What is/was your Coast Guard Plan B?

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milmomsomeday

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I am a high school counselor and have 4 kids, 2 of which are beginning to really research what they want to do post-high school and are heavily considering the military. My extended family served in the military and I was in high school JROTC, but we really don't have a whole lot of information other than what we have researched (and I've learned a ton of information from this forum, thank you.)

My 2nd DS, who has a few more years to get to the real decision stages of this is currently interested in the Coast Guard. He loves anything to do with the water: swimming, fishing, boating. He seems more interested in smaller boats right now, so that's why he is thinking Coast Guard. Anyway, my question is CGA is a great Plan A, but I know its really small and super competitive. The path to officer in the Coast Guard doesn't seem as clear to me since there is not an ROTC program for the Coast Guard. Would a direct commission from a Maritime Academy be the most popular Plan B? If not that, are you looking to go to a university and then go OCS or enlisted and work your way up to OCS?

We do have a family friend that is in the Coast Guard and we are going to try to set up a time to get together with him to talk about his path. I was just trying to get an idea of what most kids are doing for Plan B if they really want to be a Coast Guard Officer. Thanks in advance!
 
Personally, I did not know much about the alternate paths, so my plan B was to go to a state school (which was my #1 school before I learned about CGA), and self prep for a year before reapplying. I was planning on doing classes that would match a typical 4/c year, joining a sports team and getting involved in activities.

However, there are a lot of good Plan B's: OCS, CSPI, MARGRAD, self prep, or enlist before commissioning. I don't know a lot about CSPI, I think I've seen threads on this site about it. I have a friend whose sibling is doing CSPI, it seems like a great option, and I would definitely suggest looking into it. They pay for a couple of years at college, but it has to be a qualifying minority serving institution. The MARGRAD program is for people who attended a maritime academy, such as SUNY Maritime, other state maritime schools or Kings Point/USMMA. I know of people at the academy (instructors and company officers) who have done OCS as college graduates who enlisted after graduating.

All options are good, but my advice it to find a Plan B where your DS would be happy even if they didn't get an appointment after reapplying.

Best of luck!!
 
Given your son’s interests, point him at the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps to research in parallel. There are 7 uniformed forces, five of which are armed forces. The other unarmed service is USPHS. Both of these services wear what look like Navy uniforms, but have distinct insignia. These services have essentially the same pay and benefits as the armed services. NOAA folks are respected professionals and do interesting things all over the world.

NOAA Officer Corps Overview | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

www.omao.noaa.gov www.omao.noaa.gov
 
milmomsomeday said:
I am a high school counselor and have 4 kids, 2 of which are beginning to really research what they want to do post-high school and are heavily considering the military. My extended family served in the military and I was in high school JROTC, but we really don't have a whole lot of information other than what we have researched (and I've learned a ton of information from this forum, thank you.)

My 2nd DS, who has a few more years to get to the real decision stages of this is currently interested in the Coast Guard. He loves anything to do with the water: swimming, fishing, boating. He seems more interested in smaller boats right now, so that's why he is thinking Coast Guard. Anyway, my question is CGA is a great Plan A, but I know its really small and super competitive. The path to officer in the Coast Guard doesn't seem as clear to me since there is not an ROTC program for the Coast Guard. Would a direct commission from a Maritime Academy be the most popular Plan B? If not that, are you looking to go to a university and then go OCS or enlisted and work your way up to OCS?

We do have a family friend that is in the Coast Guard and we are going to try to set up a time to get together with him to talk about his path. I was just trying to get an idea of what most kids are doing for Plan B if they really want to be a Coast Guard Officer. Thanks in advance!
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My DD applied this year and was waitlisted. We knew ahead of time that USCGA is competitive, and planned accordingly, looking at other schools. She was accepted to all 3 alternates -- a state college, a private college, and Mass. Maritime Academy. We were only able to visit the private college before Covid 19 stay at home orders. She received the most generous financial aid package from Mass. Maritime. She has been in touch with the Head Soccer Coach, and he has been beyond welcoming. Her plan is to attend Nass. Maritime and reapply to USCGA. She plans to take courses similar to 4C at CGA, play soccer, get involved in Drill Team, and a few other activities. She feels (and I agree) it will prepare her for CGA and make her an excellent applicant, 1 year more mature and more experienced. "Worst case scenario" is she likes MMA and stays all 4 years, then looking at MARGRAD commission. I think she's in a good position, with an excellent attitude toward working hard to reach her goal! (How bad do you want it? What's your plan to get there?)
 
My DS thought that WP would be his Plan B until he did Cadet for a Day, realized it was not for him and closed his application.
Plan B than became AROTC for which he won a Full 4 Year Scholarship to all of his schools- Dickinson, Bucknell, Penn State and the University of Scranton. He had visited U of S and Bucknell prior to his appointment to CGA on 12/13 and that was the end of that. He also recieved Scholarships to Dickinson and U of S unrelated to ROTC........asking him "what if?" He thinks it would have been AROTC at U of S.
 
Bash On said:
Aren't there eight uniformed forces, with six armed forces now? Don't forget Space Force!
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I realize I haven’t done enough pro reading on this topic! Thank you. It’s been the other way for so long, I need to break it out of the rut.
 
There are many ways to commission in the USCG besides the Academy:

Coast Guard Officer Programs | GoCoastGuard.com

We have numerous officer programs available, both active duty and reserve.
www.gocoastguard.com www.gocoastguard.com

My DD's backup was the 4-year NROTC scholarship she got. She was at the Texas A&M Maritime Academy for a year. Several of her classmates who wanted to go Coast Guard but didn't have a scholarship or appointment were intending to commission through the Maritime Academy Graduate (MARGRAD) program.
 
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My DD's top choice was USCGA all the way until she went to USAFA FVE in September her senior year. She put nearly all her effort in the SAs (going "horizontal" and applied to all 5) and only for USCGA did she have Plan Bs: MSI w/CSPI and USMMA (which was one of her top choices in its own right!) Her USCGA civilian Plan B was U of AZ. This one made the most sense as it is an awesome state university, plenty of majors and opportunities, an honors college, and DD's automatic merit aid was the highest tier, nearly full tuition. Another on her radar was ASU, but only if she got into both Barrett and the Next Generation Service Corp (very loosely, like civilian ROTC!) to make it price friendly.

She did not apply ROTC. Plan B schools were for 2 prongs: reapply to SA and as stand-alone choices. (Read next paragraph)

No one on SAF knows your family's EFC, candidate's scholarship potential, and other factors that may seem illogical to others. DD could chose any Plan B school as long as total COA < full sticker in state price. Her other Plan B options were "3 in 1" choices - safety, match, and reach all within the same school. Bama - safety admit, match honors college, reach UFE. SMU - safety admit, match University Honors Program, reach Hunt/Presidential. She ended up not applying for the reach components when she got SA offers of appointment. With admit and automatic merit aid, they all beat/met our price target. Others on the initial list were LSU, Ole Miss, state schools with U of Houston in particular (all "3 in 1's" with reach of Stamps/Tier I"). She did NOT consider Davidson/Belk; W&L/Johnson, UTD/McDermott, nor any other schools with Stamps - because she wasn't going to go, and her school's policy is if you apply and get it, you are going. (No one is going for the land grab and taking a spot from another student that really wants it.)
 
USCGA was the only SA my daughter applied to. She was Coast Guard all the way. Her Plan B and Plan C schools were schools where she would be eligible to apply for CSPI. Her Plan D was a state school, thinking she would reapply to USCGA. She was accepted at all her choices with scholarships and would also have been able to compete on the track teams. Having a path into the Coast Guard and being able to compete in track were her top criteria.
 
milmomsomeday said:
he path to officer in the Coast Guard doesn't seem as clear to me since there is not an ROTC program for the Coast Guard. Would a direct commission from a Maritime Academy be the most popular Plan B? If not that, are you looking to go to a university and then go OCS or enlisted and work your way up to OCS?
Click to expand...

You can Direct Commission into the Coast Guard, but unless you're a MARGRAD, you better have a STEM degree or something the CG is looking for There's also CSPI...and of course OCS. Attaching a link for you with some good information.

https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/what-is-was-your-coast-guard-plan-b.75525/
 
milmomsomeday said:
I am a high school counselor and have 4 kids, 2 of which are beginning to really research what they want to do post-high school and are heavily considering the military. My extended family served in the military and I was in high school JROTC, but we really don't have a whole lot of information other than what we have researched (and I've learned a ton of information from this forum, thank you.)

My 2nd DS, who has a few more years to get to the real decision stages of this is currently interested in the Coast Guard. He loves anything to do with the water: swimming, fishing, boating. He seems more interested in smaller boats right now, so that's why he is thinking Coast Guard. Anyway, my question is CGA is a great Plan A, but I know its really small and super competitive. The path to officer in the Coast Guard doesn't seem as clear to me since there is not an ROTC program for the Coast Guard. Would a direct commission from a Maritime Academy be the most popular Plan B? If not that, are you looking to go to a university and then go OCS or enlisted and work your way up to OCS?

We do have a family friend that is in the Coast Guard and we are going to try to set up a time to get together with him to talk about his path. I was just trying to get an idea of what most kids are doing for Plan B if they really want to be a Coast Guard Officer. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Just an FYI....IF your son is interested in "small boats" he does NOT want to be an Officer. Every small boat, ie: non-cutter is commander by an enlisted Coastie! As Coxswain, you command a small boat (65Ft) or less on a daily basis if you go Boatswains Mate. He can enlist, become a Coxswain, then as he progresses to BM1 or above he can apply for OCS or Warrant Officer which can lead to to O-3 (LT) and progression in the Officer ranks. Almost ALL Officers (Academy or OCS) do duty upon graduation in their field (aviation, cutters, response, cyber) but do not normally get to operate non-cutters or become qualified as Coxswain (Adm. Allen being the exception). Direct Commissioning (from college or grad school) is usually a limited duty type of career, he will stay within his field of expertise (Law, Engineering, Cyber) and work there for his career). If he desires command of a cutter, then the Academy or OCS is the route, if he desires to operate small boats, serve as Officer-in-Charge of smaller units, or do other tasks Officers don't get to do, make sure he researches his desired career path.
 
My child applied to USNA and Coast Guard, and also applied for a NROTC scholarship. First choice was a SA, and then a civilian school (Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets) and reapply to both SA again next year.
 
DD is reapplying to CGA, she did get into Texas A&M but has decided to have a "gap" year ... she is only 17 and wants to concentrate on sailing and a couple of things. She will be going to the local community college for classes as well.
 
CatMomof5 said:
DD is reapplying to CGA, she did get into Texas A&M but has decided to have a "gap" year ... she is only 17 and wants to concentrate on sailing and a couple of things. She will be going to the local community college for classes as well.
Click to expand...

Your DD has to take STEM classes: physics, calc, chem. It has to be a challenging academic year for her. CGA does not consider this a gap year, they say it is a school year to improve your academic portfolio.
 
Capt MJ said:
Given your son’s interests, point him at the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps to research in parallel. There are 7 uniformed forces, five of which are armed forces. The other unarmed service is USPHS. Both of these services wear what look like Navy uniforms, but have distinct insignia. These services have essentially the same pay and benefits as the armed services. NOAA folks are respected professionals and do interesting things all over the world.

NOAA Officer Corps Overview | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

www.omao.noaa.gov www.omao.noaa.gov
Click to expand...
NOAA officers attend OCS alongside CG at the Coast Guard Academy. When I was conducting research on USCGC HEALY (a medium duty ice breaker) in the Arctic, NOAA officers and NOAA civilians were onboard conducting research too.
 
My DS' plan B was all civilian schools, Binghamton, NYU, and Carnegie Mellon. Had he not been appointed and wanted to re-apply, I'd prefer him to go to Binghamton (full scholarship) for a year.
 
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