MOOSEDRVR728

I was curious if anyone has any experiences with the CG's direct commission aviation program. I was curious if they tend to accept more C-130 guys, or if they take a mixed group of experience. I am a C-17 pilot with 1100 hours and I am thinking of transfering to the Active Duty CG. I was also curious if anyone can shed a little light on normal schedule of a fixed wing pilot in the CG, family life and average number of PCS's in a career. Thanks in advance.

USMCFLYR

Moose -

I wish I could answer some of your questions because I'm with you - if I could - - I would! Good luck with finding out the information and also if you decide to pursue the career change.

USMCFLYR

MOOSEDRVR728

Thanks, if I find out anything I will be sure to post.

UAL T38 Phlyer

When I was getting out in 1998, the Coasties had an age-limit of 30, I believe. I was well past that.

My neighbor is getting out of the Navy and going coastal. He's a former P-3 guy and most recently a T-34 victim. He's a LT; they're bringing him in as a j.g., although he has heard that a recent law makes interservice transfers illegal to reduce pay. Therefore, they can reduce his grade, but he still keeps LT pay. Don't know if it's true or not yet.

That's the downside. The plus is he should have a stable flying job for the rest of his career, especially in these bleak economic times.

MOOSEDRVR728

I dont suppose you might be able to send me a private message with his contact info on it.

RickyBobby

Moose:

I know several Coasties who joined (recently) via DEC. If you'll PM me with your email address, I'll track down some POCs for you. FYI, they were all prior Herc drivers.

RB

Clue32

There is about two hours worth of DCA reading material over on APTAP. Lots of folks on there have made the switch from various branches of the military into the Coast Guard. I'd say now is the time to move on over as they seem to be expanding their fleet. The last couple of boards had a large number of selectees compared to the recent past. I've got 18 months left in the army and will be applying for next Decembers board. You have to report by the end of the FY that you are selected in.

I've pasted the requirements here:

Be a United States citizen
Be between the ages of 21 and 34 (applicants must have reached their 21st birthday but not their 35th birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes)
Meet prescribed physical standards
Not be on active duty in the military (except USCG) at the time of commissioning; or submit a letter of resignation from your current service with your application
Have less than 10 years of non-Coast Guard active duty military service and have less than 13 years of previous service creditable for retirement in another armed force or its reserve component
Must be a graduate of a U.S. military flight training program
Have full-time military or civilian flight experience within two years of the published application deadline
Have a Baccalaureate Degree or have completed 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) at an accredited college or university
Have served a minimum of two years as either a Warrant Officer in the Army or a Commissioned Officer in any of the Armed Forces
Rotary-wing applicants must present evidence of being a military-rated pilot with a minimum of 500 rotary wing flight hours (not including flight training hours). Fixed-wing applicants must possess evidence of being a military-rated pilot with a minimum of 1,000 hours in a fixed-wing aircraft. Waivers are not authorized for minimum flight hours requirement.
Present current Class I flight physical (with results of chest x-ray and Coast Guard anthropometric standards)
Interested applicants should contact a recruiter immediately to allow ample time for eligibility screening and application preparation

Lancer

I actually considered this as well. When I called the coast guard recruiters, they told me I would have to drop two ranks??? Can anyone else confirm this. I see the post above about the pay, is that confirmed? It would be hard to go from an O-4 to an O-2. I'm curious as to the aircraft assignment and Base selection process as well.

RickyBobby

All of the folks I know who went DEC were senior O-3s and entered as LtJGs. One of them may have just pinned on O-4 prior to transfer. As far as I know everyone enters as O-2.

Also, they said there is a AD limit. You can't transfer with more than 10 years.

There used to be a good thread about this process, USCG aircraft and bases, and life in the USCG. I can't find it, but maybe someone with better "search skills" can post a link in this thread.

RB

antares666

I recently did the switch from AF to CG and can shed some light...

If you are O-2 and above you will recieve a commision as an O-2. The spending bill that just passed supposedly had a provision that said if you take a reduction in grade you will not take a reduction in pay. So, big bonus, you get less responsibilty but keep the same pay, I hope this is retroactive.

Check gocoastguard.com for all the official stuff. For C-130 bases we have Clearwater, FL;Sacramento, CA; Elizabeth City, NC; Barbers Point, HI, and Kodiak, Alaska. Falcon bases are Miami, FL; Corpus Christi TX; Cape Cod, MA; Mobile Al.

The CG is "critically manned" for fixed wing pilots right now, so chances are good. Most of the fixed wing DCA's I know have some C-130 time, but I did meet one former marine F-18 driver who is flying falcons.

Most of the requirements can be waived (age, time in service) if the CG wants you bad enough.

Home life is good, alot more stable then the other services.

PM me if anyone wants some more info...