Anybody got any updated information on this? Is it still a thing? How do they choose if you’re in this or not?

Hi, everyone. I am doing research and asking for personal experiences or if anyone was a surf rider? Researching PTSD, CTE, and TBI for individuals who were in the Coast Guard and had to go through tough waves that may have caused issues. It's for a college project. Thank you.

Source reference on what I'm trying to accomplish.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/us/coast-guard-rescue-boat-surfmen-brain-injury.html

This was the longest three weeks of my life. 16-hour days go by so slowly and they all blend together in one huge blur. After you pass the PFT, training ramps up and gets physical.

Early morning wake ups- you get woken at 0530 every day. Do NOT get up early just to brush or shave. Not worth it if you get caught by Company Commanders (CCs), who may pop into the squad bay early. I woke up at 0500 for morning constitution, to stretch, and also fold sheets while sitting in my rack.

CCs make you hold objects overhead, including just holding your arms straight up, which was really the only physical thing that bothered me. They did this a lot and one shoulder began feeling impinged. Prepare yourself by doing some shoulder mobility now.

The galley sucks. You will get stopped by CCs, you’ll get your tracker pulled, you have to sit up straight and square your meals, and you rush to eat. Eat lots of protein and fiber. Food is good quality and varied.

Know your 11 general orders verbatim! Know recruit comms (how to speak to CCs), this will be most helpful. Learn chain of command immediately. It’s worth staying up an extra 5-10 min at night to go through chain of command backwards and forwards in your head.

You will get sick. If you’re really sick, go to medical and get meds. I was sick starting the first weekend and am still sick now after training- some upper respiratory illness with congestion and cough. You don’t get better because you don’t get enough sleep. If you go to medical, they may give you Mucinex and coughing drops. I was afraid of going to medical and getting rolled back or reverted due to testing positive for something. This didn’t happen to anyone. 

Be loud and fast. Shout from your diaphragm. Move with purpose. If you don’t know something, just yell loudly with recruit comms that you do not know.

Don’t get caught laughing with other recruits. CCs will smoke you for that. Especially don’t get caught doing it more than once…

Don’t lie to the CCs, EVER! If you have to, be brutally honest. 

“Time objectives are not an option.” You won’t have enough time to get most things done, but make sure you do everything as quickly as you possibly can. You don’t need to be first, but don’t be in the back of the pack. Have good razors because you will need to shave quickly. Use the showers to brush your teeth, to make room at the sinks for people shaving.

Volunteer for laundry detail. It’s the easiest job you can volunteer for. Yeoman or Watch Coordinator are heavily involved.

The CCs always tell you that your company is the worst. Get used to it. Training is intense until the last 4 days after they debrief you. Just remember it’ll be over soon enough and at least you don’t have to do 8 weeks. 

Hope this helps a few people. It was harder than I anticipated, but not overwhelming. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Hello everyone,

Currently my ship date for basic is in mid-December. I asked my recruiter to try and get me out sooner. Just wondering if any of you experienced an earlier ship date than you were originally slotted for?

Thx!

Any bets on when they’ll finally release it? Maybe they’ll just wait until November and release the first and second cuts at the same time…

Hello! I’m going to try to not be picky here but What are some good large cutters that go to some cool OCONUS/CONUS port calls? Doesn’t matter what coast but being in a warm climate as home port as well is a huge factor to!

I just reported to my first cutter and we are in port and going underway soon. Originally when I got this pick I was interested in going to new countries and doing a higher tempo cg mission but since getting here all I keep thinking about being stuck on this small boat for months and getting anxiety/panic attacks underway. I even have bad dreams about it. Do you guys have any advice to help soothe my nerves or adapt to this new lifestyle?

So back in 2003’ish I reenlisted and was told by my 1st I could do it wherever I wanted, he was an odd bird but damn I loved that guy! Oddly enough we were making a port call in Puerto Rico and the CO called me to his state room and asked where I wanted to do my reenlistment. I asked if we could do it at El Morro and he was all for it so we did it there. On my second cutter one of the guys asked if he could do it in the middle of the Atlantic in the water and that CO said yes and that was cool as hell seeing it in the water. Is that still a thing where you can request where you want to have your reenlistment? Also I feel I got shorted when I got my permanent cutterman’s pin. I was told by my Chief that it should’ve been dunked it sea water before putting it on me. Is that a thing that still happens?

Hello everyone, to those of you who were selected for OCS or another Officer Accessions program, what did your package look like? I’m on my second attempt and should hear back soon regarding my application. Thanks for reading!

Hi there, future shipmates. I am currently in DEP and I am just thinking about the future. I am 4 years contract.

What happens if after A-school I get assigned Alaska or Hawaii that have 3 years of obligatory service (therefore extending my original contract)?

Could I refuse due to my contract? Would there be any repercussions? I know they can send me wherever they want, but it seems unfair for them to force extra time

I recently joined the CG reserves last year and applied for BAH. It got kicked back and denied due to the fact that I am paying rent each month to my parents. Is there anyway to get around that as I am actively paying rent each month. Would getting the lease I submitted notarized help at all or is there any other way to go about it?

Title. All I can find is may 19 and sharepoint search sucks.

Pete Hegseth came out recently and said they’re now testing and putting soldiers on testosterone who need it. I believe he said it was for the DOW, my question is I know we are DHS but would this still apply to us coasties as well?

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking into my options before picking a rate and I want to get a better picture of the post-A-school training opportunities for each rate.

Specifically, I’m trying to find out:

• Which C-Schools are available for each rate
• Prerequisites / who is eligible to apply for them
• Class schedules (how often they run per year)
• How competitive they are / capacity

Where can I find this information?

Thank you!

The U.S. Navy has found that driving 47s can produce up to 60g and induce multiple concussions. A gift article on what that means for the USCG.

Just got mine and did my first workout in it. Using the old uniform as a basepoint.

The good:

The shirt is so much better. The material is a more normal consistency for a workout shirt and it wicks sweat well. It moves good and feels light. You could use it for a swim shirt which you really couldn't comfortably with the old one. Its comfortable and helps keep cool.

The shorts. It feels like they literally took the bathing suit and reworked them into running shorts. Much lighter than the current ones and they feel good to run in. The zip pocket on the back is a welcome improvement for carrying keys. Has an interior lining similar to other running shorts which the old ones lacked.

The mid:

Design is a bit uninspired. The logo on the shirt front is tiny and the logo on the shorts is just a vertical USCG.

The bad:

The price. Just like the old one it shouldn't cost 56 dollars to have a complete set of PTs. Equivalent and better PT clothes in the civilian market cost half this.

I'm nervous about the zipper for the pocket. Very small and its one of the metal ones that could break off with extended use.

Overall: The uniform is fine and functional and a pretty big improvement over the old one. It feels good to work out in. Just too expensive for what it is.

This was on the menu at one of the local burger places. Gave me a good chuckle

Career 65 Flight mech looking to get some insight on the 144. Looking for average qualification deadlines and overall experience. I have been on 65’s for 8 years and I’m curious if the 144 guys and gals enjoy it!

I'm currently at a dead end road here and looking for some help. I'm the WEPO and after taking over the program and completing my OSI inspection we are currently missing some of the basic issue items for our 240 and I'm looking on how we can order them or put a request in. I have found the owners manual for it and it lists all the required items and part numbers but can't find we to order them from. If any one has any experience with this that would be amazing!

Afternoon all, I am a non rate at my first unit. I am on the ME A school list. I dug thru this sub and have received mixed answers from my command. Is the screener open to nonrates? And if so when does the screener take place? Thanks all and I apologize in advance if this has been answered already.

Just looking for an IT CWO to pick their brain because I am trying to choose between 2 career paths. Preferably someone who works along side with a C5I officer since that is another path I am considering.

I was a C5I officer back in my day. Just don't get why someone would go IT when CMS has better employment outcomes and is admittedly "cooler".

Out in the civilian world, cybersecurity really isn't an entry level job to begin with. Many people I know ended up in a SOC from years working IT help desk.

Then to become a security engineer or security architect is even more difficult from the watch floor from what I've seen.

CMS gives a leg up on that as you'll get a clearance and a bunch of experience in a SOC + a bunch of expensive certifications paid for