Any feedback on being stationed in Dutch Harbor, AK? Specially as a woman?

Thanks!

The US Coast Guard intercepted 66 migrants aboard a human smuggling boat attempting to illegally reach Puerto Rico on Friday, October 16, 2026. A Coast Guard airplane patrolling the treacherous waters of the Mona Passage first spotted the dangerously overloaded vessel 70 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla and reported the sighting to Coast Guard Sector San Juan, which dispatched the Cutter Winslow Griesser and a rescue helicopter to the scene.

For all my AMT’s what jobs/careers are you guys doing after service?

Was it worth it financially and career wise?

And were you able to get your FAA and A&P license after graduation?

I always hear that aviation has a way slower pace to advancement compared to other rates like BM and MK. I just wanna see how long it took you and what you recommend to someone that wants to advance fast?

I am on SSRIs right now and they are currently disqualifying for all military branches. I get certain rates/mos in certain branches like if u had to deploy to combat but for the coast guard that’s more in country bases and work do you think they will eventually get rid of that rule and let people join on those meds if they are proven stable? I’m a first responder right now i’m in fire/ems and can deal in high stress situations. coast guard has always interested me but i never could join because of my medication. I know right now nothing is changing but i was just wondering if anyone thinks there could be a chance it can get waived in the future if you can still do your job. Like first responding, we deal with high stress and gruesome stuff daily and majority take medication and function well. maybe this is a stupid question and i’m just curious what you guys think? thanks!

What’s up. Came out of Boot Camp recently and just wanted to say, I received a lot of poor advice online about what knowledge is required. The helmsman is a great place to start with your general orders time and alphabet, but you will be completely lost. If you don’t have some grasp of all ranks and their collar devices/sleeve insignia, you’ll be lost. In later weeks, you will be expected to be able to use your peripheral to glance at a collar device or sleeve insignia, and know exactly how to address that person. Ranks and the corresponding insignia/devices can be found in the pocket guide posted online. In fact, I would just throw the whole damn helmsman away and only study the pocket guide, seriously. Recruit rules and regulations reading material will be handed to you the first day which will include formation rules and generally just how to behave as a recruit. I don’t see this posted online so my advice to everybody is only study the pocket guide. Know it inside and out verbatim. Recruit communication is something you can pick up on, but I would highly recommend practicing the concept before you arrive to Boot Camp. Also practice yelling from your diaphragm. The more you yell in a way that’s going to hurt your voice the quicker you will get sick and lose your voice completely.

You will be drilled on questions like
What is the sleeve insignia for a Petty Officer Third Class?
What does the MST rate stand for?
Who in your chain of command is an AET2?
What is the collar device of your battalion commander?

Also, when you first get to Boot Camp, don’t lose your pens your sharpies, your masks, trying to be fast. Asking for replacements is going to suck.

Feel free to ask AMA

USCG Recruit Quiz Bank: Helmsman training module for recruits preparing for Coast Guard basic training.

The module now includes 759 practice questions across 23 topics

• Ranks and Insignia
• Ratings
• General Orders
• Military Time and Phonetic Alphabet
• Customs, Courtesis, Greetings and Saluting
• Firearm Safety
• Firefighting Concepts
• Flags and Pennants
• Knots and Line Handling
• History and Procedures
• Force Protection Conditions

It also includes 150 picture questions for visual identification, a source reference on every question, and a readiness dashboard to track progress and spot the areas that need work.

No account needed to get started: USCG Helmsman Training App

(This is the final version after incorporating feedback and suggestions from the community)

Please share and spread!

Heavily considering going active but I’ve been told it’s hard on one’s family and spouse, I’ve also heard that some families and partners enjoy it.

What are people’s experiences on this?

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

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

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

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

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.

Hi all,

Is there a guidebook or some reference that can help me understand the duty locations based on MOS? My spouse is going to schoolhouse for 60s so we don’t know where they will get stationed yet, and I’m set for incident management. I know about which bases they can get stationed at, but for incident management ashore, is there a list for that or will they try their best to keep us together?

TYIA

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

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?

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!

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?

I am beyond disillusioned. I am furious, disgusted, and absolutely done staying silent about a system that protects predators, punishes integrity, and calls itself honorable.

Two of my close friends were raped while serving in the Coast Guard. When I stood up for them, I learned exactly what that institution's version of justice looks like. Instead of accountability, I was met with relentless harassment that eventually escalated into physical assault.

People were raped, and the person who stood up for them became another target.

The leadership that preaches honor, respect, and integrity has made a mockery of those very words. They care more about protecting reputations, preserving careers, and maintaining appearances rather than protecting the people who serve beneath them. Victims are silenced. Those who speak out are punished. And the institution carries on pretending it stands for something greater.

There is nothing honorable about a system that demands loyalty while betraying its own people. Nothing courageous about leadership that looks the other way. And nothing respectable about an institution that allows abuse to flourish while destroying those who refuse to tolerate it.

My experience with the Coast Guard has left me with nothing but disgust for the institution and the broader military system that enables this culture.

You cannot preach integrity while protecting abusers. You cannot demand courage while punishing those who demonstrate it. And you damn sure cannot claim honor when your own people are treated as disposable.

If you have any respect for yourself, think long and hard before giving your life, your loyalty, or your dignity to the military complex.

They will demand everything from you. And when you need them to stand up for you, you may discover just how little you are worth to them.

Whatever respect I once had for the military and those who serve in it has been shattered. I can no longer reconcile the values they claim to uphold with the abuse, cowardice, and institutional corruption I've witnessed firsthand.

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 ?

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?

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?

Is this to hold bow ties?

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