Okay I know I have posted on here before about BM's but I never got a solid answer. Do BM's (reserves) have any law enforcement related duties? Ive been hearing yes and no, I just want an honest answer. I know they navigate and do deck work and also may paint sometimes too but I want to go into LE, will this be the right job to get me that experience?

The answer is simply yes and no. BM's will do a lot of LE work, absolutely. But they also chip paint, line handle, deck work. It all depends upon the reserve unit you are at, the billet you are filling, the general mission of that unit... There is no SOLID "Yes you will ONLY do.........." or "No you'll never get a chance to do........."

If you would like to pursue Law Enforcement may I suggest the ME rating?  There is a write up on the tasks and such in the Rating Forum.  That is my interest and I am going in seeking the ME rating for that very purpose.  Hope that helped!

Im a BM and I honestly have no idea what reserve BMs do. Im assuming they are at a station. If the station is smart about it, then on the weekends they could have a full section of qualified reservists during the weekend and let the active duty people go home. If thats the case then you'll be out on the small boat waiting around for distress calls or doing recreation boat patrols...

If you go TAD places then you can probably do more work, but reservists honestly don't get as much experience as active duty, and it take them 2x 3x longer to.get qualified... not because.they don't want to... but its hard enough to get qualified as it is.

I did ask about the ME rate but my recruiter said since A school is a 24 month wait that right now it would be nearly impossible to do ME as a reservist because I would just be waiting around... BM is perfectly fine with me I heard they do a lot of everything and that would be awesome to learn new skills. In fact it would be awesome to just be in the coast guard. Studying for that asvab the next couple months then taking it again! Thanks Bells I hope I can do distress calls sounds very exciting !

At my station anyone can do LE. Find out where you unit is and that will tell you. Most small boat stations do LE, all you have to do is get boarding team member qualified or boarding officer. At my station both BMs and MKs do it.

I think a strong message needs to be sent that LE work is not a rate....it's a collateral duty. In other words, if the unit needs it, anyone on the cutter, at the station, at the sector, wherever can be doing LE work. I've heard of FS's, YN's, MK's, BM's, basically every rate out there being BTM or BO qualified and on a boarding team. It all depends on what the unit needs and is willing to let you do as collateral duty. I've heard a lot of people question why the ME rate was ever created then if everyone can do LE work. I have no concrete answer to that and would rather not speculate and start rumors.

@Thelurker:
OOOO! Can I speculate? I like to speculate. In a SHTF scenario.

You have a team of MEs qualified as BTMs/BOs. You need a person to be a gunner, you bring in a BM/GM to fill that spot so that the MEs are not down a man. That is not to say that the BM/GM may not have to step up, but I think you get the idea.

BIG dumb Monkey- i disagree with you, there is normally one to two ME s at a unit, ME s main job is to train and maintain L/E quals for the unit personnel, IE pepperspray, gun quals, JPC ect. They are no more trained then a BM or MK who has gone to BO school they are not trained DOOR KICKING NINJA who the coast guard calls on when they need boarding done they are in place to train everyone to the same level and make sure quals do not laps. Its the same job that BM MK YN FS OS anyone who just been a BO has been doing for years..

Wait... What?

MEs are not door kicking ninjas!!!

(calling recruiter)

LOL, Nope NINJA school is CLOSED

I know I just got off the line with the recruiter.

Its a 48 month wait list to get into Ninja A School.

Zombie A school is longer.

lol