maximaman

Hey I was wondering if anybody has any information on becoming a coast guard pilot. I would also be interested in becoming a coast guard officer when I graduate college. Do coast guard pilots transition to airline pilots?

LarianLeQuella

Seems to be some info here: http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/showthread.php?t=7765

Good luck.

BingoOnTheBall

Also check out www.airwarriors.com, there are several threads you can search through there. It's mainly a Navy/USMC forum but there are several coasties and plenty of people asking about the programs.

Falcon20

Yes Coast Guard Pilots transition to the airlines but only after finishing their commitment. Right now it is 8 years from the completion of flight school and 3 years for OCS. Also you have to be a fixed wing pilot because the majority of Coast Guard pilots are helo bubbas which doesn't count for airlines.

All Coast Guard pilots AV8R's are commisioned officers. Soooo that means you need to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS) and then go to Navy Flight school. It is important to know that you would be an Officer first and a pilot second. There are several different paths to take to get to flight school and they range from AVCAD which guarentees flight school upon completion of OCS to applying for flight school and being accepted before making LT/O-3 which is typically 4 years from completion of OCS.

Your local recruiter should be able to help you get the application process going and tell you more about the current programs available.

Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

maximaman

Does it matter what kind of degree you have before you apply for OSC? What other kinds of careers are available for officers. I am very interested in the coast guard even if i'm not able to be a pilot? I have looked at the recruiting website but it seems somewhat limited on the information compared to the sites from other military branches.

Falcon20

You only need a BS/BA from an accrediated institution. There are exceptions but this is for sure. The field is your choice and only matters that you enjoy it and do your best. The better your grades the better you look to the selection panel. Extra cirricular activities help as well.

Career paths include but not limited to:
Aviation (the best in my humble opinion)
Sailor (boat/ship driving community)
Marine/Environmental Pollution and Response
Fishieries
Aids to Navigation
Civil Engineering
Naval Engineering
Financial Management
Public Affairs
Personnel Administration/Human Resources
Medical/Health benefits
Tactical Law Enforcement

I'm sure there are more but realize that you will be a manager for the most part. You will have the ability to jump career fields to an extent but the long you wait the harder it is. I would say that the Coast Guard can offer a lot of what the other services do but on a significantly smaller scale.

maximaman

Hey falcon thanks for the information. Is their any age rescrictions to the jobs that you listed. I will be 26 when I finish my degree since I got somewhat of a late start.

Falcon20

The only thing that has an age restriction is flight school. I can't remember what it is exactly but it's something like 32.

flybynuts

Maximaman,

Go the USCG website under careers and it will give you some of the info you need. Most of the CG FW pilots I see have come over after 2 years of being on the ship and them coming to flight school vice just right out of OCS. They make better students as well. Best thing is to find a recruiter to help you. If the recruiter is weak, get another one and try and get sample packages from others who HAVE been accepted. May help.