that have decades of experience, the only thing left to do, is flip the coin 🤣🤣
 
CG quality of life is much better than Navy or Marine, at least on the aviation side. CG "deployments", if you even go on one, are 2-3 months. Navy deployments are 6-9. Every year there are multiple lateral transfers from the USN and USMC to the CG, especially helicopter pilots. I've never once heard of anybody leaving the CG to go USN or USMC.
 
Seriously though, about the coin, flip it.

You will know what you wish it will be subconsciously before you check to see what it landed on. Either that or you'll be disappointed or excited by the results. Then you will know.

But really, go with the way you want and not what others would want. If you are religious, spend some time in thought and prayer. This helped me. Just know that whichever way you go you will be in good hands. At least the way I think of it.

Will say USNA has D1 Programs and Navy is ''the big boys" of the water world. :biglaugh:
 
Just curious does the USNA or USCGA have more aviation slots for graduates? Is the selection for aviation slots the at both academies?
 
av8torx said:
Just curious does the USNA or USCGA have more aviation slots for graduates? Is the selection for aviation slots the at both academies?
Click to expand...


This is an example of an annual release for each senior class at USNA after their service assignments are confirmed:
www.usna.edu

NAVAL ACADEMY CLASS OF 2024 OBTAIN CAREER ASSIGNMENTS

NAVAL ACADEMY CLASS OF 2024 OBTAIN CAREER ASSIGNMENTS page for USNA News Center at USNA.edu. Updated Sun Dec 10 10:24:02 EST 2023.
www.usna.edu

I suspect you can find the same for USCGA for each senior class.

It really doesn’t matter how many aviation slots there are, but how competitive the midshipman or cadet is for that career path AND how many others are competing for the same aviation slots.
 
Thank you very much! I’m wondering how many midshipmen who wanted aviation didn’t get it. It appears most who wanted aviation got it based on the 83% first choice.
 
@av8torx I'm have little knowledge of military air programs (many former aviators on this forum can provide details), however, a quick internet search shows that the USCG has about 200 aircraft in total. The navy has 11 aircraft carriers (each with ~90), Navy also has several Helicopter carriers and many other ships with one or two helicopter capability.

If flying is your primary objective Go Navy. However, there should be other factors in your decision. Of course USCGA and USNA may make the decision for you. Of course, The aviation pipeline (Pilots and NFOs) is fed from not only the SA, but from OCS, ROTC and more-all as good as a SA grad.
 
Historically USCGA has sent 22 cadets directly to basic flight school each year. This is approximately 10 percent of each graduating class. For the current year approximately 40 cadets have completed their full packages for flight school which includes a flight physical. So the actual selection rate is approximately 50 percent of those who apply. Many Coast Guard aviators earn their billets at flight schools after serving on a cutter, so there are opportunities to apply several times if aviation is your career goal
 
Thank you. Does the coast guard have the same active duty commitment after flight school that the Navy has? I believe is 8 years after designation. I’m assuming designation means being awarded the duty assignment not completion of flight training?
 
I am pretty sure that it is an additional 8 on top of the initial 5 year service commitment. So 13 in total.
 
av8torx said:
Thank you. Does the coast guard have the same active duty commitment after flight school that the Navy has? I believe is 8 years after designation. I’m assuming designation means being awarded the duty assignment not completion of flight training?
Click to expand...
In the Navy, “designation” means officially being designated as a naval aviator, changing the designator from “student naval aviator” given at graduation and commissioning. The designator is a 4-digit code that is assigned to the officer community. A naval aviator (pilot) is 1310; NFO is 1320. A SNA is, I think, 1390 and 1370. The transition point is when the officer earns the wings of gold at a certain point in flight training or is “winged,” and their designator changes. That’s when the obligation period begins.

I don’t know whether Coast Guard does it the same way, not starting the obligated service period until the officer is winged.
 
What type of career opportunity excites you? Read up a bit on the missions and history of the USCG and USN/USMC. I clearly have a bias but I will admit when I was at NAPS a USCG officer came and talked to us about the possibility of attending the USCGA. It was tempting but at the end of the day, for me, it was the career opportunities that pulled me towards USNA. good luck with YOUR choice!
 
Some excerpts from Title 10 (Couldn't find any germane entries in Title 14, which is specifically for the USCG):

Section 101: (4) The term "armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

Section 653: (a) Pilots.-The minimum service obligation of any member who successfully completes training in the armed forces as a pilot shall be 8 years, if the member is trained to fly fixed-wing jet aircraft, or 6 years, if the member is trained to fly any other type of aircraft.


I have also heard the 5+8 thing from my Coastie friends during my SNA days. It does make sense to me though. The amount of Coast Guard Aviators (which is their technical designation term) designated every year is dwarfed by Naval Aviator (USN/USMC) production each year. In essence, spending the time and money it takes to train a Coast Guard Aviator hits the Coast Guard "harder" compared to the DoD. That is why you see a total of 13 years of obligated service. Wings+8 over in the DoN works for them because the bean counters have determined that we have enough people getting designated to fill the seats of those leaving the service entirely or heading for the Reserves. Pilot retention is a different discussion, and there are a lot of things happening now an have the potential to happen later on down the line based on how retention and recruiting turns out.

If the long commitment freaks you out, know that you will have a job lined up for the next 13 years, and longer if you stay. It seems a lot of USCG types do and I have rarely seen an unhappy USCG officer. They do their mission every day and I'd say it is the best branch for those who thrive off immediate gratification. I was happy that people started taking the USCG more seriously when the narco-sub video came out. Also, from what I have seen, the USCG is a little less intrusive to your personal life. I love the Navy, but as much as we like to make fun of our Coastie bretheren, we are also very supportive and a little bit envious of what their life. Flying the C-130s out of Oahu or driving a cutter out of Key West, the horror!! 😂

Also, can any lawyers on the thread enlighten me on what the "§" is in legal documents?
 
How and when are Marine aviation slots determined out of the USNA? Is it possible to choose Marine aviation as your first choice and Navy aviation as your second choice? Is it aircraft specific or just Marines or Navy as a choice?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top