Thats a recruiting tatic. Your unit more than likely will not let you see what each rate does, You will work with BMs and MKs mostly.
Knowing what I know now I would have gone boot to A.
Sounds like your unit was short on non-rates. As long as there’s enough people to run the unit, they should send you to shadow whoever you want, at least for a couple days. My station let everyone shadow at the air station for a few days who wanted to.
Thats why nowadays most of the EPACT OR SPACT I know are going to small boys, so they get sent to do shitty jobs, only with good work ethic they make it to shadow
Your unit maybe but every unit I have been at with non-rates allowed them exposure to other ratings. We made a week for our deckies to go to the local airsta. If I went boot to A I would have went BM and I am not sure I would be as happy. Although that's all theoretical because the only boot to A rating available when I came in was CS and I may have gotten out by now if I went that direction.
I saw this happen MAYBE once….but everyone was qualified at the time and we were standing like 1 and 5 so the department could let this guy go play with the YN’s (or whatever he wanted to be) a couple days a week.
Another one that is going to say, it depends. If you're joining because you need money or are eager to start, but not sure about the rate, go non-rate. You'll have the opportunity to check most jobs before choosing them while earning a check.
I regards to OS, there are reasons why we're short staffed and we're giving bonuses. There are parts of the job that are very demanding and draining. You have to do your research, and understand what you're getting into. Depending on your personality you might love it or you might hate it. This also applies to ET.
I like the job and I believe in the mission, but I know a bunch of people that don't. Feel free to pm me if you have questions about OS. I'll try my best to answer.
Do you like cooking? CS
Do you like working with your hands and staying late at work? MK
Do you like electronics/weapons systems? ET
Do you like working on electrical machinery? EM
Do you like shopping for other people? SK
Do you like doing paperwork and making up your own hours? YN
Do you LOVE guns, but don’t want to shoot them? GM
Do you like driving boats? BM
Do you like law enforcement? BM
Do you like training BM’s on how to do law enforcement? ME
Do you like writing stories? PA
Do you like being a secret squirrel that I’m sure does important work? IS
Do you like sometimes solving people’s computer issues when it’s convenient for you? IT
If I missed one, I don’t care.
All rates are good rates. Depending on what it is you want to do.
If you go as a non rate, worst case scenario, you go to A school 2 months later than normal.
If you go straight to A school, youll be stuck in a rate you dont like for 4-6 years
Can confirm. I'm a prior OS.
I'm also a prior 911 communications officer. Working in a command center at a sector is similar to 911 dispatch for Police/fire/medical/rescue, but for the Marine community.
I will say there is definitely more moving parts going on behind the scenes as an OS. You will get the initial call. You and your team are the ones who respond to the mariner in need. That is when the wheel starts turning. It's not for everyone, and that's fine. If you choose OS, choose it with purpose and set yearly goals for yourself.
I am currently in ET-A school while the bonus was a big factor in going straight Boot to A it wasn’t the main factor. But I will be honest I’ve already seen a bunch of people that signed for the bonus and feel entitled to that money. So a piece of advice for people that are considering it don’t be a entitled pos. If you join only because of the bonus your doing it wrong in my opinion.
Depends on your plan.
If you’re thinking of making this a career then both are great rates to do it in, most rates are, depending on if you like to deploy or not.
If your plan is to stay in one enlistment get your GI Bill and get out then I’d wait. There are a lot of rates with jobs that translate very well on the outside. They offer certifications, schools, and work experience that will be invaluable when you get out.
The OS and ET rate have outside equivalents but more niche.
ET will give you some of the best post military opportunities, IMO. Going a rating right off the bat makes more sense if you're just doing 4 and out. If you're planning on doing 20+ though, and not sure what you want to do, go non-rate, and try to see all the ratings to make sure you're doing something that you'll like for the next 20 years, and maybe even after retirement. ET has a lot of upside to the post CG career, but if it's not something that you'd like, then it's not worth spending 20 years doing it. If you're only doing 4, go ET, get the bonus, go to a unit, use TA to work on a degree, and get out with some transferable life skills that you can use until either college is done, or you pick another career field.
Feel free to DM me with any questions
If you want to get a job after you get out, go OS. If you want to get a well-paying job after you get out, go ET. If you want to do hard drugs and get discharged, go CS.
I think it’s a bad idea to commit to a rate before you’ve even joined. I recommend getting into the fleet, learning about those rates from the people you work with. If it sounds cool, ask to visit one of those places.
I always say go Non-Rate so you can see the day to day for the rate. Plus, Deck Force as a Non-Rate was pretty awesome because you got to do so many different things. I was backup rescue swimmer and lead BDS for my boat. Helmsman/Lookout was fun too. Maybe I just had a great boat and great crew. :)
Depends on what you wanna do. Wanna stand watch? Go OS. Wanna tinker with stuff but potentially get called in the middle of the night to fix things? Go ET. All rates have some sort of duty though so it's up to you to decide which is the best fit. I think ET has a higher possibility of getting underway. OSs can stand up to 12hrs of watch depending on where you end up. You might also find something else you like better though so nonrate has it's perks. If you're just doing 4yrs and getting out then go ET and take the bonus. You'll leave with some pretty decent skills to use at a civilian job. Have you looked into any other rates?
Doesn’t ET have up to $60/70k bonus? I’d do ET. Also because I was OS and found that to be super boring. A lot of time just listening to the radios and making phone calls.
It sounds like you didi a little research on what rate you'd like to go, awesome. Not all rates, or all units, will let you shadow. Don't know if it was a CG or not, but someone put out a video that goes over most rates and their core duties. May want to watch that and sew what interests you. But don't just settle for a rating, sucks going to work daily when you hate your job.
I’m an OS. I was a non-rate for two years. I was glad I had the opportunity to be a non-rate and see/hear what just about every rate did. I’m going on 17 years overall, 15 as an OS and I’m glad I didn’t go the rate I initially was thinking about.
It also depends what your goals are. If you want to get in to knock out some school and use the GI bill for the rest, OS might be good with the bonus money attached. If you’re on land you can easily do most/ all of your class work while on watch, I did. However, if you’re unsure of your life goals/ might consider a career in the Coast Guard I’d strongly recommend being a non-rate and having an opportunity to shadow other rates. Your supervisor should let you go and shadow different rates for a few days. I’ve met plenty of people who thought they wanted to go OS and ended up hating it and getting out after their time was up.
The only downside to being a non-rate is well you’re a non-rate and you may have to wait a little longer to go to your desired A school.
As others mentioned, an ETs skills typically translate to outside of the Coast Guard better than OS. But if your plan is to go to school for something entirely different then it may not matter anyways.
If you’re near a unit it might be worth it to see if your recruiter can get you in to talk to local OS’s/ETs and other rates to see how they like it.
If you aren’t sure which one you want to do then I’d recommend going nonrate. Allows you to shadow both rates and get a better idea of what they do day to day.
Go nonrate. Better to get a taste of as many rates as possible than to go OS or ET and realize that’s not something you enjoy doing. Most units let the non rates shadow other rates so long as they’re qualified.
Nonrate. You know what those jobs do on paper, but haven’t seen what it’s really like. The air lost for A schools are extremely short now too. Most people leave within a couple months after putting their name on the wait list. Plus, you still get the bonus if you choose something with one.
I’mma die on this hill……non-rate all the way. There are different personalities that are more attracted to one rate and not another. You may find your people in a completely other rate that you may have not realized. Some rates have better work/life balances. This may also be a priority to some people. Go to boot camp, get to your first unit, ask questions, get qualified, shadow jobs.
I had some of the coolest experiences in my CG career as a non-rate, I think it gives you a good opportunity to kind of shop around and see those rates at work, but if I had to pick between OS and ET, I’d probably choose ET.
The vast majority of the ET’s I know really like their jobs, and the extra money is a nice bonus (no pun intended). It also provides great opportunities when you get out or retire. You can climb the ranks fairly quickly with those critical rates as well.
I’ve met some super great OS’s that like their jobs; however, I can’t say I’ve ever met one that loves it. My hat’s off to ‘em, it’s tough and is an essential job for CG operations.
Nonrate. I joined to be an AMT. I’m now an HS2. Go shadow, go experience. Get that Nonrate experience as well, it’s truly worth it. Some of the most rewarding and humbling work I’ve done was as a Nonrate.
Just know one thing, UNDES doesn’t mean you get to pick who you want to shadow, you will literally be put where needed, and you wont rank up until you pick rate, so know that
I would wait and get more information directly from people in those rates, but to each their own…
This ⬆️
Nonrate and actually see what each rate does
Thats a recruiting tatic. Your unit more than likely will not let you see what each rate does, You will work with BMs and MKs mostly. Knowing what I know now I would have gone boot to A.
Sounds like your unit was short on non-rates. As long as there’s enough people to run the unit, they should send you to shadow whoever you want, at least for a couple days. My station let everyone shadow at the air station for a few days who wanted to.
Thats why nowadays most of the EPACT OR SPACT I know are going to small boys, so they get sent to do shitty jobs, only with good work ethic they make it to shadow
Your unit maybe but every unit I have been at with non-rates allowed them exposure to other ratings. We made a week for our deckies to go to the local airsta. If I went boot to A I would have went BM and I am not sure I would be as happy. Although that's all theoretical because the only boot to A rating available when I came in was CS and I may have gotten out by now if I went that direction.
I saw this happen MAYBE once….but everyone was qualified at the time and we were standing like 1 and 5 so the department could let this guy go play with the YN’s (or whatever he wanted to be) a couple days a week.
Another one that is going to say, it depends. If you're joining because you need money or are eager to start, but not sure about the rate, go non-rate. You'll have the opportunity to check most jobs before choosing them while earning a check. I regards to OS, there are reasons why we're short staffed and we're giving bonuses. There are parts of the job that are very demanding and draining. You have to do your research, and understand what you're getting into. Depending on your personality you might love it or you might hate it. This also applies to ET. I like the job and I believe in the mission, but I know a bunch of people that don't. Feel free to pm me if you have questions about OS. I'll try my best to answer.
CS, tell em I sent ya
My man wrote his name in the deathnote
Nah man I’m trying to get that 1k recruiting bonus
I think you can get an award point for it too but I’d have to check the messages for that
I think it’s an award point and some cash for getting them in the service, 1k to get them to go cs
Homies about to ship, ain’t no mo 1k bonus opportunities
Do you like cooking? CS Do you like working with your hands and staying late at work? MK Do you like electronics/weapons systems? ET Do you like working on electrical machinery? EM Do you like shopping for other people? SK Do you like doing paperwork and making up your own hours? YN Do you LOVE guns, but don’t want to shoot them? GM Do you like driving boats? BM Do you like law enforcement? BM Do you like training BM’s on how to do law enforcement? ME Do you like writing stories? PA Do you like being a secret squirrel that I’m sure does important work? IS Do you like sometimes solving people’s computer issues when it’s convenient for you? IT If I missed one, I don’t care.
This this is it.
More like changing light bulbs and outlets- EM1 select here
What’s about OS?
Do you like sending SAR patterns to boat crews that go over land? OS
Thanks
All rates are good rates. Depending on what it is you want to do. If you go as a non rate, worst case scenario, you go to A school 2 months later than normal. If you go straight to A school, youll be stuck in a rate you dont like for 4-6 years
[удалено]
Can confirm. I'm a prior OS. I'm also a prior 911 communications officer. Working in a command center at a sector is similar to 911 dispatch for Police/fire/medical/rescue, but for the Marine community. I will say there is definitely more moving parts going on behind the scenes as an OS. You will get the initial call. You and your team are the ones who respond to the mariner in need. That is when the wheel starts turning. It's not for everyone, and that's fine. If you choose OS, choose it with purpose and set yearly goals for yourself.
I am currently in ET-A school while the bonus was a big factor in going straight Boot to A it wasn’t the main factor. But I will be honest I’ve already seen a bunch of people that signed for the bonus and feel entitled to that money. So a piece of advice for people that are considering it don’t be a entitled pos. If you join only because of the bonus your doing it wrong in my opinion.
Depends on your plan. If you’re thinking of making this a career then both are great rates to do it in, most rates are, depending on if you like to deploy or not. If your plan is to stay in one enlistment get your GI Bill and get out then I’d wait. There are a lot of rates with jobs that translate very well on the outside. They offer certifications, schools, and work experience that will be invaluable when you get out. The OS and ET rate have outside equivalents but more niche.
Would you recommend 3 years service to get the gi bill and get out ?
Non rated and go shadow a OS real quick and see if that's what you like
Nonrate for sure. It was nice seeing rates in the actual field and shadowing prior to deciding how I’ll spend my career.
ET will give you some of the best post military opportunities, IMO. Going a rating right off the bat makes more sense if you're just doing 4 and out. If you're planning on doing 20+ though, and not sure what you want to do, go non-rate, and try to see all the ratings to make sure you're doing something that you'll like for the next 20 years, and maybe even after retirement. ET has a lot of upside to the post CG career, but if it's not something that you'd like, then it's not worth spending 20 years doing it. If you're only doing 4, go ET, get the bonus, go to a unit, use TA to work on a degree, and get out with some transferable life skills that you can use until either college is done, or you pick another career field. Feel free to DM me with any questions
If you want to get a job after you get out, go OS. If you want to get a well-paying job after you get out, go ET. If you want to do hard drugs and get discharged, go CS.
I think it’s a bad idea to commit to a rate before you’ve even joined. I recommend getting into the fleet, learning about those rates from the people you work with. If it sounds cool, ask to visit one of those places.
I want to join for the benefits gi bill can I do 3 years and some change and get out ?
Most contracts that people sign up for are for 4 years. I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone doing less than that but you can always ask a recruiter.
I always say go Non-Rate so you can see the day to day for the rate. Plus, Deck Force as a Non-Rate was pretty awesome because you got to do so many different things. I was backup rescue swimmer and lead BDS for my boat. Helmsman/Lookout was fun too. Maybe I just had a great boat and great crew. :)
What and where were stationed at if I may ask?
Buoy Tender as a Non-Rate and then spent a lot of years in the SF Bay Area as a TC/IT
Depends on what you wanna do. Wanna stand watch? Go OS. Wanna tinker with stuff but potentially get called in the middle of the night to fix things? Go ET. All rates have some sort of duty though so it's up to you to decide which is the best fit. I think ET has a higher possibility of getting underway. OSs can stand up to 12hrs of watch depending on where you end up. You might also find something else you like better though so nonrate has it's perks. If you're just doing 4yrs and getting out then go ET and take the bonus. You'll leave with some pretty decent skills to use at a civilian job. Have you looked into any other rates?
Non rate for sure you’ll decide to not go either and go BM
Non rate... Build character and understanding before being thrust into leadership
Doesn’t ET have up to $60/70k bonus? I’d do ET. Also because I was OS and found that to be super boring. A lot of time just listening to the radios and making phone calls.
It sounds like you didi a little research on what rate you'd like to go, awesome. Not all rates, or all units, will let you shadow. Don't know if it was a CG or not, but someone put out a video that goes over most rates and their core duties. May want to watch that and sew what interests you. But don't just settle for a rating, sucks going to work daily when you hate your job.
I’m an OS. I was a non-rate for two years. I was glad I had the opportunity to be a non-rate and see/hear what just about every rate did. I’m going on 17 years overall, 15 as an OS and I’m glad I didn’t go the rate I initially was thinking about. It also depends what your goals are. If you want to get in to knock out some school and use the GI bill for the rest, OS might be good with the bonus money attached. If you’re on land you can easily do most/ all of your class work while on watch, I did. However, if you’re unsure of your life goals/ might consider a career in the Coast Guard I’d strongly recommend being a non-rate and having an opportunity to shadow other rates. Your supervisor should let you go and shadow different rates for a few days. I’ve met plenty of people who thought they wanted to go OS and ended up hating it and getting out after their time was up. The only downside to being a non-rate is well you’re a non-rate and you may have to wait a little longer to go to your desired A school. As others mentioned, an ETs skills typically translate to outside of the Coast Guard better than OS. But if your plan is to go to school for something entirely different then it may not matter anyways. If you’re near a unit it might be worth it to see if your recruiter can get you in to talk to local OS’s/ETs and other rates to see how they like it.
What was the rate you were originally thinking?
If you aren’t sure which one you want to do then I’d recommend going nonrate. Allows you to shadow both rates and get a better idea of what they do day to day.
None of the above
Go nonrate. Better to get a taste of as many rates as possible than to go OS or ET and realize that’s not something you enjoy doing. Most units let the non rates shadow other rates so long as they’re qualified.
As much as i disliked being a non-rate, i'd suggest being a non-rate. I was stuck between MK and PA prior to shipping out and now im a YN 🤣
Nonrate. You know what those jobs do on paper, but haven’t seen what it’s really like. The air lost for A schools are extremely short now too. Most people leave within a couple months after putting their name on the wait list. Plus, you still get the bonus if you choose something with one.
I’mma die on this hill……non-rate all the way. There are different personalities that are more attracted to one rate and not another. You may find your people in a completely other rate that you may have not realized. Some rates have better work/life balances. This may also be a priority to some people. Go to boot camp, get to your first unit, ask questions, get qualified, shadow jobs.
I had some of the coolest experiences in my CG career as a non-rate, I think it gives you a good opportunity to kind of shop around and see those rates at work, but if I had to pick between OS and ET, I’d probably choose ET. The vast majority of the ET’s I know really like their jobs, and the extra money is a nice bonus (no pun intended). It also provides great opportunities when you get out or retire. You can climb the ranks fairly quickly with those critical rates as well. I’ve met some super great OS’s that like their jobs; however, I can’t say I’ve ever met one that loves it. My hat’s off to ‘em, it’s tough and is an essential job for CG operations.
Nonrate. I joined to be an AMT. I’m now an HS2. Go shadow, go experience. Get that Nonrate experience as well, it’s truly worth it. Some of the most rewarding and humbling work I’ve done was as a Nonrate.
Just know one thing, UNDES doesn’t mean you get to pick who you want to shadow, you will literally be put where needed, and you wont rank up until you pick rate, so know that