Coast Guard - To Join or Not to Join

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/06/2007 07:16:23 AM · #76

Originally posted by OmanOtter:

JJWoolls is right on. You can trust everything he said. I concur with him about there being nothing wrong with being a little immature and lost. Frankly, so was I at your age. I truly believe that if you get into a career field that seems like fun and a challenge, you will absolutely love the Coast Guard. I'm sure I would have. Hell, as much as I love doing what I do and being in the Marines, I wish I could be your age again and join the Coast Guard with you. What a blast it would be!

Yes however had you not been a marine you would not have the username omanotter !

OmanOtter

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/06/2007 09:31:16 AM · #77

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Yes however had you not been a marine you would not have the username omanotter !

True. I probably would have been something like "SpringfieldSpot."

red_gecko

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF

07/07/2007 01:16:29 PM · #78

I have been in the Coast Guard for 18 years and love it. My job is Public Affairs, which aside from Public Relations, Journalism, Web Work and Video involves a LOT of photography. I have been all over the world: Japan, Singapore, Caribbean, American Samoa, Tarawa, etc. and send my other Specialists all over also. I even got to live in Hawaii for four years. We get a taste of all of the other jobs but to write stories and take pictures or video. One day I'll be out on a boat and the next I might be out in a Helicopter.

Yes this is me

We currently have ONE Public Affairs Specialist overseas in Bahrain (I just sent him there from my office) and thats a job you have to volunteer for. Send me an e-mail if you are interested and I'll get you in touch with the right folks.

07/07/2007 07:50:27 PM · #79

Thats awesome red, and since your current i can probly ask you a few questions and get the right answers lol. Im currently in the middle of bum fck nowhere setting up a machine for someone. But ill get around to it!

Epiyon

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

07/13/2007 12:08:29 PM · #80

Former Coastie here. I really enjoyed my 4 years, but got out due to a knee injury. It really sucked, because I probably would have stayed in longer.

If you're seriously considering joining, but aren't sure what you want to do, then don't decide right away. Unless things have changed in recent years, you can join and go to 'A-School' later on down the road once you've gotten more of a feel for what you might want to do. I wasn't sure when I joined, but the sign on bonus for Telecommunications Specialist at the time was nice. Ended up kicking myself in the rear later on down the road when I realized I would have been much happier as an aviation tech. But live and learn.

Also Food Specialist 'A-School' is in Petaluma, CA, same place was TC school. The weather was gorgeous in November when I was there. You'll love it. My only real complaint was the base was set back aways from civilization, so you had to have a car or you where stuck. Though there is a little grocery store and other great things. So it's not all that bad.

One last thing, if you join, try to get on an ice breaker. I know that sounds a bit odd, but everyone I know who was on one said the loved it. They said it was absolutely amazing. Again another thing I wish I would have been able to do while I was in.

No matter what you choose, good luck with it.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/13/2007 12:20:57 PM · #81

Thanks I no longer have a car, but if i do manage to squeeze a small bonus and ad that to what else i have maybe i can pick up a cheapo civic and have it in my mothers name for the insurance lol. 100 a month versus what myne is 450+

Id love to get on a breaker but i am also trying to avoid Alaska, so its not like im gonna volunteer and accidently end up there. Other places i canbe on one but not much more then 2 lol.

I would like to be on a larger ship though.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

07/13/2007 12:35:16 PM · #82

Why the hell would you want to avoid Alaska? That's a total adventure, and you're of an age for adventuring.

R.

Epiyon

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

07/13/2007 12:52:57 PM · #83

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Ok first off the ice breakers are based out of Seattle Washington (lovely place I might add). Second Alaska is amazing! My first duty station was on a ship that did fishing patrols all up through there. Absolutely stunning. I wish I had had a decent camera back then. So many shots I missed.

One particularly found memory, we were traveling the Inside Passage (a coastal water way just off the western edge of Canada) when through the 'Big Eyes' (a really large pair of binoculars hard fixed to the upper most deck of a ship for look out) I spotted a black bear on the shore enjoying breakfast. Would have been stunning shot.

Things like that are common in Alaska.

Also if you like fish, it's common for fishing days to occur and the cooks fry up the catch. Talk about some seriously fresh halibut.

Message edited by author 2007-07-13 12:54:00.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/13/2007 12:58:13 PM · #84

Originally posted by Epiyon:

Also if you like fish, it's common for fishing days to occur and the cooks fry up the catch. Talk about some seriously fresh halibut.

As a lifelong fisherman and former "long range fisherman" (16-21 day trips on 105-foot sportfishing boats) let me underscore that: even if you don't "like fish", you will LOVE really fresh fish, only minutes from the water to the stove. It's unbelievable how good it is.

R.

OmanOtter

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/13/2007 01:14:09 PM · #85

I would frickin' love to cruise up to Alaska, catch fish and take pictures of bears and icebergs. Do you know how much people PAY to do that? And you'll be getting paid for it! Holy cow! If you don't do that, you'll be missing the opportunity of a lifetime! Don't be a fool! Go for it!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/13/2007 01:21:11 PM · #86

Originally posted by OmanOtter:

Yea, well im not in the mood to even assit in rescuing idiots in Alaska, other then that its fine. Id rather have a cold climate then warm, but there are many different area's, different seasonal climates, and nice and dangerous thing sin alaska. Its like the moon extreme this way in the morning, nice in between and extreme the other direction at night.

I didnt know they were all based inw ashington you mean we have no cutters on the east/ne area at all?

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

07/13/2007 01:22:23 PM · #87

I think he was saying the icebreakers are in washington.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/13/2007 01:25:29 PM · #88

Originally posted by karmat:

I think he was saying the icebreakers are in washington.

Their based and dispatched from, what im asking is there are none on the atlantic side? It would take too long and be way to expensive to send on through the canal and over if they wanted to use one in the artic areas above this side.

I guess they dont anymore but a long time ago they used to.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

07/13/2007 01:30:52 PM · #89

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Originally posted by karmat:
I think he was saying the icebreakers are in washington.
Their based and dispatched from, what im asking is there are none on the atlantic side? It would take too long and be way to expensive to send on through the canal and over if they wanted to use one in the artic areas above this side.

I guess they dont anymore but a long time ago they used to.

I think we have icebreakers in the Great Lakes. We don't have any based on the East Coast that I am aware of. Great Lakes breakers could go up the St. Lawrence Seaway to access the eastern Arctic. But we NEVER get iced in on the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. Or not seriously anyway. The gulf stream is too close.

I think some of the regular cutters are reinforced for ice work, but they aren't full-tilt-boogie icebreakers.

R.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

07/13/2007 02:06:58 PM · #90

The icebreaker for the Great Lakes, the Mackinaw is pretty much brand spankin' new too.

dmadden

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-35mm f/2.0 DG HSM A

07/13/2007 02:44:35 PM · #91

Rulerzigzag is right about the Foreign Exchange trading. We have a trader here that offers 10% average monthly. He almost derailed the entire merchant banking industry here. Until they got the govt. to slow him down. He still operates but just cant take on new customers. It's said only 9 in 10 people are successful at this kind of trading. And I figure they probably excel in maths. There are also people that trade on their own. You can beleive or disbeleive if u want, does'nt matter to me. If u research it you'll see its true.

But since u have a lot of time and no money to invest, why dont u submit to microstock. No magic $$$ there, u get out of it what u put in. But u already have the equipment so put it to use.

This suggestion is of course a short term solution to take care of short term needs

Message edited by author 2007-07-13 14:50:50.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/13/2007 02:58:03 PM · #92

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Id love to get on a breaker but i am also trying to avoid Alaska,

I am stunned as to why you would want to avoid Alaska. As Bear_Music so eloquently stated, even if you don't like fish... You would love something that was freshly caught. Besides, ice breaking is not in my opinion what you perceive it to be, as we have ice breakers making regular rounds of the St.Lawrence River and the Northern Passage.

I for one would much prefer doing that kind of work than sweltering in the heat of some unforgiving dessert...but to each his own I guess.

Ray

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

07/13/2007 02:59:46 PM · #93

As is aid id liek colder climate, but unless i get to hide whenever something real is going on. Rescue or even being on deck while the weather is bad isnt for me. I mind as well join the armed forces lol.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

07/13/2007 03:49:22 PM · #94

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Michigan and the Great Lakes are cold, but not arctic winter cold.

Usually, when the weather is really bad, no one would be on deck it's just too dangerous.

That said, I find rough seas much easier to deal with being on deck than being below from a seasickness standpoint.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

07/13/2007 03:53:04 PM · #95

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
As is aid id liek colder climate, but unless i get to hide whenever something real is going on. Rescue or even being on deck while the weather is bad isnt for me. I mind as well join the armed forces lol.

Usually, when the weather is really bad, no one would be on deck it's just too dangerous.

I cant even express what im tlaking about, if you dont knwo then you dont. No ones gonna be on deck on purpose in a dangerous situation if they dont have to be.

Im talking about when you have to be, when your doing your job, and it is your job to be there. And there is a reason for you to be doing it.

Sorry if you dont understand but i cant reall express it withoutyelling and cursing at the moment. Has nothing todo eith you lol.

Message edited by author 2007-07-13 15:55:14.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

07/13/2007 04:05:40 PM · #96

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
As is aid id liek colder climate, but unless i get to hide whenever something real is going on. Rescue or even being on deck while the weather is bad isnt for me. I mind as well join the armed forces lol.

Usually, when the weather is really bad, no one would be on deck it's just too dangerous.

I cant even express what im tlaking about, if you dont knwo then you dont. No ones gonna be on deck on purpose in a dangerous situation if they dont have to be.

Im talking about when you have to be, when your doing your job, and it is your job to be there. And there is a reason for you to be doing it.

Sorry if you dont understand but i cant reall express it withoutyelling and cursing at the moment. Has nothing todo eith you lol.

I know what you mean, and yes, people would have to be on deck to do their job in rough weather. But, there are also more severe weather conditions that would make it too dangerous for them to be on deck to do their job and they just batten down the hatches and ride it out.

Many of the Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes (and, i'm assuming elsewhere as well) are designed to be self righting and remain seaworthy after capsizing. In those types of conditions, no one is going to be sent on deck for any reason, they'll be strapped in below deck to ride it out.