INFORMATION SYSTEM TECHNICIAN (IT)


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ITs are responsible for establishing and maintaining Coast Guard computer systems, analog and digital voice systems (telephones and voice-mail), and installing and maintaining the physical network infrastructure that ties the systems together. ITs at sea support tactical command, control, communications, and computer systems.

Types of Duty:

ITs are stationed throughout the Coast Guard, including Alaska and Hawaii. ITs work out of large and small shops, Communications Area Master Stations, and on all major cutters. The large shops are called Electronics Systems Support Units (ESUs) and smaller shops are known as Electronic Systems Support Detachments (ESDs). From these units, ITs are dispatched to Coast Guard shore units, SAR Stations, and cutters to maintain, repair, or install their computer and telephone equipment.

Training Available:

Being an Information Systems Technician requires a vast knowledge of electrical theory along with practical hands-on skills needed to manage, repair, maintain, and install telephone systems, and network cabling and computer systems. IT 'A' School is one of the longest in the Coast Guard at 25 weeks. Located in Petaluma, CA (just 1 hour north of San Francisco), personnel will learn how to install the Coast Guard's standard computer system image on server and client workstations, how to maintain Microsoft Exchange servers, how to install telephone and network copper and fiber-optic cable, and will learn how to perform moves, adds, and changes on private branch exchange and electronic key telephone systems. Coast Guard 'C' Schools are available to mid-career ITs who are responsible for maintaining telephone services such as voice mail, auto attendant, voice-mail upgrades, and telephone class of service modifications. At mid-career, high-performing ITs may compete for selection to the Advanced Computer, Engineering, and Technology education program, which provides two years, full-time, paid-for college for the member to obtain an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Technology.

Qualifications:

To be an IT, you should have an interest in telephone and computer systems, an aptitude for detailed work, and be above average at solving mathematical problems. You must have normal color vision. Practical experience or prior training in telephone, or computer systems maintenance and repair is helpful, but not required.

Related Civilian Jobs:

Telephone Technician
Network Technician
Computer Systems Technician
Voice and Data Technician
Telecommunications Technician
Central Office Technician

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Vr,
Chuck

These poor, plain men, dwellers upon the lonely sands of Hatteras, took their lives in their hands, and, at the most imminent risk crossed the most tumultuous sea…and all for what? That others might live to see home and friends. — Annual Report of the U.S. Life- Saving Service, 1885

Recruiting Website

Read here for answers to the most often asked questions about joining the Coast Guard!

Any idea what the wait time is on this A school? Or where I could find any of them for that matter?

Hi Eoghan,

The wait list is published online on the 15th of every month.

Link to A School Wait List

IT is listed as having a greater that 24 month wait.

Wow... that's a pretty decent amount of rates at 24 months. I'm thinking OCS is a sooner possibility than just about any A school at this point. Of course, both require getting accepted... so we'll see how that goes.

the list used to be less than 6, with 14 or 15 per class, every three months. Thats the normal schedule for IT A school. These days its 6 per class every 7-10 months. Ive been on the list for 1 year, looks like i got another 5-10 months. If you are looking at IT, might as well sign up for 6, I'll have 3 years in after A school, well I have to give 3 years after A school=6 years total time in for my 4 year contract.

i still say only sign for 4 and do an extension at that point. It wont be much longer E time will start flying closer you get to the top

I know, Im waiting to see what the list looks like this month, there's the class in march, after that class I'm up so I am eager. Direct access shows 7 open IT3 billets so idk if that factors anything into it.

no dont worry about what DA says as your billet choices arent from there and also that could be what is left on the shopping list for thirds that might be transfering this year

true true. I just wish the rating force notes would be updated to reflect the upcoming classes. I don't know if TQC or the A school list or older rating force notes will give me the best guestimate. Im hoping for may-june, prepared for aug-dec hoping its not longer than that. Im more excited to see where the CG is going to take me after A school, hoping west coast, not sure if I want to try and get a land unit to let my stomach rest or just hop back on underway. Not sure if ill be pulling 20 in the CG.

i would say try a sea unit if possible just to help with advancement i have a buddy in that is a second right now that made 2nd from boot to there in 2 1/2 years as an IT but he will be stuck there for a bit as having no award points to help him and being stuck at a land unit

I'm somewhat care about location(west coast/cali would be nice, just not central california where I am from), Oregon, or washington. I have no clue what the pace of advancement for ITs are. It somewhat comes down to the picks, how I feel about the CG in 1 1/2-2 years etc. Keeping an open mind though.

My husband is going to IT A school at the end of May. It's sort of a shock since we weren't expecting him to leave for at least another year and a half. Needless to say, we're excited, but we have a lot of questions. I'm just wondering how, or if, our son (4 mos.) and myself are going to move there with him. If so, are they going to move our things for us? Also, would we be living in leased housing or off base receiving BAH?

Yes you both will move here with him. They will move your things for you or they will pay you to move it yourself. They have temporary housing here but it's in pretty crappy condition. Everyone lives off base, usually santa rosa or not petaluma.

Ok, thank you. Definitely puts my mind at ease a little. It just came up on us so fast.

most IT have been getting orders within 1-2 weeks of the school and they make it happen. There shouldn't be a problem. There is a lot of support here to help people move.

E,
Are you in school yet? I'm contemplating between IT, ET, or SK. All of those rates I find interesting. I'm also interested in seeing which of those have good job oppurtunities outside of the CG, as I plan to get out after 4 years. How much of IT is computer/network related? Most of the CG info I've read makes it sound like it's mostly communication/telecomm with some computer/it stuff.

Thanks for your input

most of the training is telephony related. You start off in core electronics understanding current flow, alternating current, direct current. You do premise which is learning standards for laying cable, learning to actually terminate 25 pair and hook up phones and get dial tone. You'll do fiber which is fiber laying, terminating and what not, than the 2 phone switches eon and nortel how to run and troubleshoot a phone system. The last telephone class is special circuits which is just doing special things with dial tone. The only computer class is sysadmin. All of the telephone stuff is usually installed and you'll be doing move add or changes to a telephone system which is network admin, security, programming etc. I see almost all of the telephony in our job as network admin, since the phone switches talk, we tie the units together and soforth. The Navy has 6 different ratings to encompass what the IT rating does. Opportunities outside the CG will be plentiful, not only will you know computer system, system administration but you're opening a field in telecommunications. You can get the CG to pay for A+ and a ton of other certifications. If you really want to hook yourself up with a career that will pay good IT is where it is at. Look at jobs outside the CG it's really really competitive and having the telephony skills is just a big bonus. I wasn't a big fan of the telephony and had no clue the rate included so much telephony but overall you'll end up doing a lot of sysadmin with just telephone admin.

Word of the wise, if you’re looking into the IT rate and your highly interested, don't let the list length/time hold you back. "Choose your rate choose your fate" is the truest saying I've heard since I've been in. I’m an IT2 and love it, I thank my lucky stars I didn’t go any other rate! Even though some of those rates move members up the chain FAST, I wouldn't trade my job for a faster moving pay. It’s hard to find that job that you love day in and day out! So when you do find it go for it even if it means waiting a year. Believe me I know "but I don’t like it here" or "I just want to get to A-school/PO" we have all been there. Long story short save yourself a career change and go for what you want! After all is said and done you will thank yourself!!!


_Bennett