Coast Guard
08-11-2007, 11:20 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Skyhawk Left
Posts: 28
Coast Guard
Hey all. Couldn't find much posted on here about the Coast Guard so I thought Id start my own topic and ask. First off just some background. Im 17 and just about to start my senior year of high school. Im a student pilot right now (6.2 hours logged) and rapidly closing in on that solo! As for college Im lookin at going to a large-ish state school and getting a degree in engineering. Neither myself (or my family) really has the money to dish out $35K or so for ratings up to CFI, especially when you start out at $19 an hour at a regional. So Im looking very strongly at going into the military after college. Im also not looking at ROTC because wherever I go to college I will be running Track and Cross Country so I want to have at least a little bit of free time. hah. So OCS is the way I would go.
Anyway I know a pretty good amount of info about the Air Force and Navy since my cousin is a KC-10 driver and my dad is a former Supply Core Officer in the Navy. However I know very little on the Coast Guard, especially the aviation side of it.
So how hard is it to get a flight school slot in the Coast Guard? How are the bases? What is a cruise like in the CG (if you get helos)? How are the aircraft? What do you plan to do after? Basically what is life like for a Coast Guard aviator?
And finally for any of you military helo pilots out there (since the CG has a bunch of helos) what do you plan to do after you get out? Go onto another career field of keep flying? How hard is it to find a good corporate helo flying gig?
Phew, that was more than I thought I would type. Thanks in advance for the info.
Dave
Anyway I know a pretty good amount of info about the Air Force and Navy since my cousin is a KC-10 driver and my dad is a former Supply Core Officer in the Navy. However I know very little on the Coast Guard, especially the aviation side of it.
So how hard is it to get a flight school slot in the Coast Guard? How are the bases? What is a cruise like in the CG (if you get helos)? How are the aircraft? What do you plan to do after? Basically what is life like for a Coast Guard aviator?
And finally for any of you military helo pilots out there (since the CG has a bunch of helos) what do you plan to do after you get out? Go onto another career field of keep flying? How hard is it to find a good corporate helo flying gig?
Phew, that was more than I thought I would type. Thanks in advance for the info.
Dave
08-11-2007, 11:27 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
CG aviation also has Falcon Jets, and my personal favorite .. the HERCULES.
They go thru Navy Flight primary flight school. And I assume they are "tracked" out just like the Navy and Marine guys/gals.
when I went thru Initial Co-Pilot training at Little Rock on the Herc we had a female type CG pilot. I flew one of my aircraft sorties with her and she was pretty good. the Hercs have some lovely places like Kodiak Alaska and Iceland... for their bases... lol.
They go thru Navy Flight primary flight school. And I assume they are "tracked" out just like the Navy and Marine guys/gals.
when I went thru Initial Co-Pilot training at Little Rock on the Herc we had a female type CG pilot. I flew one of my aircraft sorties with her and she was pretty good. the Hercs have some lovely places like Kodiak Alaska and Iceland... for their bases... lol.
08-11-2007, 12:36 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Up front
Posts: 963
So how hard is it to get a flight school slot in the Coast Guard? About 50-60% of applicants are accepted. There are a limited number of slots at Navy flight school so it depends on how many apply and available slots.
How are the bases? Not bad but not great. It usually depends on the Command at the time. The fixed wing bases are Mobile, Miami, Elizabeth City, Cape Cod, Sacramento, Honolulu, Kodiak, Clearwater, and Corpus Christi. Helos have these and more.
What is a cruise like in the CG (if you get helos)? Everything you need to know is written on a helo's tail
How are the aircraft? Old except for the VIP planes. They are purchasing new ones. You might have heard of Deepwater in the news so its wait and see when they actually arrive.
What do you plan to do after? Drink beer, watch Charger football, watch the cheerleaders, continue to fly when not doing the afore mentioned pass times.
Basically what is life like for a Coast Guard aviator? We gripe like everyone else but our life is good. Good amount a flying and deployments measured in days and weeks vice months. See the other threads about guys transitioning from the Navy/Army/Marines to the Coast Guard.
and if thats the case im gonna apply for the CG.. ha.
08-11-2007, 06:23 PM
#6
On Reserve
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Posts: 10
Flying airplanes is probably not bad. Flying helos might be a different story. When everybody else is on the ground complaining about the crappy weather, the CG is launching helos to go rescue somebody. Nobody every gets stranded when the weather is good. Flying in crappy weather, over the ocean at night is not my idea of a good time.
If you want to fly helos, then join the Army's High School to Flight School program. You will be appointed as a Warrant Officer and attend helicopter flight school. Then if a little later in your career(500hrs TT and a few other requirements) if you want to fly airplanes, you can apply for the fixed wing course. The Army will teach you to fly a Beech King Air with the possibility of flying a four engined DeHavilland or a Cessna Citation Five. Get all the time you need flying airplanes and helicopters, then retire and move on to the Corporate world flying helos/airplanes or into Commercial aviation flying for the Airlines. Good Luck!
Michael
If you want to fly helos, then join the Army's High School to Flight School program. You will be appointed as a Warrant Officer and attend helicopter flight school. Then if a little later in your career(500hrs TT and a few other requirements) if you want to fly airplanes, you can apply for the fixed wing course. The Army will teach you to fly a Beech King Air with the possibility of flying a four engined DeHavilland or a Cessna Citation Five. Get all the time you need flying airplanes and helicopters, then retire and move on to the Corporate world flying helos/airplanes or into Commercial aviation flying for the Airlines. Good Luck!
Michael
08-11-2007, 10:15 PM
#7
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: C-130H (ret)
Posts: 81
I've flown in some crappy weather, and flown cover for my helo counterparts in really crappy weather, but it is one of the most rewarding parts of the job; laying it on the line to help others. I have/have had family and friends in every branch of the service, doing all sorts of missions. I chose the Coast Guard because I knew that no matter what service you are in, no matter what job you do, there will be sacrifices and you will be called upon to lay it on the line in some way or another.
Consider the Coast Guard like a fire/rescue service. The "whoopee" alarm goes off and you have 30 minutes to get your aircraft airborne. It is a rush. In no way am I trying to be cavalier, a lot of ORM/CRM is embedded in the process of launching a CG asset. It can be dangerous, but so can deploying to the "sand box". It is a part of serving. We have a mission that doesn't fit the mold of the other military branches, that is one of the reasons we are not DOD.
I went to OCS and did not get flight school right away. It seems the Coast Guard needed (read that "needs of the service") me and my engineering degree on a 378' cutter. It was not a fun experience, mostly due to the command. I eventually was selected for flight school and the rest is history, so to speak.
Best of luck.
-4FF
Consider the Coast Guard like a fire/rescue service. The "whoopee" alarm goes off and you have 30 minutes to get your aircraft airborne. It is a rush. In no way am I trying to be cavalier, a lot of ORM/CRM is embedded in the process of launching a CG asset. It can be dangerous, but so can deploying to the "sand box". It is a part of serving. We have a mission that doesn't fit the mold of the other military branches, that is one of the reasons we are not DOD.
I went to OCS and did not get flight school right away. It seems the Coast Guard needed (read that "needs of the service") me and my engineering degree on a 378' cutter. It was not a fun experience, mostly due to the command. I eventually was selected for flight school and the rest is history, so to speak.
Best of luck.
-4FF
08-18-2007, 06:15 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 737 FO, C-130J EP
Posts: 45
Basically what is life like for a Coast Guard aviator? We gripe like everyone else but our life is good. Good amount a flying and deployments measured in days and weeks vice months. See the other threads about guys transitioning from the Navy/Army/Marines to the Coast Guard.
Falcon20,
I PM'ed you regarding interservice transfers into the CG. I can't find any of the old threads you posted on regarding this subject.
Cork32
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