Coast Guard AIM program

[Big Rig]

My son is showing an interest and I was wondering if any of you have / had experience and would care to share.

[sheets]

My kid had been interested in the USCG since he was quite young. The AIM program gives interested kids a week-long sample of cadet life in the academy. Back in the day it was a competitive process to get selected for the AIM program. He applied and made the cut. Spent a week at the CG academy (all expense trip paid for by CG auxiliary) during the summer between his junior and senior year of HS. Unfortunately he did not get an appointment to the academy. He did however enlist in the CG. Signed up a couple months before graduating HS.  He was in boot camp two days after finishing HS. Spent five years active - last two years was shore duty in Puerto Rico as SAR coordinator, and five years in the CG reserve while attending college. Local CG Air Station (Humboldt Bay) put him to work on near a weekly basis due to his qualification as SAR coordinator. Nearly 25 years later he remains a proud coastie.  

[scooperhsd]

I think the Coast Guard doesn't get enough respect as one of our country's armed forces.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think the Coast Guard doesn't get enough respect as one of our country's armed forces.

+1 

[Mapper]

I have a couple experiences I can share.  Bottom line, I would say you can't go wrong with the Coast Guard.

I have had a career in the NAVY.  My first experience with COAST GUARD was as a member of a small tactical team that boards other vessels at sea --- we sometimes trained and operated with USCG... especially if it involved drug busts.  Following a 2-ton cocaine bust off the SW coast of Mexico in 2000, my ship (USS Stethem -- DDG 63) sent me and 5 others over to the vessel as a prize crew to take back to San Diego for evidence.  Two of six prize crew members were USCG.

In 2001, USCGC Sherman deployed with USS Stethem and another destroyer on a Persian Gulf deployment --- one of the missions that we did was enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq (we boarded lots and lots of ships coming into and leaving Iraq to check for weapons, illegal oil, or contraband that could be weaponized.

In 2005-2007 I attended Navy flight school (VT-6 fixed wing and HT-8 rotor-wing) --- on occasion I had USCG instructors, but mostly interacted with other students.

Since then, I've had several occasional interactions with USCG.

My cousin did a 30-year career as a USCG officer, also commanding USCGC Sherman doing missions off the west coast all the way up into the treacherous waters of the Bering Sea off of Alaska.

Every interaction that I've had with USCG has been extremely professional.  They are exceptionally good at what they do, and if I had it to do all over again I may have given stronger consideration to joining the USCG.

My advice to him: don't be hasty --- do the research (including talking to people like you are doing) to make as informed decision as possible.  Service in our military is the privilege, opportunity, and honor to serve for the defense of our homeland.  It's a commitment worth thinking on.

Apologies for the book --- hope it is what you were looking for.

[sheets]

My kid did 3 years on the Sherman. He was in the navigation team. A rate that to my knowledge no longer exists (QM). Old school plotting and charting. Learned to navigate by the stars. Was cross-trained as an EMT  rescue swimmer for at sea incidents. Served on boarding parties at sea (with a side arm). Covered the pacific from South America to Guam, Marshall Islands, Japan to Alaska. Boarded vessels found loaded with illegals being smuggled in. He'd seen some "stuff" during that time. Plenty of stories to tell. Was his navigation background that got him the gig in San Juan,Puerto Rico, and his reserve duty back home at the local air station. His five years reserve duty - hardly a week went by where they didn't call him in for duty for a couple days of SAR duty so the other active duty watch standers could get a couple days of leave.  Made descent money as a part-time job while attending college.