So who of us has been in the Coast Guard? I have an appointment on Wed to get OCS info and was looking for some opinions from people who have been there. How was your experience? What did you do? Unfortunately I don't know anyone first hand who has been enlisted so I'm just looking for thoughts. Thanks guys...

I was in from 1977-81. I did all my time 3 miles from my house at Rockaway Station. I never took the test for Petty Officer as the Station was full of them and they would have sent me to Governors Island and a Great White(378ft'er). I enjoyed what I did on the small boats, but dealing with the powers that be in the military can be a challenge. Especially if you have half a brain and like to think with it. But alas the USCG no longer seems to exist anyway, now the Station is closed (we did about 1500 cases a year). Now its mostly guns and pontoon boats around NY harbor and can't see how the buoys get tended to when the Tenders are watching the ships in the Harbor.
If you can get a real education in OCS take it. Why not the Acadamy? Officers ALWAYS have it easier ya know ;)

'85-'89. Started off on a 378 in Boston, 180' bouy tender in Woods Hole, Then finished off at Castle Hill in Newport. I was an mk3(boat engineer) and at sm boat stations that means I was a boarding officer too. Mostly good experiences, the best part was that I worked with some great people, but Crow's right about the powers that be.- You can find all that out for yourself.
But overall, the good outweighed the bad, and I look back on it as a good experience- a good place to grow up.
Good Luck, Let us know how you make out

IIRC Dave Walrip from the charter boat Relentless hangs around here and he was recently retired from the C.G.

Damn, if I stayed in and did my 20, I'd be retiring next Friday

'85-'89. Started off on a 378 in Boston

Which one? Hambone or Lady of Love Chahzaaaa

Ham. June - Oct. Left when she was decommissioned in Bath for Fram

If I had stayed in and did 20 there would have been nothing left to retire. Though I enjoyed my time, 4 years was defintely ENOUGH. For me. There are also Veterans benifits that I forgot to mention they can be very helpful post- service.
High Tide were they still doing ocean station 30/60 day patrols on your 378'? Sitting on a single spot in the ocean no matter what gets thrown at you was not something I wanted to do, so I did my very best (&worst) to stay put in Rockaway.

Not while I was there. They did a 6 week cadet cruise (which I got bumped, had to stay at the SupCtr.) Then once the Ham got back, we prepped her to go up to Bath, ME.

I don't think you can go wrong. I went in Sep 77 and got out Oct 03. I look back on it and wonder where it went, 26 years of crazy stuff. that only former Coasties would believe. Saw it go from McHale's Navy, to the guns a blazing of todays post 9/11 Guard. Good Luck

1962-1967 and I'm sorry I got out a although I would be dead. My duty section lost a plane with 6 of my buddies on it 2 weeks after I got out. It would have been my turn on it. Spent 15 months on a 165' cutter out of San Juan and 3 years flying out of St Pete. Best time I ever had. If you can get into aviation..........GO FOR IT !!!!!! I got tired of rocking in the old cutters and decided to fly. Still wish I would have gone back in. Semper Paratus. :cheers:

Mako Mike,

As one of the greatest Commanding Officers use to say to me "Ease your Rudder". I am not retired yet after 27 years of active duty service and have loved almost every minute of it. I have been fortunate to serve at local Stations such as Point Allerton and Scituate welcoming me tothe south shore. It was always a great challenge to locate a lost angler in the fog before the days of GPS, Loran and Chartplotters. I also served on a 210' WMEC, being able to do my part in the drug war. Being a search and rescue controller in Boston was interesting even though it was not underway was interesting. I served as Executive Petty Officer of the mighty tug boat PENDANT breaking ice. It was tough in a rolling sea while drifting for codfish. I was fortunate enough to finally become a Chief Petty Officer and getting my own command of Aids to Navigation Team Boston working buoys and lighthouses with a crew of 18 from Hampton to Plymouth. What do you know, I made Chief Warrant Officer and went to a 180' sea going buoy tender out of Kodiak, Alaska sailing from Seattle to the Bearing Sea, a very rewarding experience and today work in Naval Engineering as a BOSN overseeing small boat (less than 65') maintenance from Sandy Hook to Eastport.

Would I do it all over, in a heartbeat and hope to stay a few more years. I love the job as much as taking people out on RELENTLESS cod fishing. If anyone is ever thinking about going in give me a shout anytime. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Any prior Coasties, give me an e-mail and exchange notes incl;uding the Bittersweet and Rockaway Sailors. It is a small world here at S-B.com.

Thanks,

CWO4 Dave Waldrip
RELENTLESS

PS: I just got out of a herring management meeting, a whole other post.

Mr Waldrip I salute you. I had a CO with pretty much the same service record as yourself and it was an honor to serve with him. You are the backbone of the USCG especially in the Small boat stations and the 'working fleet' of Tenders and Tugs.
We were home to Group Rockaway Office and had a lot of brass aboard and this created some tensions. When our CO retired the station went straight down the scuppers, new guy was too inexperienced and tried to threaten everyone into submission. Classic mistakes and made for a very tense station. When I was eligible, I got a 60 day early out to go to school and start my next life. I too am very proud of what I was able to accomplish in my time. The rescues, the comraderie and the tradgedies witnessed were some of the most important times in my life. Its just the BS that pushed me out, never could cope well with it. Seaman Crow (RET)

Crow,

Thanks for the reply, things have changed today for the better as we have the smartest groups of in coming recruits and OC'S ever. The mentoring process in place sets folks up to succeed and the opportunities are there for the taking. Today in my office we have several youg mena dn women attending college during the evening reaping the benefits after a tour at sea. I wish I did the same but have been very busy between owning a charterboat and raising two teenagers with one headed off to Mass Maritime next year. What type of work do you do now, I often wonder what the future after CG will bring into my life? A good friend of mine was the last CO of Sta Rockaway when it closed. I remember going over there when we would take the tug to Mullers Shipyard down by King Plaza.

Have a great day and keep in touch.

Respectfully,

Dave Waldrip

PS: No Sir or Mr, just call me Dave

dave,
I stand corrected, I don't know why I thought you were retired. See you at the Providence show and I'll buy you a beer. I'll be working the Nor'east booth on Sat & Sun.

Mike,

Look for me on Sunday as Saturday will be a day, someone will be running my booth for me. I have to go to Mass Maritime Academy for a student parent orientation from 8-4. After the orientation, I will get to the show. I am looking forward to meeting you.

Respectfully,

Dave

Thanks for replying everyone. My appointment got changed to Thursday and I'll let you all know how it goes.

Relentless (and others), when you talk about "small-boat stations"- are those the local stations you see in most ports?

Thanks again guys, it's been great reading over everyone's posts.

Yes they are, stations where the boats are less than 65'. Do you have an appointment with a recruiter or with an OCS Board? Where is your appointment?

Good Luck?

Dave

Dave,
We met at least year's RISAA show. We chatted for while, mainly about your participation on Noreast.com. You introduced me to Frank Blount. Ringing any bells?

Mr Waldrip I also salute you sir. But I would try hard to talk anyone into going aviation. I got such a fantastic high after lifting someone aboard the chopper after they had been in the water for hours or had been injured on a ship. Yes……the flying can get bad at times but it’s worth it. I just finished a book by Spike Walker called “Coming Back Alive”. I couldn’t put it down. If anyone has a chance to read it, you’ll see what the guard is all about. Again…….I salute you sir.

AE2

Bob,

Being one of those airdales you would love to read Nights of ice also by Spike and Working the Edge. I read all three and loved them. Being stationed in Kodiak it was great anchoring in the same little holes as boats int he book and fighting the same elements. Are you still in and are you at CC Air? Do you know Merin Holcome by chance, his wife and mune became good friends in Kodiak. Aviation is good but.... boy is that advancement list some long. There is not a bad rate out there as long as it is wht you want to do and go at it full tilt. We all work together well because without those helos flying my ass down to Cold Bay to fix a buoy in King Cove, it would have been 36 hours of steaming way each way vice the four sitting hunched up with my ATON gear. If you ever get a chance to go to the Rock do so and everyone here should read those books because they will not put them down.

Thanks and have a good night

Dave

Dave....haven't read them but I will now that I know about them. No...I'm not in. I was in from 1962-1967. Flew out of CGAS St. Pete. I think my next stop, if I stayed in, would have been Kodiak. It seamed that everyone who got transfered went there. My buddies that were killed were in an HU16-E. The 7240. I still have a picture of that bird hanging on my wall just to remember them. Yes.....we all worked together and stuck together. Promotion wasn't to bad when I was in. I was up for E6. All aviation was a "critical rate" back then. Good Luck....God Bless.... AND STAY SAFE.

Dave

Active duty USN here. Just thought I throw my opinion in (as a good Chief Petty Officer always will), The Coast Guard is the real deal, War against Terror, War against Drugs, National Security, the whole thing.

The one thing that I would like to say is that if you are going to join one of the "sea services" then make it a personal commitment. Some people join as a way to pay for college or to get away from the folks, whatever. That is not the reason to join. The reason to join is "to be the best I can be and serve my country". The reason to join is that you love the sea.

Enlisted or commissioned the rule remains the same: Listen to your Chief and listen to your Warrants (Relentless). These are the guys that have done it. Become a MASTER MARINER.

2 more years and I'll be driving USS Kayak out of Cody, Wyoming. You, will be the one protecting and defending our coast. Make a difference! Stand the watch!! All engines ahead Flank!

Good luck, fair winds and following seas.


.

QMC(SW) Glenn H. Tillett, USN

Great to see another member of the mess in here. Great advice Chief and glad to see you in here.

Dave

Damn straight, Chief