USCGA-Need Help Deciding: Benefits Upon Entering Possible Civilian Job/Life/Postion?

[laforge]

Hi Everyone,

I have been accepted to the 2027 class. I am struggling with my final decision.
When I originally applied, I was fueled with determination, passion, and clarity.
As I get closer to making this 9 year commitment (4 at academy, 5 posted)....I nervous about making a mistake.
I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering.
After our 4 years at the academy....we may get posted on a duty that may not utilize my Mechanical Engineering degree at all....and....I won't be able to be taking classes for a Masters's Degree...



I'd really appreciate ....KIND FEEDBACK and GUIDANCE.

I want to make sure....after 9 years....I'm educated and have the experience to enter the mechanical engineering civilian world....or be doing mechanical engineering in the Coast Guard.

 

[Capt MJ]

Hi Everyone,

I have been accepted to the 2027 class. I am struggling with my final decision.
When I originally applied, I was fueled with determination, passion, and clarity.
As I get closer to making this 9 year commitment (4 at academy, 5 posted)....I nervous about making a mistake.
I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering.
After our 4 years at the academy....we may get posted on a duty that may not utilize my Mechanical Engineering degree at all....and....I won't be able to be taking classes for a Masters's Degree...



I'd really appreciate ....KIND FEEDBACK and GUIDANCE.

I want to make sure....after 9 years....I'm educated and have the experience to enter the mechanical engineering civilian world....or be doing mechanical engineering in the Coast Guard.

You will be amazingly well prepared with an engineering degree plus the leadership/management experience you will gain in the Coast Guard, for either a CG career or civilian career. Employers value the actual leadership expertise you will have compared to non-veteran age peers, your security clearance, ability to operate in high-pressure situations, to make operational decisions, to think strategically and critically, to manage resources, to be responsible and accountable, to act with integrity, and of course to be STEM-savvy…a big list of key skills and abilities. There are multiple job placement firms which actively recruit separating junior officers for all those traits and experience. I’ve put some sample links below.

There are many opportunities to get a master’s degree either full-time, after hours or remote while on AD, fully-funded or mostly paid by Tuition Assistance. After you get out, if you have served enough years, you are eligible for the generous VA Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.

And - while it is great to have short, middle and long-term plans, you MUST be flexible. You have no idea who you will be 9 years from now, what you will want, and how life will have changed your path around. There is a saying: “Man plans. God laughs.” Your USCGA classmates will swear they are five and dive. Many will end up staying a full career or putting on the first stars in your class. The ones who say they are lifers, they might be the first ones to get out. You simply do not know. Have a plan, but be open to the journey and opportunities along the way. You may decide to major in something entirely different! The majority of college grads, including SA grads, do not necessarily work in a field directly related to their major. Informed by, quite likely.

You will be trained as a leader. Down the road, you may decide a Master’s in Engineering Management suits you better, because you want to lead teams of engineers to success. That’s the kind of divergence that can occur. I need to go look for the posts I have made over the years about our USNA sponsor family mids, their major, service assignment, and post-service career. One of our more interesting is a Physics major>Marine ground communications>got out, major “ABC”agency operator doing Interesting Things In Countries Around the World>did that, then MBA and brewmaster school, co-owner of a brewery pub>now finishing an international MS in cyber operations, has added 4th language fluency and is working remotely for a well-known firm, leading a global team from his new home in a European country, where he was able to establish citizenship due to a native-born grandmother. When he sat at our dining room table as a teen, he had zero idea of the road ahead. He thought he would probably do a full career as a Marine.

Some sample links to explore, out of the wealth of opportunities that await you after 5 years or 20 or anything in between or after.

Military & Veteran Staffing Agencies | Bradley-Morris, LLC

Bradley-Morris, one of the leading military and veteran staffing agencies, specializes in placing qualified talent into rewarding career opportunities.

www.bradley-morris.com

Service Academy Career Conference

sacc-jobfair.com

Corporate Gray Military to Civilian Career Transition Website

Corporate Gray connects military veterans with employers through its career transition books, military job fairs, and military to civilian website.

www.corporategray.com

 

[scprepoh]

Is there anything that has changed from your passionate phase to your current state of apprehension? It is a big commitment. My son just sent in his signed appointment two days ago. He is very committed, but still paused when it came time to sign on the dotted line. That apprehension is natural and the sign of a reflective, future oriented person. There is no wrong choice. Weight your pros and cons and don't look back.

 

[2026cgahopeful]

I think my son had some similar anxieties- it is normal at 18 to be unsure of what path you should take for your future. The advice I gave my son was try CGA. If you don’t like it, you can switch to your other top school after a year. However it’s much more difficult to switch from your other top school to CGA. He’s a year in and is very, very happy that he chose CGA.

 

[Capt MJ]

And yes, great points above - it is normal, human and understandable to feel apprehensive before major forks in the road.

The 9 years happen one day at a time. You can walk away at any time up to two years in, with no obligation. That’s a nice chunk of time to figure out if this path is for you, and would you be running TO something or AWAY from something if you chose to leave. Just keep an open mind on that option for now.

Go back and read the essays you wrote. Were they words from the heart, gut and brain?

 

[hopefulmominla]

It is normal, but if serving in the Coast Guard as an officer isn’t truly something you want to do be mature enough to admit that and decline. You will have access to top notch engineering education and experience in the CG even if it won’t look like a civilian path. Our daughter obsessed a little during highschool over the “9 year “ commitment but we always reminded her that even in the civilian world the first 4-5 years after college are spent finding your way within the work world so either path you will spend time figuring out what’s next etc Ultimately the mission of the CG and the desire to serve as an officer is what made her decision pretty clear. She has the benefit/detriment (depending on the day ) of having an older brother who is also an engineering major and a d3 athlete just a few years older so yes Academy life is tough some days , and military obligations are a thing but she has even remarked how similar her day to day is to her brothers in regards to time commitment and study etc She actually thinks in some ways she has it better because she’s around more likeminded people. Her older brother is stressed to find internships, worries about securing a decent job where all those immediate things are taken care of for her . Don’t go to an academy for a “free” education because it’s not free you will earn it and reap the rewards of what you put in. Go to the coast guard academy because you want to be a part of the worlds greatest Coast Guard.

 

[Jetbill]

You will be amazingly well prepared with an engineering degree plus the leadership/management experience you will gain in the Coast Guard, for either a CG career or civilian career. Employers value the actual leadership expertise you will have compared to non-veteran age peers, your security clearance, ability to operate in high-pressure situations, to make operational decisions, to think strategically and critically, to manage resources, to be responsible and accountable, to act with integrity, and of course to be STEM-savvy…a big list of key skills and abilities. There are multiple job placement firms which actively recruit separating junior officers for all those traits and experience. I’ve put some sample links below.

There are many opportunities to get a master’s degree either full-time, after hours or remote while on AD, fully-funded or mostly paid by Tuition Assistance. After you get out, if you have served enough years, you are eligible for the generous VA Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.

And - while it is great to have short, middle and long-term plans, you MUST be flexible. You have no idea who you will be 9 years from now, what you will want, and how life will have changed your path around. There is a saying: “Man plans. God laughs.” Your USCGA classmates will swear they are five and dive. Many will end up staying a full career or putting on the first stars in your class. The ones who say they are lifers, they might be the first ones to get out. You simply do not know. Have a plan, but be open to the journey and opportunities along the way. You may decide to major in something entirely different! The majority of college grads, including SA grads, do not necessarily work in a field directly related to their major. Informed by, quite likely.

You will be trained as a leader. Down the road, you may decide a Master’s in Engineering Management suits you better, because you want to lead teams of engineers to success. That’s the kind of divergence that can occur. I need to go look for the posts I have made over the years about our USNA sponsor family mids, their major, service assignment, and post-service career. One of our more interesting is a Physics major>Marine ground communications>got out, major “ABC”agency operator doing Interesting Things In Countries Around the World>did that, then MBA and brewmaster school, co-owner of a brewery pub>now finishing an international MS in cyber operations, has added 4th language fluency and is working remotely for a well-known firm, leading a global team from his new home in a European country, where he was able to establish citizenship due to a native-born grandmother. When he sat at our dining room table as a teen, he had zero idea of the road ahead. He thought he would probably do a full career as a Marine.

Some sample links to explore, out of the wealth of opportunities that await you after 5 years or 20 or anything in between or after.

Military & Veteran Staffing Agencies | Bradley-Morris, LLC

Bradley-Morris, one of the leading military and veteran staffing agencies, specializes in placing qualified talent into rewarding career opportunities.

www.bradley-morris.com

Service Academy Career Conference

sacc-jobfair.com

Corporate Gray Military to Civilian Career Transition Website

Corporate Gray connects military veterans with employers through its career transition books, military job fairs, and military to civilian website.

www.corporategray.com

Oh my Gosh! You should really write a book on your experiences in this world, to include your devotion to helping those who wish to serve our Country on this forum. And by extension, their parents, etc...You never fail to enlighten and encourage. Your servants heart shows through and through. You have no idea how much you have helped us so far! And, we're just getting started. Thank You!

 

[Iwutke]

So many people think of the 5-10 (aviation) years after graduating a SA as a commitment. Start thinking of it as you are guaranteed a great job, with tremendous health benefits, travel opportunities, and so much more. There will be tons of people graduating at the same time, who will wish they had the same guarantees.

 

[Jetbill]

So many people think of the 5-10 (aviation) years after graduating a SA as a commitment. Start thinking of it as you are guaranteed a great job, with tremendous health benefits, travel opportunities, and so much more. There will be tons of people graduating at the same time, who will wish they had the same guarantees.

True That! The real reward is in the journey. Not necessarily any "end results".

 

[Capt MJ]

Oh my Gosh! You should really write a book on your experiences in this world, to include your devotion to helping those who wish to serve our Country on this forum. And by extension, their parents, etc...You never fail to enlighten and encourage. Your servants heart shows through and through. You have no idea how much you have helped us so far! And, we're just getting started. Thank You!

You are very kind to comment. I have no doubt with every class that we see pass through this forum, there are servant leaders scattered throughout, who will carry on.

It also helps I am in my third and likely last career on the planet, consulting and doing board work in military and veteran career transition.

For @laforge I should have added these wonderful vet to vet mentoring links, available as mentors in target fields or industries after separation or retirement:

Veterati

MENTORS. The key to your dream career.

Veterati is a free mentorship platform for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses to access unlimited mentors. Our mentors are successful professionals volunteering to serve those who have served our country. Our mission is to transform job search from a painful experience into an...

www.veterati.com

American Corporate Partners

American Corporate Partners

Founded in 2008, ACP aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is the only nonprofit organization engaged in national corporate career counseling for our returning military.

www.acp-usa.org

I encourage all veterans here on SAF now working in either public or private sector or running your own business, to explore being a mentor. I have committed to a certain number of phone conversation hours a month, and take great joy in offering insight or a helpful steer.

 

[laforge]

I am humbled and grateful for the many responses....I hope this post serves other cadets as they move forward...it certainly has helped me. Thank you to all who have responded.....thank you for your thoughts, advice, time, and willingness to guide others. God Bless you all.

 

[scprepoh]

So what? You gonna leave us hanging?! I suppose it's a personal decision. Best of luck to you.

 

[StPaulDad]

You shouldn't necessarily be going to a service academy to be an engineer. Of course you'll get a great engineering education. You're going to do a capstone project as a 1C that'll be drawn from real topics that the Coast Guard needs investigated or designed, and they will use the output from those projects. https://uscga.edu/academics/majors/mechanical-engineering/me-senior-projects/

But the whole point of the academies is to produce officers and leaders, so try not to think of the first few post-graduate years as the start of your engineering career. Once you hit the fleet you may get to use your degree at points, but it will likely be in the context of getting some other stuff done. And that could be anything, particularly in a smaller service like USCG where there isn't much specialization right away. You could be in port doing safety inspections. You could be at sea keeping your ship working. You could try for a spot on Eagle, the tall ship. If you draw an engineering job on the Polar Star you're going to learn way too much about fixing large systems at sea because that ship is wearing out and takes extra effort on a daily basis to stay running. (They've resorted to stripping the sister ship Polar Sea for parts.)

And at the end of five years you're going to get to choose to stay for more or get out and move on. But you'll do so with management experience that companies love, and with a wide variety of other experiences that'll make you a better engineer. The thing about mechanical engineering is that in your career you could end up doing just about anything, so building soft skills and gaining exposure to how things are used in a unique environment like this might be more useful than being junior widget test engineer #7 a few years earlier. Who knows, you may come to love testing and quality management, but your five years in the service will get you exposed to many other topics and might light a completely different fire in you. Good luck, choose well, but do so knowing that your career can be a lot more interesting with some time spent outside the classroom along the way.