These boys are circa Foxtrot 162. I thought I threw em in a dumpster 23 years ago.

Good collar that doesn't suck after a month, and a comfortable fabric?

My cutter shirts feel terrible and are falling apart now and the soffe ones at the exchange are trash

I report to my first unit (station) in a few days and I'm very nervous for what it's going to be like and making a good impression, and just the new environment being away from home in general. If anyone has some good advice or anything to say that might ease some nerves that would be very helpful lol.

I am reporting to my duty station soon and I heard you need to get qualified, how difficult is it? I heard if you don’t get qualified in a certain amount of times you can get discharged. It takes me a little while to get the hang of learning things so I was wondering whats the best route to get qualified ASAP

I recently graduated from bootcamp, and I managed to get orders to the mighty CGC Eagle, which I am unbelievably grateful for. Still can’t believe it.

However, when reading the non-rate newsletter, I stumbled upon the service obligation section. I did some research, and there seems to be a two-year service obligation for nonrates stationed on the Eagle.

I suppose my primary questions are:
1. Is this obligation set in stone, or is it possible to get A-school orders sooner? And if so, what might determine this?
2. Should I just accept my fate and consider putting my name in for Aviation or one of the longer wait-time rates?

I originally just planned to go BM and try to get into law enforcement, but I might consider ME or aviation if I’m required to wait two years before receiving orders.

Good day comrades,

1 am a hopeful future Coast Guard member, just waiting on a date for Cape May. I've heard it's possible to go overseas on a large cutter for an assignment (Bahrain and Singapore is all i know of so far) so i'm making this post to inquire what the process is like. Is it possible to go as a non-rate or is it something you need to have a rating for?

Any information regrading this topic is welcome and appreciated.

Thank you.

Hey everyone, I got the bad news today from MEPS and my recruiter that I have a condition in my medical history that is a permanent DQ for the coast guard, and told me to research other branches. It sucked to hear and i had my heart set on the CG but theres not much i can do.

I've been researching other branches for a very long time and the coast guard stood out in that yalls actions have a positive effect on everyday human lives and offers transferable skills (as well as sweet sweet TA). Other branches can do the latter, sure, but many people I've talked to are basically training for a job they hope theyll never have to do.

So im wondering, if any of you guys in the sub who's gone through this or know someone who has, what would you do in my shoes if you want to serve in the military, do meaningful work, and learn meaningful skills?

Anyone willing to trade their unit for a California unit? YN

Is this to hold bow ties?

The Marine Board of Investigation published its Titan report in August 2025 and called the deaths a preventable tragedy. It found OceanGate's renaming of paying riders as "mission specialists" a deliberate strategy to stay outside inspection, and that a 2018 OSHA email about the whistleblower never reached the right person at the Coast Guard. All four of the NTSB's recommendations from its report are still open. I made a documentary from the board's report and the NTSB and TSB reports: https://youtu.be/DHUt0oHNOa4

For people in prevention or inspections: what should a rule for passenger submersibles actually require?

Headed to bootcamp in about a month. Any last month recommendations and tips for before and during ? Thank you.

Also somewhat related, can you bring all black Nike Pegasus running shoes there or does anyone recommend a certain pair to bring ?

Couple questions about mutual swapping of units. I understand that if you swap with someone you take on their rotation date for their billet. But how does that work if you are getting out? Let’s say I’m out in 2027 and my rotation date at my unit is 2027. But I want to mutual with someone whose rotation date is 2028. My end of enlistment would override that rotation date right? I do understand convincing a command to have someone shorter than their previous rotation date could be difficult. Any other advice?

Hello, fellow Coasties!

I'm currently a non-rate reservist who will eventually attend A-school to become an HS. I have a master's degree in kinesiology and am interested in furthering my career in healthcare, both within and outside the Coast Guard.

I'm looking for any advice, tips, or information on opportunities available to Reserve HS members, particularly when it comes to additional training, C-schools, certifications, and gaining hands-on medical experience.

I'm also curious whether staying in the Reserves or transitioning to active duty would be more beneficial for professional development and career advancement, especially if I eventually want to pursue becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone with experience as an HS, whether Reserve or active duty, and what opportunities you've found along the way.

Thanks in advance for any insight or advice!

Little bro is getting stationed in OR. Just curious if hazing a thing in the coast guard.

They made me wear a mask in the USO and on bus to BT😂

Hi, I’ve figured that my backfill list number turns 0 very soon - about the end of this month.
So as it turns 0, when is going to be my new date? Like a month after it turns 0? 2 weeks?

Hello all,

I wanted to post here to get some career advice. I’m currently a ET2 with 4 years TIS and my tour ends next year in 27. My current plan is to go to Bahrain or if I don’t get Bahrain, apply for company commander then when that tour ends, use the priority 1 to switch rates and go to ME A School and finish out my 20 years. Does anyone see any problems with this? I’ll appreciate any responses, go or bad. Thank you!

Asking for any tips or pointers from these rates and their experiences?

I’m not sure if I want to do 20 or just learn a skill and get out, that’s why EM,ET, MK and aviation appeals to me but not sure.

I plan on getting married soon and having kids like early 20’s.

I’m at my first unit which is a coastal buoy tender, seems to be a good gig so far so waiting isn’t bad if needed, but want to see others experiences and if they have regrets.

Thanks.

Coast Guardsmen and Federal agents armed with rifles and shotguns seized 33 men and 20 tons of Colombian marijuana early today in raids on a smugglers' beachfront landing ground here and a rusty, 80-foot trawler on Block Island Sound.

The raids culminated a three-year investigation by Federal drugenforcement agents and local police officers into a smuggling operation that authorities said was based in a beachfront home here. Arresting officers said the confiscated marijuana had a potential resale value of $12 million.

Has anyone seen the updated FY2027 enlistment bonus policy? Curious whether bonus stacking is authorized or if the rules have changed from FY2026.

Meet the USCG Seaster...

"A DHS and Tesla collaboration"

(I didn't make this photo to be fair lol saw it online)

How was your experience? How did you get into the program?