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
