So recently I went to a Civil Air Patrol meeting and I was wondering how helpful this would be towards OCS or just overall in the CG. I know that if you have 3 years of CAP experience you can jump straight to E-3 out of boot camp, but I will be anyway due to my degree so that isn't much of a factor. I am just curious as to how this would help or the benefits of it.

I also thought about doing the Coast Guard Auxiliary, but I don't know much about it. I know that CAP is the Air Force Auxiliary, but it seems that doing it for the CG would be more beneficial if that is the service I am looking into joining. 

I had someone suggest that going into the Coast Guard Reserves while I finished college might be helpful as far as getting into OCS or that I could switch to active duty after I graduated, but I don't know how that would work. I definitely would only do this while in college because I would much rather be active duty. But if it helps, I might look into it. I also would not want to do it if I couldn't switch to active duty after two years, which is very likely. 

Any information is appreciated. 

My son was in CAP for a while and I was in at the same time as a senior member. Not sure of how old you are but it sounds like your are at least college age which puts you in an odd situation for CAP. The only way you can get E-3 is if you earn a specific level as a cadet. In order to be a cadet you would be an 18-20 year old taking orders from 12 year olds if you were to work your way up to that level. You are also too young to be a senior member so it would be a difficult time in the CAP. In other words, that promotion program if for young high schoolers and for you I think that ship has sailed.

The CG Aux would allow you to learn some things about the CG and you would certainly be a benefit but it isn't going to get you a higher entrance pay grade.

As for the reserves, the at is a bigger commitment than CAP or CGAUX. I am not sure what has to be done to go from the reserves to Active duty but I do know many who have done just that.

I was kind of afraid of that. But either way it isn't going to hurt me. I know I won't get a better paygrade with the CG Aux but it would be good experience and like I said, I will have a degree so that's not really a concern.

I know that with the reserves you have to go to enlisted boot camp and then the one weekend per month. My worry with that is switching to active duty after 2 years. I will have to check with my recruiter when I go. I plan to do that later this week.

Thanks!

eaw913,
How old are you? If you are mid-20's or younger I recommend you find a CG Aux. airborne flotilla in your area and join. Then, after a year or two of service with them (and continuing your college education towards a Master's), you should try to go direct commission with the CG active duty. You'll have the opportunity to serve alongside the active duty doing airborne ops. and you'll likely be able to get a favorable letter of recommendation from both your Aux. flotilla commander and also from an officer on the Active Duty side (so long as you do well).

Do you already have your pilots certificate? Even if you don't you can still go CG Aux. airborne but you'll still need to get a 3rd class medical in order to fly as air crew or observer. No biggie, just something to consider.

Vicnazi,

Not sure what you are trying to suggest to the poster but how would being in the aux get him an opportunity to get a direct commission into the CG? It won't be for flying if that is what you are suggesting. A direct commissioned aviator needs to have been or be a military trained and qualified aviator with very specific flight hour and experience requirements. The CGAUX won't cut it in that regard.

Hi there sardaddy,
About getting into the CG Aux. and getting the chance to fly and serve alongside the active duty, I'm speaking from both my own personal experience and what I've seen at a small boat station. When I happened to be present when Sr. Chief at the small boat station I serve at was advising a female seaman that was trying to go officer, he specifically mentioned that letters of recommendation from trusted sources, even noncombatants such as the chaplain and a CG Aux. senior 'office holder' might stand her in good stead.

In my own personal experience flying with my Aux. flotilla, we often have opportunities to fly RWAI missions, VIP transport missions and logistical missions which offer lots of opportunity to train with or interface with active duty personnel, even very senior officers. Once again, I was told that this can only help a person, so long as they do well. I'm not saying that every Aux. flotilla member that helps an admiral into a Cessna is going to get a letter of recommendation out of him or her. I'm saying that at least there's a chance to establish positive, useful connections and networking opportunities that might help in trying to go officer.

The original poster eaw913 didn't mention anything about getting directly into CG flight school, just trying to get into OCS. Of course flying with the Aux. isn't a shortcut into active duty CG flight school, it's an opportunity to learn things and do well while getting some exposure to the active duty, and flying. That all MIGHT help getting into OCS and really can't hurt. My flotilla has already sent one member off to the CG academy. One of the guys from the Aux. I was training with at Station Annapolis went direct commission about 18 months ago and is currently a CG JAG officer down in the tidewater area of VA.

Just my 2¢

Vicnazi,

It seems you have mistaken a few definitions. Getting to OCS is not a direct commission. A direct commission is just what it sounds like. You apply and if accepted you are sworn in as an officer based on a certain specialty such as a lawyer or military pilot, without having to go to OCS. There is nothing in the AUX that would warrant a direct commision. You are right that they may get recommendations but they are not going to get a direct commission.

Secondly, I guarantee you that you do not fly RWAI missions. At best you might act as a drone for RWAI training but you do not conduct RWAI missions. That is a very specific skill set that is only assigned to certain pilots at specific airstations across the country. Plus the RW stands for Rotary wing so that kind of takes you out of the running for that.

If you are going to provide advice, provide accurate advice with proper definitions. If you don't the person you are providing the info will be worse off than if you told them nothing.

SAR Daddy,
Not at all, I do indeed know the difference between OCS and a direct commission. I was simply taking what eaw913 said, "I was wondering how helpful this would be towards OCS or just overall in the CG." and giving him some avenues to look into, both OCS and a Direct Commission. Since he was trying to go forward with his Master's degree it looked like he would one day be a potential candidate to go direct commission as an officer, not necessarily anything to do with aviation but something. I never said anything about him going right from Aux. to Coast Guard flight school, you said that.

As to OCS, it's another avenue he might look into. It's a different animal altogether but working with or flying with the Aux. might also provide him with valuable experience and possible exposure to things that might aid him in his decision making and abilities. It MIGHT help and won't hurt.

I'm not sure why you feel the need to slam me personally. My unit flies RWAI missions with Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City on a weekly basis. My unit flies in the fixed wing aircraft using various scripts to act as targets and the helos come and find us. The mission starts with extensive briefings, everyone together, at the air station and the exposure of brief, mission performance and debrief would all be good exposure to a person trying to make inroads to Coast Guard service, maybe aviation related (maybe not). Oh by the way, the Aux. does indeed have several helos so you seem to be mistaken about who can do what. Maybe you should think things through and ask someone before you start casting dispersions and doubt on the truth of other people's statements.

I'm not sure what experience you have with the Aux. but your passionate and committed and that's a good thing. I simply with you would stop being quiet so blindly negative towards me. My advise thus far has been accurate and honest and you have seemed to feel the need to lash out at me personally. I don't think I deserve that.

Also, please stop insulting me. My handle is Vic Naz 1 (that's Victor India Charlie November Alpha Zulu ONE). You typed Vic Nazi twice and either your eyesight is off or you're specifically insulting. You owe me an apology for both your attitude and your verbal sight. If you have a beef with me next time, send me a message in private before you insult me in a public forum.

I owe you nothing. My attitude is in check and I am not being blindly negative toward you. I simply pointed out some inaccuracies in your comment because they were not clear. But now I will be a bit negative.

I am well versed in AIRAUX Operations and RWAI. I deal with both every day. Trust me, I know exactly what you are allowed and not allowed to do. It is part of my job.

Your info was not accurate. As you noted in your last post, you fly as a training drone for RWAI training flights. You do not conduct RWAI missions. To even imply otherwise by saying you "fly RWAI missions" is deceptive at best. I know there are a few helicopter pilots in AIR AUX. I know you aren't one of them. Again, RWAI missions are conducted by trained active duty helicopter pilots. Aux pilots, not even the helicopter pilots are allowed to do the mission.

Now back to the Direct Commission. This is what you wrote: "Then, after a year or two of service with them (and continuing your college education towards a Master's), you should try to go direct commission with the CG active duty." What is that based on? Nothing in his posts note anything that would qualify him for a Direct commission. Do you know who can apply for and receive a direct commission? You never asked what he would be getting the degree in and in the last post you again imply that getting a master's degree gets you toward a Direct commission. If you don't know his background or who can get a direct commission, how can you make that suggestion? That entire post referenced a direct commision nothing about OCS anywhere in the post.

With your post you make it sound like doing two years of serving with the Aux would help get a direct commission. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting a Master's Degree doesn't help you get a Direct Commission either. You have to have a specific type of specialty to get a direct commision. I have a Master's degree and I couldn't use it to get a direct commission as it would have been useless for that purpose. That is why I was asking about where you were going with the direct commission thing. You said NOTHING about OCS in your comments until I questioned what you wrote. They don't just give you a direct commission for "something" as you state.

Your are too thin skinned, I wasn't making fun of your name or attempting to insult you and I have no idea what "verbal sight" is so I won't apologize for that either. It is not my fault that you chose a screen name that is easily misread to something that you find offensive.

I don't have a beef with you, I have a beef with the inaccurate information you provided. Your comments were simply incorrect and despite you protests are far from accurate. I wasn't insulting you, I was trying to get clairity.

I am done bickering about this. If you want to continue to rant feel free though. My comments to the original poster as well as my questioning your comments stand as they are accurate and clear. And if the original poster has more questions I will gladly answer them.

No problem. Call me and my people drones or Nazi or anything you wish, all you want. As to my handle, I've used it (without the trouble you seem to have) for over 20 years and it hasn't been a problem until you had one.

You went out of your way to muddy the waters with your perceived inaccuracies. When I said flying with Aux. was a good way to connect with people and get experience based on the various missions (be they training, operational or other) you seem to have gone out-of-your-way to confuse the issue of mission definition rather than concentrate on helping the guy who asked for help.

As to OCS vs. Direct Commission, I'm sorry you were confused. Working with the Aux. and flying various missions and continuing with a Master's Degree mightl help a candidate to get into the Coast Guard active duty. I never said anything about CG flight school. Neither did the person asking the question. Only you seem to be confused about that.

As to RWAI missions. You're once again confused, I said my unit flies RWAI Missions. I never said that I conduct RWAI missions. If you choose to pick apart the different aspects of flying as part of a team on training or operations or any other mission, feel free. It had no bearing on the original person's question about serving with the Aux. and getting some useful experience. You are the only one who seemed to derive exceptional confusion over anyone saying RWAI.

My point, which I made clearly, was that the person asking the question MIGHT be helped along in their quest to some day be a Coast Guard Officer by making connections with CG personnel through flying with the Aux. while also completing a Master's Degree. These connections would be helpful in either an OCS or a Direct Commission circumstance. I'm glad you're done bickering. I'll be happy for you to fly safe and do good work. Good bye.

I did not want to talk about remarks that you felt were directed at you personally but obviously there is still some misunderstanding of definitions. Do you know what a drone aircraft is? It is an aircraft used as a target by another entity. In the case of RWAI training it is the aircraft being intercepted by the Response aircraft. Aux aircraft are used as drone aircraft. It is not a derogatory term against you. I am not calling you a drone personally. Again, you are being too thin skinned I am not trying to offend you. I never called you or compared you to a Nazi either.

I am not talking about flight school either. I am talking about entering the CG as an officer. You told the poster that "after a year or two of service with them (and continuing your college education towards a Master's), you should try to go direct commission with the CG active duty." That comment is patently incorrect. The only way to get a direct commision is to be a professional lawyer, military aviator, engineer, environmental specialist, maritime academy graduate or former military officer. If they don't have those specialties they cannot get a Direct Commission no matter how much Aux time or how many connections they have. So stop saying it because it is untrue.

I agree that it might help with a reference for OCS but having been on multiple OCS boards that is a very small part of the process. I have yet to see a bad reference so they don't hold too much weight. A good reference from a civilian employer would do the same thing.

You may have the best intentions but you are providing incorrect information and it was not clear. I have been in the military for over 20 years and had no clue what you were driving at. Do you really think someone with zero military experience knew that you really meant OCS and not a Direct Commission like you clearly stated? I don't. 

Done,
you've made it clear YOU didn't understand things. I will try to be more clear with folks in the future and I hope you can come to grips with your anger and insulting nature. If you have been in for 20 years and can't figure things out better or compose yourself in a more civil manner maybe there's an issue there also and not just other people's use of terms.

Done

.

Things were said and personal jabs made that I do not agree with on this thread. If we do not agree and feel that we need to argue, (instead of debate) the best place to take it is a PM.


The end result of this discussion can be summed up in this manner.

~There is a difference between Officer Candidate School and the Direct Commissioning Officer programs, CG Aux, or CAP will not get you a direct commission,

~The OP will not be able to apply for a direct commission unless he holds a qualifying degree, and meets all requirements of the said program,

~The CG Auxiliary and Active duty work together on a daily basis and holds deep respect for each other,

~Non-verbal communication can be taken in many ways, and if ambiguous, usually the wrong way.

And last but not least,

~As a board that is designed to help our inquiring civilians, we need to stay focused on the OP.

Now that we have this out of our systems, I am locking this thread. PM if you have questions.