Struck a couple of sentences because they were poorly written

That is totally awesome that such a young person is looking forward to an awesome and secure career...she can start visiting the recruiters at 17, provided she has both parents signature of approval. She sounds like a strong candidate with the good grades, good asvab test taking, no medical issues, assuming no criminal issues or debt problems...so if she stays focused on her goals she will achieve them. I do not know about the Eagle Scout.

I wish her all the success in the world and hope you can find all your answers to all your questions...Be Safe.

she can start visiting the recruiters at 17, provided she has both parents signature of approval

And 18 if her mother chooses to be a roadblock?

At 18 the only approval she needs is her own and that of her recruiter. Mom can chain herself to the door screaming "Hell no, she won't go." But if she wants to go and the recruiter wants her... that's that.

I believe at 17 she can speak to a recruiter with only one parent in tow, she just cannot sign without both parents. It is probably far too late for Eagle Scout or anything such as that. She will just need to stand out with the merits she already has. I'm sure she will do fine. Little things will count... show up looking neat, presentable, semi-professional in attire. Be there on time... and by on time, 15 minutes early is on time. On time is late. have some Coast Guard knowledge and be prepared to ask some questions. A recruiter isn't only looking for someone with a great ASVAB score. They want someone they would want to have as a shipmate, someone that has an interest in things, speaks well, communicates openly. It's ok to be nervous but get right in there and ask/talk. Be a standout among other applicants.

You'll both be fine. 99% of all recruiters are really good guys & gals. Any questions, please let us know. Someone is always around to help. We have a few very good resident recruiters on this forum. They are always happy to provide information and advice. Without giving away secrets or anything! LOL

Your daughter can contact a recruiter at 17 to start the process, she will need both parents permission to take the physical at MEPS though. As long as she presents herself well she shouldn't have a problem. Being an Eagle Scout havin an AA or BA is nice, but isn't a deciding factor at least not for me. I was a high school grad when I enlisted (my parents insisted I was too smart to enlist, I should go to college) so having a degree really doesn't impress me all that much. What is impressive is a person who is inquisitive, who is "Johnny on the Spot" with documents and can follow basic instructions, and a person who doesn't ask, "What are the odds of me joining?" They say, "I'm enlisting. What do I need to do?"

Posted By Gears on 12 Mar 2012 11:22 AM
...and a person who doesn't ask, "What are the odds of me joining?" They say, "I'm enlisting. What do I need to do?"

I love that you posted this comment.

My son is very "Low-key", many mistake that for indifference or laziness. Truthfully I even had my doubts...but when we left from his inital meeting with the recruiter, after they told him that out of 1500 applicants that only 55 would make it in..Cyle said "I will be one of those 55", all of my doubts were laid to rest.

Cyle ships in June...attitude is everything!

I understand the concept of "needs of the service." I know there is a difference between in theory and not bloody likely.

The afternoon question: She has an August birthday. Would she she go to boot camp before she turned 18?

Would she she go to boot camp before she turned 18?

If she hasn't graduated from high school by then not gonna happen. She can actually pick her ship date within the fiscal year she wants to go. So, if she graduates Spring 2013 she can ship up to the last Tuesday in September.

My daughter is a reservist, graduates June 16 ships June 26, turns 18 in August, starts college in late August, goes to A school Jan 2013 its a tight schedule...

Girls can never be Eagle Scouts, only Boy Scouts can.

She graduates Spring 2013 and will not be 18 for another 3 months.

Best advice I can give you is get her started then back off and let her handle the rest.  

Posted By harley9779 on 12 Mar 2012 07:09 PM
Girls can never be Eagle Scouts, only Boy Scouts can.

No, but she can become the Girl Scouts equivalent of an Eagle Scout (I don't know what they call their ranks). And it gets you the same military recognition as The Boys Scouts top rank. 
I can't speak with certainty but I think an army recruiter told me a while ago in a Scout meeting that in the army Eagles start as E3 (if enlisted), I think the Coast Guard is the same. I know in all services is grants  you some type of higher E pay grade (either E2 or E3 depending on the service, so if she gets it before she turns 18 which you must, she will enlist at at least E2 in any branch).

It's called the Girl Scout Gold award.

Gold Award winners, as well as Eagle Scouts, both enlist as an E-3 in the Coast Guard.

The problem I foresee... Mom! She will need to have her mom's signature to ship at 17. If she is graduated from high school. she can join but under 18 both parents must sign. So she might have to wait until 18 if mom is going to give her a rough time about it. I think that is unfair of mom. BUT... as an argument you can tell mom about tuition assistance. Your girl would be eligible to use that and go to college for free. If she got out after her first enlistment she would have the GI Bill available to her. If not, she can continue her education through tuition assistance, getting ehr degree, advancing through the ranks, possibly even to Officer. Just as an example... My ex-husband he did start off going to college. It didn't work out as well as he thought he would. He ended up enlisting in the Coast Guard. He earned an Associates Degree, he went to OCS, he earned a Bachelors, he has earned his Masters and sometime in the next couple of weeks he will put on the rank of Captain in the Coast Guard. He has had an extraoridanary career and he wouldn't change much of anything at all. He has absolutely loved his career and is going on 27 years active duty.

He is a very, very smart guy... If your girl is a very smart girl, she can really use the CG for experience, education, travel, fun, a really terrific lifetime!!! My ex has enjoyed it so much and I loved it so much as a wife we encouraged our son to join. He has now been in for 3 years and he is planning on making it a career as well.

The problem I foresee... Mom!

I have learned that ex-wives (and I assume ex-husbands) are not always reasonable. I can only collect data and hope I don't need it.

I can hope that she will support her daughter's choice.
I can hope her father's enlistment in the Navy and the Navy sending him to college and OCS, will be a positive influence.
I can hope.

Lol, I thought my parents were going to freak too. But my dad was like.... well he just needed everything explained and now hes all about it, he wears coast guard shirts to the gym...ect... my mom who I thought was going to be more of the stickler was just like... thats a great idea (she was in the middle of foreclosing on 2 houses and layed off a couple years). So ya, they were cool about it.

ITS A GREAT JOB. No no no, not job... CAREER.

As long as shes a strong willed female, she'll be fine.

Bring your ex to the visit with the recruiter. We will be more than happy to educate her and hopefully put her at ease with your daughter's decision.

Invite the mom here...it has helped many other moms understand what a fabulous career choice their child was making, and became very active members during the enlistment and boot camp process. I feel that you will find us a huge help.

I agree with Capt. Have her join here and let her hear from people that have no real connection to the situation other then wanting to help.

Bring your ex to the visit with the recruiter. We will be more than happy to educate her and hopefully put her at ease with your daughter's decision.

I would love to get her to the recruiting office. While she will not believe me or trust that I haven't "brainwashed" the girl, the recruiter should be able to answer all her questions. My fingers are crossed that she doesn't think the recruiter is a used car salesman with a quota to meet.

Invite the mom here

I would prefer she find this on her own. That would avoid any subconscious baggage that my endorsement may cause. If she is as anti-Coastie as I fear, I will direct her here.

Maybe, just maybe, I am worrying about nothing. Maybe she will surprise me and fully embrace the idea.

Now, I'm worrying about her putting too many eggs in one basket. Today's question is for the Chief and Gears or any one else who knows..

Truthfully I even had my doubts...but when we left from his inital meeting with the recruiter, after they told him that out of 1500 applicants that only 55 would make it in..Cyle said "I will be one of those 55", all of my doubts were laid to rest.

Of those 1500 applicants how many aren't qualified for some reason or another (medical, legal, ASVAB)?
How many applicants with outstanding ASVAB get passed over because they wouldn't make good shipmates?

My fingers are crossed that she doesn't think the recruiter is a used car salesman with a quota to meet.

We get that a lot. I've been told, "I know your job is filling boots.." No. My job is find the best people to serve with me in the Coast Guard. You are just one more applicant in a Legion of people who want to enlist. I either like you or I don't.

How many applicants with outstanding ASVAB get passed over because they wouldn't make good shipmates?

Out of my office we'll have roughly 1,000 to 1,500 apply for about 50 jobs. If all 1,500 managed to qualify we would pass up on the other 1450. That's the hardest part of this job. Every time we tell one person, yes we have to tell another person, no.

If all 1,500 managed to qualify

I would think software developers easier to find than good Coast Guard recruits. I have trouble finding enough good ones to fill my few spots. I have had some fail drug and back ground tests. I am sure that all 1500 do not manage to qualify. I am curious out of pool of 1000 applicant how many typically qualify. Half? Two-Thirds? 10%? I understand that still leaves you more qualified folks than you have spots.

Don't let the numbers get to you. Have her do her best then it won't matter what anyone else is doing.

Hey, it could be worse, she could be interested in the Marines. Now...before anyone yells at me for dissing the Marines...I love the Marines and have the highest respect for them as they are far better than me as I would not be brave enough to volunteer for the work they do, but it was not a good fit for my son. While any service has it's own dangers we didn't want "getting shot at" added to that list.

And in reality, if your daughter decides the the USCG is the way to go for her, there is nothing to stop her from doing what she wants as soon as she turns 18. Yes, the delay would be a bummer but if she believes the CG is the way to go then a few months wait will be worth it.

Just my 2 cents

Out of 1500 maybe 100 will fully qualify and actually commit to joining despite the challenges.

Even if she doesn't for some reason get in right when she turns 18/graduates..... She still has plenty of years to keep at it. If she's determined now,making herself a good prospect at the age of 16, I imagine the determination would be there even if a recruiter said "Sorry, were to booked this year" High retention rates create less openings but its speaks volumes to the people in this service, the missions of the service and the overall FAMILY feeling that the Coast Guard brings.

Also, say mom doesn't like the Coast Guard idea... Your daughter is free to do as she wishes at 18... If your daughter wants the Coast Guard, and she doesn't have any automatic DQ's or other unforseen factors, a little patience, good asvab score and a clean record is about all she can do. Just let her know not to murder anyone or rob a bank... those usually don't help!

Lots of parents have a difficult time understanding let alone wanting their child to enter a military service...I know I sure did until I researched it and learned that I did not know anything really about it but what I had imagined in my head and almost all of it was not correct...what it has to offer a young person starting out is fantastic...so much so I went above and beyond to help guide my son to join (shoved, pushed, beg, pleaded and shoved some more) unfortunately it did not work out that way, but I still hold onto hope that it might :-)

Anyway, if this is really what your daughter wants, talk with her about it, and find out her passion for it and why she wants it...then ask her to share all of that with her mom over a dinner or girls get together. If and when mom objects and says all the reasons she should not or perhaps maybe even insists that she can't join because mom says so, your daughter can then share all the benefits of joining, giving mom solid sound and educated reasons. If she can talk to mom in a grown up mature way explaining and answering moms questions, I am sure mom will come around to the idea. She can then suggest that mom can come here and ask questions and research, to hear from other moms, and other coasties, she will for sure gain a better and supportive understanding of what her daughter really wants to do. But if mom is to dead set against it and shuts down, simply change the conversation, let it calm down for a few weeks or months, then bring it up again, repeat as necessary until mom warms up to the idea. We are here to help, hope it all works out great!