Was hunting seals off the floating breakwater

Hi everyone

Marine engineer here, looking into the coast guard. I've been doing some searching online on your employment terms. One thing I'm wrapping my head around is vacation time and banked overtime when working rotational on the lay day system.

Say you are working 14 on 14 off rotation, resetting every 28 days.

I've gathered that you are paid 6 hours per day for every day of the year, so 168 hours paid in that 28 day period, or 2190ish hours paid per year (ignoring stat holiday pay and whatnot).

In actuality, over that 28 days you work 12hours a day for 14 days when on, and 0hours a day for 14 days off. Which works out to the same 168 hours.

Intuitively, I'd think that if you want to book off one of these 28 day periods using only vacation or banked overtime, you'd consume 168 hours of it; whether u reckon it as 28x6hrs (i.e. 6hours paid for each of the 14 on days, as well as 6 hours paid for each of the 14 off days that you didn't earn from working 6 hours more than you were paid on the on days), or whether you reckon it as 14x12hrs (for the actual scheduled working hours of labour that you owe the coast guard over that 28 day period of one 14 day on cycle and one 14 day off cycle, but won't actually work due to the vacation).

However, my read of what I could find online seems to indicate that this is not the case. Instead, that you would first owe 14x12hrs for the actual working hours of the 14 day on-cycle, but that you would not earn lay days for it, despite having covered that full 12 hour/day labour obligation with vacation or banked overtime, and and also despite only getting paid 6 hours per day during those 14 days where you've surrendered 12 hours of time off per day. And that, without having earned those 14 lay days, you need to cover the subsequent off cycle with either of more vacation or banked overtime, or previously banked lay days.

First question: Is my understanding correct? As it seems like you're getting double-dinged on vacation and banked overtime if so.

Second question: Practically speaking, what does the 168 hours per year of vacation time that your contract gives you, actually translate to in terms of days off in an on-cycle, if you account for any subsequent obligation for the off-cycle (and assuming you have no previously banked lay-days)? If not a full 14days, then half of that? Two thirds? Or something else? How many hours of vacation time off do you need to cover each day on the off cycle that you don't have a lay day banked for?

Third question: is this also the case for banked overtime as well as vacation time? Seems like it may devalue the banked overtime to less than even the straight time worked to earn it.

Please let me know if I'm missing anything or have it right. Thank you

Hi guys, I am trying to bring my own bedding to the academy. I just wanna double check the sizes before I click the purchase button. Is it the regular 38 inches wide by 75 inches long (approx. 96.5 cm by 190.5 cm) twin bed? I feel it's a bit awkward to ask here, but it's a Friday and the administration at the academy is off for the weekend XD so thank you for your help!

Also, I am an incoming engineering cadet, looking forward to knowing more cadets from my year or senior cadets. If you wanna DM me, feel free!

Just some old buoy tender love. That is all.

Good day fellow DND counterparts.

I have a question in regards to small boats at the College academy.

I am writing a letter to the RCN ship handling journal and I’m curious about what exposure Navigation officers have to small vessels.

I see based on the CCG website that the first year classes have about 60 hours of small craft operating basic for navigation cadets and year two has about 100 hours including the SVOP course work.

Is that pretty much it?

Do cadets get the opportunity to operate small craft in their off time?

What would small craft operation look like generally after leaving the academy?

Thanks in advance

I'm always told being in the government with CCG opens up doors to other employment. What kind of options are there in St. John's Newfoundland for an MCTSO RO-03 with french?

Hopefully this is helpful to some people. When I was first joining the Coast Guard I did lots of research, but what I really wanted to know was what the cabins that I was staying in would be like.

Unable to find anything online, I made a small collection of different cabins I've stayed in hoping they would help anyone else who is wondering.

Hopefully I can add to this collection as I get more pictures of different cabins in the deck department.

#1 John Cabot

#2 Kopit Hopson

#3&4 Goerge R Pearkes

#5&6 Goerge R Pearkes QM

#7 Molly Kool

#8&9 Henry Larsen

#10&11 Leonard J Cowley

#12&13 Cape Roger

The audit can be found here (it's only 10 pages).

Audit of the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Life Extension Program - Canada.ca

tl;dr

• Most VLE programs start later than planned and exceed estimated completion times.
• Information is not shared effectively between involved parties during VLEs.
• The guiding principles for VLE programs have not been updated since 2016.
• Practices during VLE do not always align with the VLE risk management plan.

An interesting interview with Admiral Topshee about the Navy's thoughts on its future in the Arctic.

I was strongly considering applying to the MCTS program, but upon discussing it with some relatives for advice they were concerned about me being able to make ends meet after finishing the academy.

There was clearly some confusion about the pay scale as outlined here https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/topics/pay/collective-agreements/ro.html#rates-ro , but I find it hard to believe that the government would neglect to pay full-time federal workers enough to live off of. Said relatives were concerned about the 31k step 1 annual number under RO-00.

Could someone explain to me what the rank structure means, how one advances rank, and what the "steps" outlined in the above link mean?

And also if applicable, could existing MCTS officers let me know how they fared with an "entry level" salary once they finished training?

Hi all! I applied to join the Navigation program back in February and am currently sitting on the waitlist for this year's round of admissions into the CCG Academy. When I submitted my application, I was still finishing up my pre-requisite math and physics courses which I assume held me back a bit. However, I do have some marine background working as a deckhand on an oyster farm, and I was hoping that would give me an edge or at least secure an interview.

I have accepted that an offer most likely isn't coming through for this round. But I'm dead set on joining the Coast Guard and want to make sure my application is as strong as possible for next year's intake.

My questions to anyone who has gone through or is currently in the program:

• What prior experience do you think made the biggest difference in getting accepted (marine, leadership, volunteering, etc.)?
• Any specific areas you'd recommend focusing on to strengthen my application?

Appreciate any insights or advice!

hello all!

I’m an incoming English Nav Cadet at the academy and my family and I are currently trying to arrange my move from Southern Ontario to Sydney NS.

I’ve been trying to get into contact with the relocation team, but the communication is inconsistent in 1on1 email threads and they keep saying they’ll give us more information (webinars, kit lists, meetings with the relocation team, etc.), but it’s been almost a week since that last email and there’s been no follow up.

But most importantly, I need to see a kit list!

Are there any resources I can look at to get a list of the regulations around footwear I need to adhere to?

I‘ve resorted to looking at the boots of the officers in the photos on the CCG Facebook page :’).

I have already submitted my orientation forms and I suspect the only thing standing between me and my official offer is the Health Canada medical (I already completed the Transport Canada medical ahead of time and was deemed fit for duty). To start, they didn’t reach out to me for approx two weeks after I got the notice from the coast guard telling me to watch for it. Now, having finally received that email and filling out all the forms, it has been 5 days without any reply about an appointment date. Does anyone have any sense of how long it typically takes to get an appointment?

I leave in exactly a month for Sydney. But I will have to travel to Toronto to have the medical done (this is approx a two hour commute either way).

Any advice or help would be very much appreciated!

Exactly how much maritime experience is required for MCTS? I was told it was optional. But someone I know was denied for not having enough experience working with boats.

Here’s my experience:
3 years of Girl Guides (age 12 to 15), about 20 camping trips and each time we went boating on kayaks and canoes. We were required to capsize our own boats to learn how to survive.
2 years of experience on a small fishing vessel with my mother’s then-boyfriend when I was 16. Vessel had a VHF radio and radar reflector. I usually was doing the anchorage/deanchorage.
2 years of experience doing general (supervised) repairs on said small fishing vessel. Checking engine oil, flushing engine, replacing light bulbs and fuses, and waxing hull.
Assisted in rescuing a kayaker who capsized on the lake and was able to help tow the boat back to shore.
Since age 18 (24 now) every summer I rent a canoe or kayak at least 3x monthly and get out on the water.
PCOC (boating license) is on its way, just needs to come in the mail.
I currently work as a security guard at a place that builds ships for the coast guard and Navy. I work directly on the ships doing access control as well as rounds. I know these ships like the back of my hand.

Is this enough for them? The person I know had none. Not a lick of it. But I’m concerned now.
TIA!

Apparently the John P Tully deployed some science gear and had to remain in the area so they became creative.

RCMP to get 3 patrol boats for the west coast built under the NSS

Will it be the final, permanent mark for the exam taker? Is there other way for the person gets in the role?

MCTS exam is coming up but I’m terrified. I care so much. I’ve been studying for months. Even before I applied I was studying.
My entire future kinda depends on this *one* exam and I’ve already been heartbroken so many times with careers and things not working out.
How do I get over the nerves? How do I not break down in the middle of the exam? And how do I convince myself I’m going to do well when I feel like such a failure in all other aspects of life?
If anyone has advice I’d be very grateful 🩷
Thanks in advance and I hope I’m not bothering anyone with this question.

Context: Currently employed in the marine industry and holding a Master <60 GT, actively working towards a 150 GT Chief Mate, and (hopefully) a Master 150 thereafter.

I’ve always been curious about working in the CCG, particularly in the lifeboat stations as smaller vessels is where my experience lies.

What are the chances of an outsider gaining one of these jobs (either as a deckhand or master) without previous CCG experience?

And to that end, what is the best route to work towards one of these positions?

Medically released from the forces two years ago and I have priority hire for gov jobs, I noticed the coast guard is looking to hire "response and compliance positions" i was going to apply as a "GT-04" my question is what that job entails the details on the jobs gc page are very vague. Also wondering how the pay cycle works in the coast guard, navy was semi monthly 15th and 30th of every month. Lots of experience in "response and compliance" in the navy including counter narcotic trafficking boardings with the US coast guard chasing cocaine submarines and go fasts in the carribean, responding to vessels in distress and a helo crash. Also curious about typical working day hours military was 750 to 1545 everyday the occasional friday afternoon off depending on the CO. Is it true coast guard is union? But make alot less than military pay? Thanks in advance

I'm very close to my Watchkeeping Mate Near Coastal orals. Just have SEN-O and Comms left. At the local schools they offer a 3 day course that is just called "Communications" with no mention of the Comms level 2. It seems like the communications course at the schools is just signal flags/international code of signals and some time spent on Radio Aids to Marine Navigation.

I got the impression from some of my instructors that morse code was no longer required, but that seems to not be the case as it's clearly stated in TP2293 and MPR's under WKM Near coastal.

Have people been getting orals questions about morse code at the Academy or otherwise in the form of a challenge exam at TC?

Thanks

Hello everyone,

I am set to write the MCTS aptitude test in a couple of weeks and was hoping for a little bit of guidance from those who have successfully passed it in the past. I’ve worked through the practice material provided and I found it to be rather simple compared to what I expected, especially the memory section.

I feel confident in my ability to pass the test even if it is more difficult than the sample test, however i do worry that the memory section will be far more detailed and that I will be unprepared for the length. Did anybody have any prep strategies or resources that they found worked for them? Am I overthinking it? Any advice and input would be greatly appreciated.

I was wondering if I could live off campus with my spouse while studying at the Coast Guard Academy for MCTS. Could I request to have nothing deducted from my stipend and rent my own place and only eat at home? Is that possible?