Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Officer reserves to active duty

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/20/2012


Question
Is coming into the coast guard as an officer in the reserves as hard as active duty? Also is switching from reserves to active duty difficulty? Does the coast guard allow active tours for reserve officers and would that increase your chances of switching into active duty?

Answer
Sean,

I am not certain what you mean by hard.  The requirements to join the reserves are the same as active duty.  In some regions the number of applicants greatly exceeds the available positions.  Once a reserve officer, you can request an active duty assignment.  If your request is accepted you will brought on active duty.  These opportunities appear to be decreasing and i believe average about 20 or so a year.


The only way for a reserve office to transition to active duty is to take what is called an EAD (extended active duty) contract. An EAD contract is for a one assignment usually 3 years. If while on active duty in that particular assignment you become eligible for promotion and are selected you can transition to active duty.

R/

LCDR John Fiorentine USCG

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

John Fiorentine

Expertise

Active Duty Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander. My specialties are opertations afloat and operations ashore; three afloat tours and two ashore tour under my belt including command afloat and navy exchange. My staff assignments have been with Officer Personnel Management as a Career Counselor and at the Office of Law Enforcement within CG Headquarters as a program analyst. I can answer questions related to the Coast Guard, the assignment process, officer specialties, OCONUS duty, afloat and ashore operations.

Experience

WMEC Deck Watch Officer Portsmouth VA; DD Combat Info Center Officer Yokosuka Japan (Navy Exchange); WPB Commanding Officer San Juan PR; Enforcement Div Sector San Juan PR; Career Counselor (OPM-4); Law Enforcement Program Analyst (CG-MLE) Command Center Chief Sector San Juan PR

Organizations
USCGA Alumni Association; Military Officers Association of America, National Naval Officers Association.

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Government from the US Coast Guard Academy; M.S.A in Leadership from Central Michigan University

Awards and Honors
CG Commendation Medal, USN Achievement Medal, CG Achievement Medal, CG Commandant Letter of Commendation

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.