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QUESTION: Hi Rod,
I am 24 yeard old recent college graduate and have been interested in joining the Coast Guard for quite some time now. Recently, I decided that I was going to go in as an enlistee simply because I missed the OCS deadline for the fall and would have to wait till Spring '08.
However, the recruiter I am dealing with has informed me that basic training is full until at least January. Now I am at the point where I figure if I'm going to wait that long for basic training I might as well just apply for OCS. I have not taken my physical yet or signed an enlistment contract but I have taken my ASVABS and filled out a pre-screen medical report. I am well aware that having a college degree does not guarantee anything but I would still like to try. Will this transition be possible or have I already gotten myself in to the enlisted route? Also, will my current recruiter be able to help me with the OCS packet or will I have to go through someone else? I am under the impression that recruiters do not receive any incentive for helping OCS applicants. I am worried that my current recruiter will not help me as well as he could since he may resent me for wasting his time. Any suggestions?
Regards,
Brian
ANSWER: Hi Brian,
You haven't even signed a DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program) contract yet. Therefore, you have absolutely no obligation to enlist (even if you signed a DEP contract, you could request discharge from the DEP in order to apply for an officer program -- see my DEP article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep.htm.
With the exception of the Army, all of the services have different recruiters for officer candidates than for enlisted applicants. You need to ask to be put in tough with an officer accession recruiter for the Coast Guard.
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Rod,
I sent you an e-mail on November 7th regarding the Coast Guard and OCS. From reading some of your other postings and your follow up to my previous e-mail, I am under the impression that even if I decided to enlist into the Coast Guard I could still apply for OCS immediately, even as an enlistee. Is this correct?
If this is correct, I figure I might as well enlist and then immediately turn in my packet for OCS as I am getting anxious to get on with the process. In your personal opinion, do you feel this is a good idea or would you personally go strictly through the OCS process?
My main concern is if that I enlist into the Coast Guard that I might not be considered as a serious candidate for OCS. I do not want to get into the enlisted route of the Coast Guard and then forgo the future chance of becoming an Officer. I feel that if I go enlisted then that is all the Coast Guard may feel I am sufficient for. Am I correct in any of these assumptions?
Regards,
Brian
Hi Brian,
If you apply for Coast Guard OCS as a Coast Guard enlisted member, you are going to need your commanding officer's endorsement and recommendation. This, of course, isn't a requirement of a civilian applying for OCS.
Most CO's, in my experience, won't give their recommendation/endorsement, unless they are positive, in their judgement that the enlisted member has the qualities (in the CO's opinion) to make a good officer. There is a very good chance that your CO won't give you an endorsement until/unless you've worked under his/her command for a year or two.
Additionally, before the CO is going to give his/her endorsement/recommendation, he/she is going to ask for input from your supervisors. If, for any reason, your supervisors have any problem with you, what-so-ever, the CO is probably not going to recommend you for OCS.
Just some things to keep in mind if one enlists with the thought of trying to become a commissioned officer, vs. applying for OCS as a civilian.......
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
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