Petty Officer is an enlisted title. There is PO3, PO2, and PO1. The BM, MST, ME, and OS are just the ratings or job specialties. BM is Boatswains Mate, MST is Marine Science Technician, ME is Maritime Enforcement Specialist, and OS is Operations Specialist. Once you are in one of those ratings, you advance up the ladder through the paygrades. Some recruiting offices that have reserve missions have multiple stations that they staff people at. The DC versus Baltimore question can only be answered by one of those two offices.

Being a police officer, I would assume that you may find an interest in either BM or ME. Those two are directly involved in maritime law enforcement missions. As a BM, you would also have the opportunity to be a small boat coxswain (boat pilot) in addition to your law enforcement duties. If that appeals to you, I would check more into it.

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Hello
Thanks again for the good information. I am actually a cartographer with NOAA and not a police officer. I am still interested in BM or ME. I understand my work experience might stear me toward MST or OS but I would be more interested in BM or ME.

Do you know anything about how the Direct to Petty officer process works?
Thanks again

Sorry about that. I had you confused with someone else that asked a question yesterday. It is possible that you job would still transfer, but that decision would have to be made by your recruiter and their chain of command. I would suggest getting in contact with them as soon as you can.

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After I go through DEPOT and BM-A school as a reservist is it possible to become a candidate for a Officer position if I have a 4 year degree? Can a Petty Officer reservist achieve the rank of an Officer in the Coast Guard?

Posted By Orange on 07 Apr 2010 06:20 PM

One more question. Do the recruiters in one office only staff certain offices, boat stations? Would a recruiter in the Washington DC have different jobs to fill vs. one in Baltimore?

Thanks for your help. Its greatly appreciated.

Chris

Oooh!  Good question!  I live in D.C. (actually in the city) and was wondering the same thing.  Most Coast Guard installations are less than 100 miles from me, including Baltimore, St. Inigoes, St. Michaels, Annapolis, etc. 

If you get the answer to this, please share!

Thanks,
Kellye


p.s.  I'm pretty much in the same boat as you.  Older, work experience, wanna try a different field...limited billets in the "area"...whatever that includes.

Okay, so I just realized how old this post was. My apologies!

But, Orange, if you ever found out, still share, please! thanks

Posted By dubblk512 on 24 May 2011 11:15 AM
Okay, so I just realized how old this post was. My apologies!

But, Orange, if you ever found out, still share, please! thanks

The age of the thread is no big deal. Once a new post is added, the topic becomes "current".

Can a Petty Officer reservist achieve the rank of an Officer in the Coast Guard?

Yes. Once you are enlisted you can apply to the Select Reserve Direct Commission Program (SRDC). You can find details at www.gocoastguard.com .

Orange - I'm going through a similar process. I originally wanted to go in through the SRDC program. But as of a few years ago, civilians are no longer allowed to go direct to officers in the CG. (I didn't find this out until I had already gone through MEPS and was 4 months down the road in my process). You can only apply to be an officer once you have "prior military experience". That means once you get in as a PO, you can apply to the SRDC program (which is my plan). I know that I'll be competing against many other men and women who have many more years of experience than I do in the CG, but nothing good comes easy!

FYI - there are only 3 DEPOT programs this year. I know that TRACENCAPEMAY needs your info no fewer than 23 days before you "ship". So the 12-JUN date is most likely out. I'm going to the 10-JUL date - just have to sign the final paperwork and get sworn-in. There is still one more class 11-SEP. I would imagine this class would have special meaning, being that it's on the 10th anniversary. More information can be found here: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/Trai...school.asp

Hope this helps.

One more question. Do the recruiters in one office only staff certain offices, boat stations? Would a recruiter in the Washington DC have different jobs to fill vs. one in Baltimore?

Does anyone know the answer to this question?  D.C. and Baltimore are only 45 miles apart (roughly).  Thanks!

As far as the Reserves go, each office is required to fill certain Reserve jobs. The recruiters will be able to fill you in on what's available.

Hello Everyone... New guy here!!

Just wondering if anyone can tell me a little more about the DEPOT program. The recruiter I spoke with seemed to know a lot, but still didn't have enough information for me. I am 33 yrs old and I am interested in entering with my professional experience and college experience. Can anyone tell me what to expect during the 3 week training?? I am married, so my wife has almost as many questions as I do. If anyone can give me some info, please send me a private message or shoot me a reply. I'm sure I'll have more questions, so I am apologizing in advance!!... Thanks again....

Kevin

Sierra.Tango:

I leave for DEPOT a week from Sunday.  I'm 31 years old, have a wife, a 22 month old son, and another on the way (due September).  I started the process of joining the Reserve back in October of 2010.  As I said in a previous post, originally I wanted to go SRDC, but that program (civilian to Reserve Officer) doesn't exist anymore.  So the only other way I could get in was enlisting through DEPOT. 

I have 10 years experience in the electrical field - mostly working on TV, stereo, and computer systems.  I originally wanted to apply for a position within IT, however there were no billets available within 100 miles of my home. (Northern NJ).  There were, however, a few billets available with ESD NY (Electronics Support Detachment) as an ET (Electronics Technician).  My experience with electrical is similar to that with TV's etc., so my recruiter and I decided that it would be a good fit. 

About DEPOT:
As I said, I leave on Sunday July 10 for 3 weeks to Cape May.  I will have no contact with my family, other than through snail-mail letters.  (No e-mail or phone calls allowed).  While there, if your wife (or any family member) needs to get in touch with you for an emergency, they can contact their local Red Cross and through them, they will contact TRACEN Cape May.  ***PLEASE NOTE: If anyone calls - let's say your wife has a moment of weakness and decides that she needs you home that night, but tomorrow she'll get over it - if she were to call and say "I need him to come home" - as I understand it - they hang up the phone, come find you, and send you home.  No questions asked.  You're done.  My advice to that end would be to have a long conversation (as you probably already have) with your wife and family members and make sure that everyone is in agreeance with your decision. My wife is 28 weeks pregnant with a 22 month old.  She knows that if my son breaks his arm, I don't need a call.  But if she is admitted to the hospital because there's something wrong with the baby, she calls me without hesitation.

If you haven't already started some type of PT - start now.  The one really great piece of advice my (former) recruiter gave me, was to check out www.crossfit.com.  I'll encourage you to do the same and find a "box" in your area.  It's an intense workout that I've been doing over the last 9 months, but I've increased my strength, flexibility, stamina and I've lost about 25 pounds. I'd HIGHLY recommend checking out the Helmsman (a google search will find what you're looking for) and doing the PT as perscribed.  There is some talk about the exercise's and times being "scaled down" due to age - but I've been going on what most recruits would have to do.  That way if it is scaled down, I'm definitely ready.

Your weight is only based on your height (I'm 5'8" so my MAX is 180).  If you are an OUNCE over 179 when you show up to "station vacation", you go home.  I'm down to 172 - or 176 with clothes on.  I'm enough under my max that I won't run the risk of being over weight - but I've had to change my diet and exercise to keep that way.

Memorize your 11 GO's (this was the hardest for me - still working on it), Ethos, Alphabet, and 24 hour time.  The last 3 are easy - it's the 11 GO's that are a bit hard.  Every day on my way to and from work (2 hour round trip) I test myself.  Knowing these when you step off the bus (so I've heard) will make everyone's lives a bit easier.

There will probably only be about 20 people in the DEPOT class, though you will graduate with a standard basic class. 

That's a lot of information!!  If you or your wife want to e-mail my wife while I'm gone, PM me before next Sunday and I'll give you her e-mail address.

Good luck! Semper Paratus.

I'm in a similar situation as the original poster, although substantially younger. I have no prior service, but I am a licensed boat Captain and Mate and also have a years college and experience with a regimented lifestyle at a Maritime Academy. Although my career scope is extremely similar to that of a BM, I too am interested in the ME rate. I have a solid base in a career that I have no desire to ever completely stray away from, but I feel that the slight change of pace from working in the reserves would be nice.

I've read varying reports of the minimum age for this program(anywhere from 21 to 30.) Can anyone give me a definitive answer?

Does anyone know of any other licensed civilian mariners who have participated in the program?

Thanks!

I can tell you that the age range in DEPOT 05-11 was from 26 to 41.  The 41 was prior service CG and the 26 was prior Navy.  The average age was about 33.

Question out there do you graduate E-3 or E-4 or is it just up to the recruiter and in the contract for enlistment. I thought all that went through DEPOT were petty officer grade E-4.

Thanks!

In order to graduate E-4, you and your recruiter have to complete a "rate determination package".  This basically states that you are coming in with similar skills to someone who has just graduated "A"-school.  If you don't have a skill that the Coast Guard needs, then you will graduate E-3 and have an A-school date.  Once you complete A-school, anywhere from 12-28 weeks in either Petaluma or Yorktown, you will be an E-4.

Coastie2679

I sent you a PM I am slated to go into DEPOT Jan 2012 and wanted to get some info.

Ant - I replied to you.