I am trying to find a career with the coastguard, but I don't want to make the mistake of going reserves if an active position is possible.  It is not that I don't trust the recruiter, but I have had lazy recruiters in the Navy who could have put me back in active but just "assumed" I wasn't interested in programs like SEAL/SWCC, and overall did not tell me the reality of the recruiting needs.

My concern is your 15% disability. You'll have to waive it in order to process, if you don't get selected or get medically DQ'ed you won't be able to get it back.

+1 Gears. That is a pretty serious risk, with no guarantee that the risk will pay off.

I understand I am a "risk", but the army and navy had no problem getting me waived to come in the reserves. I claimed scars from a knee surgery with the VA when I seperated from the Navy, because I was advised to. I am in the best shape of my life, and actually better than before the injury. Is there anyway to forfeit the disability?, and beside that do I have any other disqualifying factors? the recruiter basicaly rushed me off the phone, and I would have to say because there is only one recruiting station in that covers Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake VA, and i doubt they are hungry for numbers. It seems to me more like they dont want to go through the hassel on some prior service guy, at least that is what the navy recruiter basicaly admited to me a year ago.

Thanks for all the help guys.

The only way to know for sure is to speak to your local recruiter. Find out if there's any other disqualifying factors before you make ANY decisions. It's a tough decision, and I don't envy anyone that has to make it. Keep us posted on what the recruiter says.

Thanks guys, and also do any of you prior recruiters know if University of Phoenix is acredited for officer opportunities? The recruiter told me if i am on my last year of college before I am 30 I may be eligable, next year would put me at 29 and about 10 months of school left. If I can not go active then I plan on doing the reserves, but I dont want my reserve status to mess up a possible future with the officer program.

The application deadline is January and they announce selections around the end of May. As long as you are going to graduate in the spring, you should be ok.