NROTC to Coast Guard?

W

WindandSea

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Is it possible to serve in the Coast Guard after graduating university having had an NROTC scholarship? My apologies if this was answered somewhere before, I can't seem to find any posts that discuss both....perhaps because it is not an option.
 
I won't claim to know a definitive answer, but it seems to me that the Navy invested a lot of money into you and will want some turn on that investment. Also, there is a law enforcement aspect to CG that you will not be trained in.

That being said, I know that rarely some academy grads cross commission into a different service. I've never heard of it with CG though. However the stars, and planets, must truly be aligned and some particular conjunctions have to occur for this to happen.
 
I would think if the navy paid for 4 years of your education, and paid you a stipend for 4 years, trained you for that time that no, they wouldn't be "cool" with you then serving post commission in the coast guard. Thanks for the free education and training _ I'll now use it elsewhere? But hey I'll wave to you when you're near the shore, or come get you if you are lost at sea / need rescuing?

Several of the senior Military colleges including VMI, Norwich, Va Tech, Texas A&M at least back in 2009 per @bruno 's post had a program with the USCG called the Direct Commission Selected School program.. Licensed graduates of the state Maritime Colleges (Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and California) also have a Direct Commissioning option in the USCG." You can look into that if you wish. But I don't see a path to have someone pay for your schooling but then not serve in that branch.

I'd pay back the people who paid for my school with service - I think that's kinda foundational in the whole ROTC scholarship agreement.

But if others somehow know this is a can-do, please chime in. It would be fascinating to learn this is possible. I just highly doubt it for the brief reasons above..
 
Thank you for your answers. I am a parent with no military background just trying to understand how everything works. I thought I read somewhere that USNA grads could serve in any branch (I may have misread that) and just wondered if that applied to the ROTC programs as well. I have a lot to learn.
 
Trying to "Cross-Commission" from ROTC is very difficult. It can be done from one of the academies, but ROTC (since the CG does not have one) is very difficult to do. I have never heard of or met anyone who did it. A FAR better way is to graduate college and apply for OCS, that way your career options are all open. Any of the direct commissioning programs (maritime colleges, direct commission, or other program) limit your career choices dramatically to your college specialty under normal circumstances. IE: Maritime Academy Grads are normally limited to shoreside marine inspection, facilities management, etc. Direct Commission engineering grads are usually limited to shoreside engineering project management or planning.

One can still promote, have a good career, but will never have command opportunities. ROTC Programs are structured to produce Line/Field Officers and count on those grads to fill needed slots in operational units. I have heard there is a "reserve" ROTC Commission that is possible, but you have an eight year obligation, can be called up at any time, and still have an initial AD obligation. Usually the "reserve" is granted for a new officer to immediately attend grad school in a specialty, then upon graduation serve AD obligation.

One idea for your child......do NROTC (I don't think the CG would accept AFROTC or AROTC), Commission, then after their first sea tour try for an "exchange" program where they will serve on a CG unit for two years or so, get to meet the people who can help, then apply to change services.
 
Or just go the USMMA (Merchant Marine Academy) and go in directly. It's a hard four years, but you can commission directly into the CG.
 
StPaulDad said:
Or just go the USMMA (Merchant Marine Academy) and go in directly. It's a hard four years, but you can commission directly into the CG.
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If you check the CG's MARGRAD Program (which USMMA falls under) https://www.gocoastguard.com/active...es/programs/maritime-academy-graduate-margrad, you will see that it is NOT any different that any of the other Maritime Academies. And it is not a career field that leads to Command, or being stationed on operational units.
 
Impulsive said:
If you check the CG's MARGRAD Program (which USMMA falls under) https://www.gocoastguard.com/active...es/programs/maritime-academy-graduate-margrad, you will see that it is NOT any different that any of the other Maritime Academies. And it is not a career field that leads to Command, or being stationed on operational units.
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What would be the difference then, career wise, between the USMMA and a Maritime Academy? Are there better or different career prospects for those coming out of USMMA ... besides the obvious guaranteed employment?
 
AllAloha said:
What would be the difference then, career wise, between the USMMA and a Maritime Academy? Are there better or different career prospects for those coming out of USMMA ... besides the obvious guaranteed employment?
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Can't speak towards USMMA's career paths other than to say USMMA grads usually have options to go AD in the Navy and a lot seem to get flight billets. Regarding any difference between USMMA to USCG and a Maritime College to USCG, there is none. Although since USMMA is a "Service Academy" and not a Senior Military College, it should be easier to get AD and cross-commission to other services. Since OP's original post was regarding NROTC to USCG, I would suggest you take this to the USMMA Board...:)
 
Coast Guard is a very small service - and officer corps even smaller and competitive. However, a small number (typically one or two a year) direct commission from a Senior Military College program. These colleges offer ROTC to all cadets and typically those not on scholarship or contracting to commission into a military service enroll in the Coast Guard Auxillary to enhance their chances for a commission. I don't have first hand knowledge, but I don't believe any DOD ROTC Program will allow you to transfer your active duty commission (all NROTC scholarship and contracting cadets serve active duty), since once you sign your contract you belong to that service. If you want a sure way to a Coast Guard commission - go to the Coast Guard Academy: https://www.uscga.edu/
 
I can't give you a definitive answer, but I had a professor who cross commissioned from the Army (ROTC) to the Coast Guard. He served in the Army for several years before cross commissioning. I have met other ROTC grads who also cross commissioned, but all of them did it after serving a few years in their original branch.
 
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