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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Questions Answered by Expert Eric Ernst

SubjectDate Asked
flat feet12/3/2009
  Q: I have flat feet, I believe I had to get a waiver to get in the Air Force Reserves, would I be ...
  A: Dani, If you had flat feet and got a waiver for it odds are you will not be discharged. If you want ...
Psychology in the air force12/2/2009
  Q: I don't know if you would be able to answer this or not. But I didn't think I would be even thinking ...
  A: The military gives you excellent leadership skills no matter what branch that you join. As for your ...
coast guard12/1/2009
  Q: Sir i wanted to know what do they mean, that you need to have two dependents to join the coast ...
  A: Francisco, It means if you have more than 2 dependents, you will not be able to join... If you have ...
ETS11/29/2009
  Q: I have a soldier USAR stationed in Europe that is schedule to ETS 1-2 weeks after we redeploy; he ...
  A: So he's a reserve soldier I'm going to assume? Normally they are pretty good sticklers about making ...
Being a Coast guard pilot11/28/2009
  Q: Ernst. My question is simple. I have a family in I'm interested in geeting a sobering picture of the ...
  A: To be honest no there isn't any waiver system for having more than 2 dependents. The Coast Guard is ...
Leadership Quality11/28/2009
  Q: I'm trying to find someway too show some leadership on my application. Most people say being a ...
  A: Sorry about that, I was a little confused for a moment there. Hmm ok leadership qualities, have you ...
Med Waivers11/27/2009
  Q: Eric- My daughter is trying to join the USCG and during MEPS med paperwork screening found a ...
  A: MSgt Westover, I'll be completely honest with you. Getting a waiver can take a bit of time. I know ...
Leadership Quality11/26/2009
  Q: I'm trying to find someway too show some leadership on my application. Most people say being a ...
  A: Sean, I'm not going to lie I'm a little confused by this question, what exactly is CSPI? Is it the ...
Air Force11/25/2009
  Q: I have been wanting to join the Air Force for about a year now. Unfortunately I got arrested over ...
  A: Eric, I'm not going to lie, you may have a bit of an uphill battle. The Air Force is the second ...
usaf11/24/2009
  Q: hey My Name Is Janie Carroll & I'm 14 years old I'm Doing A Project For Health Science Class Its On ...
  A: I really do hate to be the bearer of bad news. But here is the current regulations on Type 1 ...
Past Offense11/23/2009
  Q: Mr. Ernst, I am 23 now and have a college degree. When I was 17 I plead no contest to a theft ...
  A: Quick and easy answer for you, you shouldn't have a problem due to the fact that you were under the ...
Family life while in the Coast Guard.11/23/2009
  Q: I have a couple of questions for you. For starters, I have a one year old daughter,and plan on ...
  A: ) O.k I will start off with the simple questions first. As for Boot Camp, it is approx 8 weeks ...
DUI11/20/2009
  Q: I have recently entered a plea deal for a deferred sentence on a misdemeanor DUI. I was planning on ...
  A: Ok, this could certainly affect your enlistment into the Coast Guards due to the fact we are a Law ...
usaf11/18/2009
  Q: hey My Name Is Janie Carroll & I'm 14 years old I'm Doing A Project For Health Science Class Its On ...
  A: I must commend you for knowing what you want to do as an adult and wanting to join the military. I ...
Being a Coast guard pilot11/17/2009
  Q: Ernst. My question is simple. I have a family in I'm interested in geeting a sobering picture of the ...
  A: Yes you would be correct about the dependents and only having 2 when you initially join the Coast ...
Being a Coast guard pilot11/17/2009
  Q: Ernst. My question is simple. I have a family in I'm interested in geeting a sobering picture of the ...
  A: Patrick, It's not a problem with the reply to your question I'm more than happy to answer anyones ...
army pilot transfer to coast guard11/16/2009
  Q: can a warrant officer army aviator transfer to the coast guard if the WO has a bachelors degree? if ...
  A: Michael, Thank you for serving. I know quite a few Army and Marine pilots who made the transfer ...
ELS seperation11/14/2009
  Q: i was ELS in Febuary of 2003 from Ft. Benning, GA. I currently work for the State Of Texas ...
  A: Ok, a few question that I have for you, was your discharge a General Discharge under honorable ...
Coast Guard Engineering Degree11/13/2009
  Q: My son is a senior in high school. He has submitted his application to the Coast Guard Academy and ...
  A: You must be a very proud parent it sounds like your son is an extremely smart person. The Coast ...
question re land survival school11/13/2009
  Q: Eric. My son is currently stationed on a uscg cutter in district 17, and called us last night, ...
  A: I'm positive that you are a proud parent of a Coastie and you should be :) As for Survival School, I ...
ASVAB11/12/2009
  Q: Was wondering what you need for an asvab test? I'm taking mine today for the Air Force and I have ...
  A: Andrew, Hello, thank you for wanting to join the U.S. Air Force, O.k. simple question and simple ...
Being a Coast guard pilot11/11/2009
  Q: Ernst. My question is simple. I have a family in I'm interested in geeting a sobering picture of the ...
  A: Patrick, I have a couple questions for you first. Do you have a College Degree? In order to be a ...
hello11/10/2009
  Q: i have a few questions for you and i appreciate that you are available to answer them. Im studying ...
  A: May I say Congratulations on your early upcoming graduation. Keep working on your education the ...
hello11/6/2009
  Q: i have a few questions for you and i appreciate that you are available to answer them. Im studying ...
  A: I'm glad that you are getting tutored at your college for Math, I've never been any good at math ...
hello11/3/2009
  Q: i have a few questions for you and i appreciate that you are available to answer them. Im studying ...
  A: I'll be honest, I've never been any good at test either. I'm more of a hands on type of learner. You ...
i want to join the navy11/2/2009
  Q: may i still join the navy if i have a felony
  A: The question that i have for you how long ago did you recieve your felony and what was it for? If ...
Enlistment10/28/2009
  Q: Would having a misdemeanor larceny charge affect my enlistment or limit me in the future regarding ...
  A: Ok a few questions I have are, how long ago did this happen? How old were you when this happened and ...
MEB process in Air Force10/23/2009
  Q: I am currently on Active duty and will not hit my two year mark until Feb 2010. I've never had any ...
  A: My advice for you is to make sure that you have a copy of ALL your Medical records since it really ...
Coast Guard question10/22/2009
  Q: I wrote yesterday about my son being disqualified from the Coast Guard for occasional heartburn. ...
  A: Star, My advice to you is to see if you can find the doctors name and bring it up through the ...
reinlistment10/22/2009
  Q: Can i join the army if i was discharged from the air force for failing a drug test
  A: Ok a few questions I have for you first. What was your discharge code? On your DD 214 there should ...
MEB process in Air Force10/21/2009
  Q: I am currently on Active duty and will not hit my two year mark until Feb 2010. I've never had any ...
  A: Sarah, I'm sorry to hear about your impending MEB process. My advice to you is to contact your base ...
Direct commision10/19/2009
  Q: I already know the basic steps to get commission as a 2nd Lt. What I don't know is how much time it ...
  A: Luis, Which branch of the military are you joining? It can all depend on when they can send you to ...
military colleges10/19/2009
  Q: How many years does it take in college to get into the army?
  A: Amanda, You don't need to go to College to get into the Army, you need a H.S. Diploma or G.E.D. If ...
coast guard enlistment10/17/2009
  Q: I an 27 years old, passed all the steps for enlistment. I was sworn in with the guys leaving the ...
  A: Sam, O.K., i'll be straight and to the point, it surprises me that you were sworn in already. The ...
what's the coast guard life like?10/16/2009
  Q: My boyfriend and I've been together for four years and we are not married. My boyfriend was in the ...
  A: O.k. I'm going to assume that your boyfriend has a college education if he was an Ensign in the ...
knee problems10/14/2009
  Q: I've had knee problems in the past. ( knee dislocating and pain now the pain is bearable but I'm to ...
  A: Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. My laptop charger decided it wanted to not work anymore ...
Marines10/13/2009
  Q: What achievements have to be met to be in the marines?
  A: Not sure what you mean by achievements, but to be a marine you will need to be of strong heart and ...
Coast guard and prior arrests10/8/2009
  Q: I have had 3 prior arrests and am looking to get into to coast guard. 2 were when I was 18 and one ...
  A: Ryan, Hello again, You didn't mention the felony before...That is a big disqualifier. If you have a ...
eligability10/7/2009
  Q: I am looking to enlist into the coast guard but I have some worries about my chances of getting ...
  A: O.k. we all make mistakes at some point in our life, and the object is to own up to it. You did and ...
Coast guard and prior arrests10/6/2009
  Q: I have had 3 prior arrests and am looking to get into to coast guard. 2 were when I was 18 and one ...
  A: Ryan, You said that that they were all dismissed? If they were dismissed you shouldn't have a ...
pending arrival10/3/2009
  Q: My girlfriend just found out that she is pregnant with my child. We are not married at the present ...
  A: Good question, first off you will have a financial obligation to the child, since you will have ...
questions about the coast guard, thank you for your time9/30/2009
  Q: my question is will I be able to enter the coast guard if I have more than 5 speeding tickets? Also ...
  A: Nicholas, Ok I did a little research on this with the Asthma, it appears you may be able to get a ...
questions about the coast guard, thank you for your time9/30/2009
  Q: my question is will I be able to enter the coast guard if I have more than 5 speeding tickets? Also ...
  A: I'm going to cut straight to the chase. First with the medical portion. When you go to MEPS the ...
weight?9/30/2009
  Q: my name is britney and recently ive been seriously concidering joining the military i havent really ...
  A: To lose the weight, I ate extremely healthy I basically went the all vegetable route. I didn't eat ...
weight?9/29/2009
  Q: my name is britney and recently ive been seriously concidering joining the military i havent really ...
  A: .As for your question, some of it may be a little hard to take. Right now since the economy is in ...
should i try to enlist again9/25/2009
  Q: I was medically disqualified from the army national guard 2 weeks before I was to leave for basic. ...
  A: Kyle, More than likely your career in the military is not going to happen. I know that it is hard ...
switching after bootcamp9/22/2009
  Q: well my husband just went through army infantry basic training,but is now considering switching to ...
  A: One thing he doesn't want is a dishonorable discharge that is not a good one at all to have and it ...
switching after bootcamp9/21/2009
  Q: well my husband just went through army infantry basic training,but is now considering switching to ...
  A: Ok I'm going to be up front about this. The chances of your husband being able to switch to the ...
got a medical discharge in 19989/20/2009
  Q: i was in basic tranning and got a grade 5 seperation. they did the surgerey right there on the ...
  A: Ok, the question I have, have you ever went and visited the VA and talked with someone there? If you ...
OCS/enlistment9/20/2009
  Q: I am just about to graduate from college and am looking at entering the Coast Guard. It has been ...
  A: Robert, Good Question..I know that the Coast Guard grants waivers in some areas. If you have a ...
Coast Guard9/19/2009
  Q: The reason being is because I am from the cayman islands and all my life I have been on a boat ...
  A: Let me first say thank you for wanting to join the United States Coast Guard, you are making a great ...
Coast Guard9/18/2009
  Q: I was wondering if you can join the Coast Guard at 17 do you have to be a senior in high school or ...
  A: You may join the Coast Guard at 17 but you need your parental consent in order to enlist at that ...
women and military9/16/2009
  Q: my name is katie. I am a 14 year old who has a dad and a brother who both served in the army. As i ...
  A: I remember when I was 14 I knew I wanted to join the military. As a female for you and wanting to be ...
Entry Level Seperation9/15/2009
  Q: I was recently separated from the Air Force. Its been almost a month and I still haven't received my ...
  A: O.K. Here is a question what type of conditions was it under? Was it Honorable, Under Honorable ...
Question regarding the USCG9/14/2009
  Q: I am planning on enlisting to the USCG reserves, currently I live about 50 exits from CapeMay so it ...
  A: Let me start by saying thank you for wanting to join the USCG, in my eyes the best service out of ...
USCG helocopter pilot sign up9/14/2009
  Q: Hi i am a 14 year old that is wanting to make a career as a USCG pilot i was wondering if there is ...
  A: I remember when I was your age I already knew I wanted to serve in the military.. Here a few things ...
Entering Coast Guard9/10/2009
  Q: I am interested in a career in the Coast Guard. How difficult is it to get in these days?
  A: the Coast Guard is probably the best service out there granted all of the services are great. As for ...
how long9/8/2009
  Q: i was wondering how long it would take for me to join the coast guard i already turned in a large ...
  A: The Coast Guard is probably the best service out of all the branches. As it stands right now all of ...
Medical Discharge RE-4 (want to re-enlist)8/23/2009
  Q: I entered into the Navy 10 years ago. I made it to the end, but could not pass the final PT test. I ...
  A: .. Are you able to get a medical waiver for your asthma? That is where the biggest challenge is ...
My daughet wants to join the Air Force.8/21/2009
  Q: I need help, my daughter wants to join the Air Force only because she wants to get out of the house, ...
  A: To answer some of your questions if she is looking to join the Air Force, she will need to see a ...

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

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Eric Ernst

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Expertise

I can answer questions regarding Coast Guard life, small boat station life, and air crew station life. I also have a certain degree in expertise in Army National Guard life as I was prior enlisted in the Army.

Experience

I have been in the Coast Guard approx. 2 and a half years one year at a small boat station 9 months of training for aviation (Aviation Electrician Technician) and the rest as an aircrew member. I also have experience as a Combat Engineer (21 Bravo) and as a Heavy Equipment Operator (62 Echo)

Education/Credentials
High School Diploma

Awards and Honors
Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Over Seas Training Ribbon, Humanitarion Service Medal, Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal, and Army Good Conduct Medal to name a few.

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