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ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

Wilmington and Philadelphia are the only two east coast cities I'm currently considering.

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nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

Wilmington is awesome if you're single.

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

im too old for college girls.

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

ElMaligno posted:

im too old for college girls.

Wilmington is awesome if you're single.

Elendil004
Mar 22, 2003

The prognosis
is not good.


Dude just get a flight suit, throw OS(1,2,3 etc) on it and rake in the ladies. Tell them you're a P-100 pilot.

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

nwiniwn posted:

Wilmington is awesome if you're single.

ok

Elendil004 posted:

Dude just get a flight suit, throw OS(1,2,3 etc) on it and rake in the ladies. Tell them you're a P-100 pilot.

no

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

Seriously though-I don't know what you like/don't like, so it's tough to gauge. You might really like woods hole, for all I know.

Wilmington weather is mild in the winter, humid in the summer, but overall really nice. You're far enough up where hurricanes sometime make a threat but not really.

Tons of college kids though-so if you don't like that, or southern people, it might not be the place. They are less southern than you would find in Yorktown, if that helps.

Edit: just saw Houston was listed. gently caress that.

Elendil004
Mar 22, 2003

The prognosis
is not good.


I just got back from a three week deployment for the Red Cross in Houston and honestly it's one of the worst big cities I've ever visited.

UWBW
Aug 3, 2013

Permanently banned from the Alamo
Outsider butting my head in, here, but have any of you guys ever spent any time working out on the Great Lakes? I live in a port city on Lake Ontario and the coast guard station up near me has always been just a cool bunch of dudes who are pretty much down for anything.

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

congratulations guys, we are full of lead and asbestos.

also im going to Astoria OR

ElMaligno fucked around with this message at 02:33 on Dec 31, 2017

Meshka
Nov 27, 2016

ElMaligno posted:

congratulations guys, we are full of lead and asbestos.

also im going to Astoria OR

I liked Astoria, if you are gonna rent I would suggest downtown Astoria. A lot of people lived in Warrenton because I think it is cheaper, but it is kind of a shithole. It was the most beautiful place I ever lived in, the nature around is awesome. Sector is like a 15 min drive, traffic is minimal, closest airport is Portland which is like 1.5 hours away.

EBB
Feb 15, 2005

ElMaligno posted:

congratulations guys, we are full of lead and asbestos.

also im going to Astoria OR

oh great bay area property values will go up with your departure

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

Meshka posted:

I liked Astoria, if you are gonna rent I would suggest downtown Astoria. A lot of people lived in Warrenton because I think it is cheaper, but it is kind of a shithole. It was the most beautiful place I ever lived in, the nature around is awesome. Sector is like a 15 min drive, traffic is minimal, closest airport is Portland which is like 1.5 hours away.

This is p much what people have suggested me.


I LICK APE PUSSY posted:

oh great bay area property values will go up with your departure

laugh all you want but BAH in the bay area went down for the first time in almost a decade.

Elendil004
Mar 22, 2003

The prognosis
is not good.


I hope Annies is still there. The absolute worst strip club I've ever visited, one of the chiefs from NMLBS was dating the only attractive stripper there. I have vague memories of riding around in the back of her pickup truck screaming coxswainly with said chief, drunk as hell.

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

ElMaligno posted:

This is p much what people have suggested me.


laugh all you want but BAH in the bay area went down for the first time in almost a decade.

drat-Boston just dropped $200 bucks for next year too.

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

Elendil004 posted:

I hope Annies is still there. The absolute worst strip club I've ever visited, one of the chiefs from NMLBS was dating the only attractive stripper there. I have vague memories of riding around in the back of her pickup truck screaming coxswainly with said chief, drunk as hell.

I was already given the Annies talk by an OS1.

nwiniwn posted:

drat-Boston just dropped $200 bucks for next year too.

im going to losing about 25000 a year after PCS to Oregon, gotta dial back the TSP money. :( :( :(

Meshka
Nov 27, 2016

ElMaligno posted:

I was already given the Annies talk by an OS1.


im going to losing about 25000 a year after PCS to Oregon, gotta dial back the TSP money. :( :( :(

That place does not have a lot of people, so it is better if you are already married. Check out the breweries along the waterfront, they have really good local beer. Seaside, which is a larger touristy town is about half an hour away. A good trip idea is to drive past Portland along the Columbia River gorge, hit up some local wineries/cheese places, then do a loop to Tillamook then back North which can be done in a day. And don't get bored and if it is a 210 then I hope you like drydocks!

Meshka fucked around with this message at 06:59 on Dec 31, 2017

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

Happy new years you animals.

Now I am officially going to Astoria and will probably get a roommate because why the gently caress not and I may as well.

EBB
Feb 15, 2005

ElMaligno posted:

Happy new years you animals.

Now I am officially going to Astoria and will probably get a roommate because why the gently caress not and I may as well.

a new blue squares is born

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

ElMaligno posted:

Happy new years you animals.

Now I am officially going to Astoria and will probably get a roommate because why the gently caress not and I may as well.

Congrats-hope you like it. 25% through grad school and so far I'm putting in more hours at school than I was at work.

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

EVA BRAUN BLOWJOBS posted:

a new blue squares is born

I have no idea what this means in this context.

nwin posted:

Congrats-hope you like it.

My potential roommate is a 21 year old fresh from OS A-School kid that wants to live in Portland, OR and have an hour and half commute to work.
I almost laughed in his face.

EBB
Feb 15, 2005

ElMaligno posted:

I have no idea what this means in this context.

get a female roommate

also that kid is retarded for wanting a 3 hour daily commute

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

ElMaligno posted:

I have no idea what this means in this context.


My potential roommate is a 21 year old fresh from OS A-School kid that wants to live in Portland, OR and have an hour and half commute to work.
I almost laughed in his face.

Yuck. I mean, *maybe* it wouldn’t be that bad if he knew his schedule was like 2 on/4 off or whatever you guys do and he sleeps at the unit between shifts, but since he’s straight out of A then he’s just going to be on lovely break-in rotations, so gently caress that poo poo.

stackofflapjacks
Apr 7, 2009

Mmmmm

Hi Coast Guard thread! I'm considering enlisting and I wanted to ask people who are in about different jobs. I understand and have read about how it can vary broadly between stations and commands in how your job functions. However I am comfortable with some general nature and am looking for guidance from you salty folks.

About myself: Born and raised in Alaska, 27, male with no college degree. Went to a NG high school program and graduated valedictorian (hah) and when I took the ASVAB I scored high, 92 or something like that, it's been 10 years. I put up with all of the bullshit well and enjoyed the experience overall. Been working ever since, done a little of everything but I have gravitated towards more labor jobs after getting 'cushy' office jobs I get bored as hell and quit within 6 months.

This brings me to jobs, I have this idea in my head that enlisting and putting in for Boatswain Mate will give me a very quintessential CG experience, namely operating boats and commanding ships, doing boardings and being the active component of the CG. However I've caught some hint that it's looked down on as the dumb grunt rate? Nothing much, seems like light hearted ribbing but also haven't heard much besides that about this rate.

If I'm trying to get some skills to bring with me to civilian life does this hold any value in maritime jobs? Can I get a captains license from hours serving as a crew member? As a larger rate does this give more opportunities for advancement? Am I better off going for a different rate?

IT holds some interest but I'm wondering if I'm doing a one term enlistment if I could do better as a BM and use the GI Bill for an IT degree over getting questionable experience plugging in phones and generally doing basic things in the CG and hating life as a help desk cubicle. Is this a misconception in a small service like the Coast Guard? Also what is the difference between IT and Intelligence Specialist?

The last rate I've got interest in is ET or AET. I've seen lots and understand aviation has a better quality of life, home most days kind of thing and that interests me as I like the idea of having a job over having a cutter posting my whole enlistment where my girlfriend and dog are stuck waiting for me. However I feel that doing AET will be nice but I'll be a non rate for 18 months with the possibly of being on a cutter anyway waiting for A school to open then I'll only be enjoying aviation life for a year or two tops? Is this tradeoff worth it?

Also is ET more likely to end up on larger ships? Or can you get a small boat station?


Finally, I've heard that basic posting priority is based on class ranking? T/f? Then my plan from that follows with taking an OCONUS posting out of basic gets you higher priority along with class ranking when you are setting your dream sheet out of A school? Does OCONUS mean outside the contiguous US? How likely am I to get Hawaii, Guam, PR or Alaska out of basic if I plan on being top of my class? What districts or stations would be 'better' out of A schooling terms of my priorities, namely, high ops tempo, small boat station or cutters that deploy for weeks instead of months at a time?

I realize it's a lot of questions, and I'm sure more than a couple that can be answered by a recruiter but I trust people who are more seasoned and perhaps less optimistic about any and every job, area etc of the CG. Thanks for the your time.

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

Hey thanks for reaching out! I was a boatswains mate for 6 years before I commissioned, and can answer a few of your questions. I’ll try and give some more information tomorrow, but very quickly-it’s not a dumb rate-just people loving with each other mainly. It’s not a huge guarantee for outside employment, unless you want to be a cop or something similar down the road...driving boats and carrying a gun just doesn’t open up a TON of options. However, sea time served can meet the requirements for a 100 ton license/similar if you take the test within 3 years of acquiring that sea time.

All in all, it’s a great gig-I’ll try and post tomorrow with some amplifying information.

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

stackofflapjacks posted:

Hi Coast Guard thread! I'm considering enlisting and I wanted to ask people who are in about different jobs. I understand and have read about how it can vary broadly between stations and commands in how your job functions. However I am comfortable with some general nature and am looking for guidance from you salty folks.

About myself: Born and raised in Alaska, 27, male with no college degree. Went to a NG high school program and graduated valedictorian (hah) and when I took the ASVAB I scored high, 92 or something like that, it's been 10 years. I put up with all of the bullshit well and enjoyed the experience overall. Been working ever since, done a little of everything but I have gravitated towards more labor jobs after getting 'cushy' office jobs I get bored as hell and quit within 6 months.

This brings me to jobs, I have this idea in my head that enlisting and putting in for Boatswain Mate will give me a very quintessential CG experience, namely operating boats and commanding ships, doing boardings and being the active component of the CG. However I've caught some hint that it's looked down on as the dumb grunt rate? Nothing much, seems like light hearted ribbing but also haven't heard much besides that about this rate.

If I'm trying to get some skills to bring with me to civilian life does this hold any value in maritime jobs? Can I get a captains license from hours serving as a crew member? As a larger rate does this give more opportunities for advancement? Am I better off going for a different rate?

IT holds some interest but I'm wondering if I'm doing a one term enlistment if I could do better as a BM and use the GI Bill for an IT degree over getting questionable experience plugging in phones and generally doing basic things in the CG and hating life as a help desk cubicle. Is this a misconception in a small service like the Coast Guard? Also what is the difference between IT and Intelligence Specialist?

From what I've heard about IT, a lot of the technology they do learn is outdated, so transferring those skills to the civilian side doesn't really work well. An Intelligence Specialist (IS) is completely different from IT...I'll let El Maligno weigh in on this, but IS is more intel specific, then IT support.

quote:


The last rate I've got interest in is ET or AET. I've seen lots and understand aviation has a better quality of life, home most days kind of thing and that interests me as I like the idea of having a job over having a cutter posting my whole enlistment where my girlfriend and dog are stuck waiting for me. However I feel that doing AET will be nice but I'll be a non rate for 18 months with the possibly of being on a cutter anyway waiting for A school to open then I'll only be enjoying aviation life for a year or two tops? Is this tradeoff worth it?

Aviation is cool, but advancement is generally slow...lots of people locked up in that field because they generally enjoy what they do and stick around.

quote:


Also is ET more likely to end up on larger ships? Or can you get a small boat station?

lots of ET's on larger ships. You won't go to a small boat station. Only ratings at small boat stations are BM/MK/ and the occasional ME...there's a rare YN or SK at some of them, but that's getting phased out. For an ET, you could go to a land support unit (ESD-Electronics Support Detachment) where you go and work on the electronics for small boats at various stations, but you won't be stationed there.

quote:



Finally, I've heard that basic posting priority is based on class ranking? T/f? Then my plan from that follows with taking an OCONUS posting out of basic gets you higher priority along with class ranking when you are setting your dream sheet out of A school? Does OCONUS mean outside the contiguous US? How likely am I to get Hawaii, Guam, PR or Alaska out of basic if I plan on being top of my class? What districts or stations would be 'better' out of A schooling terms of my priorities, namely, high ops tempo, small boat station or cutters that deploy for weeks instead of months at a time?

I realize it's a lot of questions, and I'm sure more than a couple that can be answered by a recruiter but I trust people who are more seasoned and perhaps less optimistic about any and every job, area etc of the CG. Thanks for the your time.
I dunno how they do boot camp selection nowadays...mine was 12 years ago. I put in for 3 polar icebreakers and got one of them. /shrug. A school's do things differently depending which way the wind is blowing. Some will just take class rank in A school into account, others will give you a few extra points if you were OCONUS or on a ship for your first unit. I wouldn't put too much stock in that, honestly, unless someone else can give more updated info. Just keep your head down and do really well in A school, and you should rank high enough to get what you want.

OCONUS means not the 48 states. If you want alaska, you can usually get it. There's non-rates at all the other places you mention, it just matters how many places need them at a time.

High ops tempo? You probably want anywhere in D7 if you want to do drug chasing and migrant interdiction...it really all depends. Everywhere has ships of all sizes, so it depends which one you end up on, and that will show how long you are underway for at a time...generally:

Patrol boat (87 or 110) out for a week at a time, in for a week at a time, but you can get recalled a lot.

210'/270'-out for 60-75 days at a time, in for the same amount

378- up to 90 days at a time, in for the same amount.

nwin fucked around with this message at 02:58 on Feb 12, 2018

ElMaligno
Dec 31, 2004

Be Gay!
Do Crime!

im an OS not an IS

tbh i have no idea what IS do, except that they collate intel, give it to the proper people, and they need a TS to do their job.

nwin
Feb 25, 2002

make's u think

ElMaligno posted:

im an OS not an IS

tbh i have no idea what IS do, except that they collate intel, give it to the proper people, and they need a TS to do their job.

Fair enough-I still just always lump you guys together.

krispykremessuck
Jul 22, 2005

unlike most veterans and SA members $10 is not a meaningful expenditure for me

I'm gonna have me a swag Bar-B-Q
if you're living in astoria just drive down to cannon beach or lincoln city every weekend and sleep in your car on the beach. alternatively drive down to crescent city and pretend you never left california

stackofflapjacks
Apr 7, 2009

Mmmmm

nwin posted:

From what I've heard about IT, a lot of the technology they do learn is outdated, so transferring those skills to the civilian side doesn't really work well. An Intelligence Specialist (IS) is completely different from IT...I'll let El Maligno weigh in on this, but IS is more intel specific, then IT support.
Aviation is cool, but advancement is generally slow...lots of people locked up in that field because they generally enjoy what they do and stick around.
lots of ET's on larger ships. You won't go to a small boat station. Only ratings at small boat stations are BM/MK/ and the occasional ME...there's a rare YN or SK at some of them, but that's getting phased out. For an ET, you could go to a land support unit (ESD-Electronics Support Detachment) where you go and work on the electronics for small boats at various stations, but you won't be stationed there.

I dunno how they do boot camp selection nowadays...mine was 12 years ago. I put in for 3 polar icebreakers and got one of them. /shrug. A school's do things differently depending which way the wind is blowing. Some will just take class rank in A school into account, others will give you a few extra points if you were OCONUS or on a ship for your first unit. I wouldn't put too much stock in that, honestly, unless someone else can give more updated info. Just keep your head down and do really well in A school, and you should rank high enough to get what you want.

OCONUS means not the 48 states. If you want alaska, you can usually get it. There's non-rates at all the other places you mention, it just matters how many places need them at a time.

High ops tempo? You probably want anywhere in D7 if you want to do drug chasing and migrant interdiction...it really all depends. Everywhere has ships of all sizes, so it depends which one you end up on, and that will show how long you are underway for at a time...generally:

Patrol boat (87 or 110) out for a week at a time, in for a week at a time, but you can get recalled a lot.

210'/270'-out for 60-75 days at a time, in for the same amount

378- up to 90 days at a time, in for the same amount.

This is all helpful info, thanks for chiming in! My lady didn't seem phased when I talked about Ice Breakers so that's an option I had previously written off. Looks like BM is going to be my research area and probable job. Any stories? Great postings? Or terrible ones? I understand I can shadow folks before joining and speak with people in different rates as a non-rate, will definitely use experienced people as a resource.

mackensie
Apr 17, 2002

stackofflapjacks posted:

ya da good info etc

What do you want to be at the end of your term? If you are thinking Alaska and maritime trade, obviously BM. You'd get lots of desk experience and it would be, likely, the fastest path to running a boat.

IT? Meh. One of the most important things in IT is troubleshooting. You'd get more of that in ET or machinery. When you get out you'd be up against kids fresh out of some stupid degree mill place like an ITT school. Having the electronic experience would give you an edge I bet. The higher level systems stuff (exchange or active directory, citrix, domain, Cisco, VoIP, etc) I don't know if you'd get near that stuff. If the recruiter thinks you *can* and you could then get Microsoft or Cisco certification etc, then, maybe IT.

Disclaimer: I was in the CG when Christ was striking BM. My opinions on *anything* CG related aren't actually rooted in much reality. YMMV, except I am currently a senior network guy for one of the best and largest healthcare companies in the country.

Melthir
Dec 29, 2009

I need to go scrap some money together cause my avatar is just sad.
CG members kid got kidnapped. Wife's face beaten in. Situation ongoing.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/heidi-todd-missing-search-for-s-c-girl-after-officials-say-mom-beaten-in-home/

Also any Alaska CG questions I will be more than happy to field.

Melthir fucked around with this message at 21:40 on Feb 14, 2018

krispykremessuck
Jul 22, 2005

unlike most veterans and SA members $10 is not a meaningful expenditure for me

I'm gonna have me a swag Bar-B-Q

mackensie posted:

What do you want to be at the end of your term?

mackensie is the only one that is pointing this guy in the right direction.

Also just to be clear don't find yourself stuck in IT somehow, that ship has sailed. So, unless you're going to somehow be an enlisted network architect (you won't) it's not worth your time unless you relish the idea of running a helldesk and telling people you don't support printers.

But I've been out for five years who knows maybe admiral z is actually an IT guy.

Anyway, go boasting mate for like 4 years and take your GI bill and blow it on some trade school thing if you don't like desk jobs and DO like being hourly.

Otherwise pick intel (if you can get a TS) or logistics/acq if you can't get TS. Actually don't pick logistics/acq because that's an awful place to end up altogether.

Go intel, or pick a gently caress-off easy rating and use the military to get a leg-up in life. Icebreakers are great, but don't go married/not single though. God that would have turned the best assignment I had into pure hell.

disclaimer: I've been out for five years but I'm not as old as mackensie. CG is way ahead on some poo poo, way behind on others. If those of you that are somehow still in are still using FPD and complaining about it, don't. It could be way worse. And, in fact, is in other, bigger departments. ;)

Melthir
Dec 29, 2009

I need to go scrap some money together cause my avatar is just sad.
I run the floor at the Alaska MAT. Ask me anything about maintenance.

krispykremessuck
Jul 22, 2005

unlike most veterans and SA members $10 is not a meaningful expenditure for me

I'm gonna have me a swag Bar-B-Q

Melthir posted:

I run the floor at the Alaska MAT. Ask me anything about maintenance.

do they still hide the ccti stuff under the crow's nest boiler room???

Melthir
Dec 29, 2009

I need to go scrap some money together cause my avatar is just sad.
Nothing is under the crows best but a bit of scaffolding and some drop lights.

krispykremessuck
Jul 22, 2005

unlike most veterans and SA members $10 is not a meaningful expenditure for me

I'm gonna have me a swag Bar-B-Q

Melthir posted:

Nothing is under the crows best but a bit of scaffolding and some drop lights.

I spent a lot of time in the crow's nest and occupying the watchroom in bertholf. I guess also the guard shacks at the various gates. ~memories~

Melthir
Dec 29, 2009

I need to go scrap some money together cause my avatar is just sad.
Watch room is gone, we ripped it out while waiting on the FRC it's another galley now.

krispykremessuck
Jul 22, 2005

unlike most veterans and SA members $10 is not a meaningful expenditure for me

I'm gonna have me a swag Bar-B-Q

Melthir posted:

Watch room is gone, we ripped it out while waiting on the FRC it's another galley now.

do they keep finding various 2x4s/4x4s getting stuck in the lift station next to industrial???

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Melthir
Dec 29, 2009

I need to go scrap some money together cause my avatar is just sad.
Nope the Acushnets gone.

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