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joinging the coast guard...?

im 16 turning 17 and ive decided i want to join the coast guard to be in search and rescue like being a rescue swimmer or something . my parents sayy its only a phase and because i saw the movie the guardian but i told them i wanted to join before how do i know or how do i decide that im really serious about joing the coast guard as a real jobb ..and how can i let my parents know that im serious about joining ..[DO YOU THINK ITS TOO EARLY FOR ME TO DECIDE DOING THIS JOB AT MY AGE ???]..HELPP HELPPP!!!! just saying that the way i type has nothing to do with being mature or immature.

Public Comments

1. yeah if your still TYPING LIKE THISSSSSSSS?????? then yes your still a little to imature , wait untill your 18 and then decide
2. When you turn 17 you can join the CG Auxiliary, a volunteer organization that trains and does the same thing as the CG. Find out if it's for you or not. Good luck. I'm sure you'll love it. Semper Paratus
3. It's never too early or too late to begin focusing on something worthwhile; there's no age requirement. Your parents are skeptical because they remember and have seen many teens change focus many times over. It's no big deal. Of course they are probably also concerned with the danger involved with "rescue swimming". They will try to talk you out of it until you either give up on the idea or show true dedication to the task. That will begin with detailed research. If you're serious, get all of the information that you can about that topic and study it. Also, find out, thoroughly, what it takes to get into the rescue swimming detail of the Coast Guard. Take the time to speak to people that are in the Coast Guard, especially those in rescue swimming. Last, begin a weekly routine of physical training. If you can't consult with anyone who's a rescue swimmer, then talk with you school swimming coach and request his help. The main way to show that your serious is action. If you take the necessary steps forward to achieve your goal, people, including your parents, will begin to support you. Keep in mind that certain people will never change and will always try to steal your dream. Try to limit your goal oriented conversations with these people and spend more time discussing this topic with people that can help you or at least support you. I know this will help. And thank you for considering serving our great country.
4. Just so you know, the coast guard is NOTHING like that stupid movie! I work at a search and rescue station, that movie makes me want to puke. You will more than likely get stationed on a 378 foot cutter.
5. Actually you can join active duty when you are 17 (i did!) I would not suggest AST. Just saying. Being in a mostly male dominated workplace is stressful, and a lot of the guys are going to be resentful of you, even if you DO pass the extreme testing to be come an AST. They say that AST training is next in toughness only to Navy Seal training. And there are no females in the Seals. (btw, those guys are HARDCORE!) keep in mind that the first year you are in you will be doing craptastic jobs- painting, cleaning, mowing grass, mess cooking, etc. as a non-rate (e-3) you will most likely be on a cutter working long shifts and getting little sleep, or on a land unit being everyone's btch. A lot of people join thinking they are just going to go off and do their job of choice and then get all piss-y when it doesn't work out that way. don't be one of those people i love being in the coast guard. As an HS I have seen emergency medivacs (where we fly to one of the outlaying islands to pick up someone who is seriously injured and fly them to a hospital) and i've seen independent duty corpsman who take their job very seriously. the job is a labor of love and only for those who aren't expecting frosting all the time.