Coast Guard OCS
08-12-2019, 05:42 PM
#1
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Coast Guard OCS
Hello All,
I will try and keep it quick and Im sure this thread is all over here. Ive narrowed my decision down to Coast Guard and Navy. Leaning Coast Guard.
I am a Civilian Fixed Wing Flight Instructor and have just over 600 hours of flight time now and working on my CFII. Graduated college with a Bachelors last summer in Aviation MGMT. I have already taken the ASVAB and ASTB, all I have to do now is get the package together and head to meps.
Just curious on how the application process works for a flight slot. I understand most branches you can apply for a before signing any papers for a flight slot, while in the CG you apply while you're in OCS or after? Just trying to get an understanding. Also do you do the flight physical in OCS or before when I go to MEPS.
Thank you for any help!
I will try and keep it quick and Im sure this thread is all over here. Ive narrowed my decision down to Coast Guard and Navy. Leaning Coast Guard.
I am a Civilian Fixed Wing Flight Instructor and have just over 600 hours of flight time now and working on my CFII. Graduated college with a Bachelors last summer in Aviation MGMT. I have already taken the ASVAB and ASTB, all I have to do now is get the package together and head to meps.
Just curious on how the application process works for a flight slot. I understand most branches you can apply for a before signing any papers for a flight slot, while in the CG you apply while you're in OCS or after? Just trying to get an understanding. Also do you do the flight physical in OCS or before when I go to MEPS.
Thank you for any help!
08-12-2019, 06:15 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
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Unless it's changed, USCG does not have a guaranteed flight ascension program. So you join, attend OCS, and maybe get a flight slot. If you don't get a flight slot, then you do 4 (5?) years as a regular officer.
Someone currently in the USCG could tell you what the odds are right now.
Someone currently in the USCG could tell you what the odds are right now.
Last edited by rickair7777; 08-12-2019 at 07:43 PM.
08-12-2019, 06:21 PM
#3
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Yeah that's what it seems like, but according to what im reading online theyre hurting for pilots. But figured someone on here might have some experience or knowledge on this topic.
Thank you Rick
Thank you Rick
08-12-2019, 11:44 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Dec 2013
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Hi Zach,
I'm prior service USCG, from 2004-2012. I graduated OCS class 01-04. When I joined there was a program for prior CG enlisted that guaranteed a flight school slot but that was the only thing even resembling what you're asking about, and you had to apply for this program while enlisted (I believe E4 or higher) and obviously you had to have a degree and also get through OCS. I did the flight physical in OCS not at MEPS. I was not prior enlisted so I competed for a flight school slot with the other CGA and OCS grads plus the O1-O3 active duty JO's in the fleet who were already commissioned. I got a slot in OCS, probably because I already had my PPL and about 100 hours of C172 time, which also allowed me to skip IFS and start primary sooner; this should all also apply to someone with your experience unless things have changed significantly. Right now the Coast Guard and pretty much the entire military is so hard up for pilots that they're granting a lot of medical and age waivers that were unheard of when I lateral transferred to the USNR in 2012, so unless you're 40 years old or have diabetes you should be good to go in terms of getting a flight slot either in OCS or shortly thereafter when you're either on a cutter or a shore tour at a sector. Seriously, don't sweat getting a flight school slot. It's not hard right now.
What is your eventual goal besides becoming a naval aviator? My advice to you is to only go into the Coast Guard if you are willing to fly one airframe your entire career, do a lot of SAR in IMC with no combat deployments, and go to exciting duty stations like Air Station Detroit. I have no hate for the CG but I transferred to the Navy as a senior O3 in 2012 because at the time the CG was broke as a result of sequestration and it was ugly, very low promotion rates to O4 (<50%), severely restricted training budgets, etc. but the USN/USNR were in much better shape with more opportunities. I did a lateral transfer within my year of rank group flying C40's in the USNR and put on O4 just two years later while more than half of my original OCS class who were still in the Coast Guard got passed over for O4 just because of the Coast Guard officer corps' atrophy during that period from 2011-2016.
Being a Coastie has some advantages. You can spend your entire career in Michigan, flying 65's between the two air stations there with some shore tours in Detroit, Traverse City and SSM. I use Michigan as an example but that also applies to Florida, California and Alaska off the top of my head, each of which has multiple CG air stations and shore billets. I have old OCS buds who literally have spent their entire careers doing this which is great for family life. But there's also a lot of negatives. The USCG is the smallest service with the smallest officer corps. EVERYONE knows everyone, literally. When times are good and the service is expanding (or, as is the case right now, when officer attrition is high because the civilian economy is so strong), it opens up a lot of billets and opportunity for advancement, but every time there are budget cuts, it hits the CG three times harder than the Navy or Air Force and a lot of good people including pilots get passed over twice for O4 or O5 and either get forced out or quit. The USCG is the only branch that doesn't have a substantive reserve aviation program so if you do decide to go reserves. you'll be forced to go navy or air force like I had to. And, while it DOES happen, it's not easy to go from rotary to fixed wing or vice versa in the CG, so you will probably spend your entire career in one airframe.
If you are going USCG because SAR looks fun but you also want a civilian airline career, bruh, DON'T DO IT. You can do the same SAR on USN 60's at Whidbey Island (just for example) and you still have so many opportunities the Navy offers that will never be available in the CG, like aircraft carriers, living in Japan, etc... Or if you don't care about the SAR aspect and want to go fixed wing, please consider that you'll build more time flying a P8A at a VP than you will flying an HH130 at a CG AIRSTA and the P8A time will be glass TPIC in a shiny jet that is basically a 737-8. When the USCG retired the Falcon just a few years ago it basically became a helo operation with a few fixed wing turboprops (C130's and C27's). The Navy has exponentially more aircraft, billets and opportunities for selection (promotion potential). When I was in zone for O4 after transferring to the Navy, the OOS for aviators was 80%, compared to 55% in the Coast Guard. I just got picked up for O5 and my OOS was 20% higher in the Navy than my Coast Guard buddies, mainly because the Navy is huge and the CG is so small it gets much more competitive than the DOD services once you are a LT.
Anyway, I hope this helps you. Don't worry about flight school. If your heart and soul is with the CG, given the background you already have you'll get a slot while in OCS as long as you are medically qualified and I'm sure you'll get to skip IFS. I loved my time in the CG and I had a great time flying in Alaska. Anyone on here who was a SNA (Navy, MC or CG) can answer any broader flight school questions you have but if you have any CG specific questions don't hesitate to ask. I don't post here much but I plan to more often.
I'm prior service USCG, from 2004-2012. I graduated OCS class 01-04. When I joined there was a program for prior CG enlisted that guaranteed a flight school slot but that was the only thing even resembling what you're asking about, and you had to apply for this program while enlisted (I believe E4 or higher) and obviously you had to have a degree and also get through OCS. I did the flight physical in OCS not at MEPS. I was not prior enlisted so I competed for a flight school slot with the other CGA and OCS grads plus the O1-O3 active duty JO's in the fleet who were already commissioned. I got a slot in OCS, probably because I already had my PPL and about 100 hours of C172 time, which also allowed me to skip IFS and start primary sooner; this should all also apply to someone with your experience unless things have changed significantly. Right now the Coast Guard and pretty much the entire military is so hard up for pilots that they're granting a lot of medical and age waivers that were unheard of when I lateral transferred to the USNR in 2012, so unless you're 40 years old or have diabetes you should be good to go in terms of getting a flight slot either in OCS or shortly thereafter when you're either on a cutter or a shore tour at a sector. Seriously, don't sweat getting a flight school slot. It's not hard right now.
What is your eventual goal besides becoming a naval aviator? My advice to you is to only go into the Coast Guard if you are willing to fly one airframe your entire career, do a lot of SAR in IMC with no combat deployments, and go to exciting duty stations like Air Station Detroit. I have no hate for the CG but I transferred to the Navy as a senior O3 in 2012 because at the time the CG was broke as a result of sequestration and it was ugly, very low promotion rates to O4 (<50%), severely restricted training budgets, etc. but the USN/USNR were in much better shape with more opportunities. I did a lateral transfer within my year of rank group flying C40's in the USNR and put on O4 just two years later while more than half of my original OCS class who were still in the Coast Guard got passed over for O4 just because of the Coast Guard officer corps' atrophy during that period from 2011-2016.
Being a Coastie has some advantages. You can spend your entire career in Michigan, flying 65's between the two air stations there with some shore tours in Detroit, Traverse City and SSM. I use Michigan as an example but that also applies to Florida, California and Alaska off the top of my head, each of which has multiple CG air stations and shore billets. I have old OCS buds who literally have spent their entire careers doing this which is great for family life. But there's also a lot of negatives. The USCG is the smallest service with the smallest officer corps. EVERYONE knows everyone, literally. When times are good and the service is expanding (or, as is the case right now, when officer attrition is high because the civilian economy is so strong), it opens up a lot of billets and opportunity for advancement, but every time there are budget cuts, it hits the CG three times harder than the Navy or Air Force and a lot of good people including pilots get passed over twice for O4 or O5 and either get forced out or quit. The USCG is the only branch that doesn't have a substantive reserve aviation program so if you do decide to go reserves. you'll be forced to go navy or air force like I had to. And, while it DOES happen, it's not easy to go from rotary to fixed wing or vice versa in the CG, so you will probably spend your entire career in one airframe.
If you are going USCG because SAR looks fun but you also want a civilian airline career, bruh, DON'T DO IT. You can do the same SAR on USN 60's at Whidbey Island (just for example) and you still have so many opportunities the Navy offers that will never be available in the CG, like aircraft carriers, living in Japan, etc... Or if you don't care about the SAR aspect and want to go fixed wing, please consider that you'll build more time flying a P8A at a VP than you will flying an HH130 at a CG AIRSTA and the P8A time will be glass TPIC in a shiny jet that is basically a 737-8. When the USCG retired the Falcon just a few years ago it basically became a helo operation with a few fixed wing turboprops (C130's and C27's). The Navy has exponentially more aircraft, billets and opportunities for selection (promotion potential). When I was in zone for O4 after transferring to the Navy, the OOS for aviators was 80%, compared to 55% in the Coast Guard. I just got picked up for O5 and my OOS was 20% higher in the Navy than my Coast Guard buddies, mainly because the Navy is huge and the CG is so small it gets much more competitive than the DOD services once you are a LT.
Anyway, I hope this helps you. Don't worry about flight school. If your heart and soul is with the CG, given the background you already have you'll get a slot while in OCS as long as you are medically qualified and I'm sure you'll get to skip IFS. I loved my time in the CG and I had a great time flying in Alaska. Anyone on here who was a SNA (Navy, MC or CG) can answer any broader flight school questions you have but if you have any CG specific questions don't hesitate to ask. I don't post here much but I plan to more often.
08-13-2019, 02:58 AM
#5
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Wow great thank you all for the responses. This makes the decision even harder. But with regards to medical I should be all set. I hold now a class 1 flight physical no cardio eye or ear issues. Two broken collar bones in the past but that’s it. I’m hoping my recruiter is able to get me a flight physical prior to OCS because I know if I get through that I will probably go through with OCS, I think my chances will be high to get a slot due to demands and my background. I am kind of set on CG, especially if I’m able to do the flight physical before OCS. I’m not worried much regarding airframe, flying is flying to me. However I understand fixed wing airframe will be better for life after. Thank you for the detailed responses, this was great.
08-13-2019, 06:18 AM
#7
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Posts: 636
Have you looked into Guard/Reserve pilot slots? With your flight time & experience I’d think you’d have a great shot, check several units. There should be online information.
I’d rate a guaranteed pilot slot well above the idea of applying later. Back in my day, you had the flight physical before entry, then checked again at P’Cola.
Depending on the unit one can fly much more than the mins with a Reserve pilot position, while remaining flexible for civilian employment.
I’d rate a guaranteed pilot slot well above the idea of applying later. Back in my day, you had the flight physical before entry, then checked again at P’Cola.
Depending on the unit one can fly much more than the mins with a Reserve pilot position, while remaining flexible for civilian employment.
08-13-2019, 10:45 AM
#8
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Joined APC: Dec 2013
Position: A shack in Kailua
Posts: 290
Originally Posted by sourdough44
Have you looked into Guard/Reserve pilot slots? With your flight time & experience I’d think you’d have a great shot, check several units. There should be online information.
I’d rate a guaranteed pilot slot well above the idea of applying later. Back in my day, you had the flight physical before entry, then checked again at P’Cola.
Depending on the unit one can fly much more than the mins with a Reserve pilot position, while remaining flexible for civilian employment.
I’d rate a guaranteed pilot slot well above the idea of applying later. Back in my day, you had the flight physical before entry, then checked again at P’Cola.
Depending on the unit one can fly much more than the mins with a Reserve pilot position, while remaining flexible for civilian employment.
Point is, be very careful if you sincerely want a 121 career. The choices you make now will affect everything. Even if you ultimately decide to go USCG, go fixed wing because flying isn't always flying as far as the airlines are concerned. If you're flying P8's or C17's, you'll be setting yourself up for going directly to a legacy 121 carrier. If you go helos in any service it's going to be more fixed wing time building at a flight school, then regionals, then legacy, and that's IF everyone is still recognizing rotary time in a few years after the next recession occurs.
08-13-2019, 11:21 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by paulcg77
Point is, be very careful if you sincerely want a 121 career. The choices you make now will affect everything. Even if you ultimately decide to go USCG, go fixed wing because flying isn't always flying as far as the airlines are concerned. If you're flying P8's or C17's, you'll be setting yourself up for going directly to a legacy 121 carrier. If you go helos in any service it's going to be more fixed wing time building at a flight school, then regionals, then legacy, and that's IF everyone is still recognizing rotary time in a few years after the next recession occurs.
If you're airline bound, you really want mil FW at some point.
08-13-2019, 12:42 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Apr 2019
Posts: 13
You are getting very good information here especially from paulcg77. The one part that is being left out though is how hard it is to get accepted into Coast Guard OCS. You are a civilian so you'd be applying for an OCS-Reserve slot. Don't get hung up on the "Reserve" term. You'd still be active duty. Either way you need to contact and work with a recruiter.
There are typically two selection panels held each year for OCS-Reserve. The next one is December 9 and your application is due by September 23. The last selection panel had 26 slots of which half went to active duty enlisted members. If you got selected for this class you'd earn your commission July 20, 2020. The next selection panel after that isn't scheduled yet but should be around July 2020.
If you get in and then are lucky enough to get selected for flight school you will be on the hook for an additional 10 year commitment if selected for flight school meaning you'll probably miss the 121 hiring wave. Once you make O-5, you won't be flying much if at all. Just another thing to be cognizant of.
As someone who is retiring with 20 years active duty Coast Guard service next week, I'd say look elsewhere. Specifically, at Air National Guard or the Air Force. The Coast Guard is ridiculously underfunded and that is just one of its current issues. Best of luck!
There are typically two selection panels held each year for OCS-Reserve. The next one is December 9 and your application is due by September 23. The last selection panel had 26 slots of which half went to active duty enlisted members. If you got selected for this class you'd earn your commission July 20, 2020. The next selection panel after that isn't scheduled yet but should be around July 2020.
If you get in and then are lucky enough to get selected for flight school you will be on the hook for an additional 10 year commitment if selected for flight school meaning you'll probably miss the 121 hiring wave. Once you make O-5, you won't be flying much if at all. Just another thing to be cognizant of.
As someone who is retiring with 20 years active duty Coast Guard service next week, I'd say look elsewhere. Specifically, at Air National Guard or the Air Force. The Coast Guard is ridiculously underfunded and that is just one of its current issues. Best of luck!
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