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Question
hi my name is stormy, i have a few questions for you regarding the coast guard.
i have a few pending charges(agg. battery w/a deadly weapon(2 counts), driving with out a license, and careless driving), also i have some stuff on my juvinal record. i want to know if its even an option for me to enlist on the U.S.C.G.?
i don't have a high school diploma i have a GED, while looking into the navy i learned i could only go reserve unless i get 15 collage credit hours, now is this the same with the coast guard?
how do they decide where i will be stationed and where i will live?do i live on a base or in a house?
how do you get promoted and what differences does it make?
what are the signing bonuses/pay rates/and allowances like?
what are some good informational resources on the U.S. Coast Guard?
other than what i have already asked do you have any other general or otherwise helpful information you could share with me since i really don't know a whole lot about this branch?
thanks allot for your help.
Hi Stormy,
There are certain military services which are harder to join than others. This is based on how many new recruits they need each year, and the "popularity," (ie, how many people want to join that service).
I'm sorry, but you pretty much have *zero* chance of joining the Coast Guard (whether active duty or reserves) with a GED and your current criminal record.
The Coast Guard only accepts about 3,000 new enlistees per year (compared with the active duty Army who accepts about 80,000 per year). Additionally, the CG, is is directly involved in law enforcement, so they don't waiver nearly as many criminal offenses. In short, with your stated criminal history, aggrevated by not having a high school diploma, your chances of a CG enlistment -- well.... it just isn't going to happen.
BTW, as long as you have charges pending, you're not eligible to join any of the Military services. One canot join the military with charges pending, or until all your charges are completely resolved (including any restrictions or probations).
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Answers by Expert:
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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