Another thing that worked well for me was writing the 11 GOs over and over and over again until I knew them. I started out copying them and would quiz myself writing them without looking and then have my wife quiz me saying them.
I went through bootcamp twice essentially. It was about 9 years ago but I still have most of the memories...I started in Gulf 172, blew out my right knee and had surgery in week 4, waited in Cape May for about 2 months while I recovered, and then was sent back to Sexton Hall to join a new company, Echo 173 when they showed up on a tuesday night... Needless to say the guy is correct in the information you should know, mostly the rate and ranks because as a civilian you really have no clue unless you have been around military before. Also I recommend memorizing your required knowledge, you WILL be quizzed on this information throughout bootcamp. I didn't do any of this before bootcamp and I paid for it during my time. Good luck to all-
One day I found myself in the dreaded situation of walking around the base alone. This was a first for me, I had always been in formation. Anyway, I'm walking back to the barracks and I see this guy walking my way...oh crap! So as he gets closer I see his collar...and all I can see is a propeller. I'm thinking...what the hell is a propeller? Finally when he has just about passed me I see his other collar....WARRANT OFFICER! I throw a salute and a "Good morning Sir!" he just says "A little late aren't you?" LOL Warrant Officers...I hated Warrant Officers because unlike Academy Officers, they know what you should know! LOL
Nick Wilson Haha...ain't that the truth! Great story. Thank you for sharing. Definitely made me smile and gave me a flashback of my own when I found myself walking around the base alone going from a medical appointment. I was nervous as hell and praying no one would stop me. Luckily no one did - that time.
I'd have to say the 11 general orders will be the hardest for me. I've looked, read, reread, and more for all of them, but not only do I miss words but after a while they all sound the same so I can distinguish one from the other.
Larry Longneck Hey Larry, I'm not sure when you went in, but my theory is that at some point the ins and outs of USCG Boot Camp became "Marine Corps-ized". Many of the customs, sayings, and other things at Cape May are borrowed directly from the Marines. Granted the two have a close historical relationship, but I really think that at some point they decided to do an overhaul based on USMC boot - including heavy emphasis on identifying rates and ranks. Many of the CC's at Cape May are also former Marines. My lead CC was a Jarhead for 10 years (and you could tell - in a good way). I could be completely wrong of course, but either way, the emphasis on rates and ranks is VERY important and should definitely be learned ahead of time. I have a video on this channel going over all of them so there should really be no excuse.
USCGBootCamp I was in Alameda, CA in 1975. PT is something else that, at that time, was mild compared to what I see now. But I don't know if the training differed any from Cape May either.
The general orders is definitely what got me just because it was the first thing that was required to know I guess. What I did was keep writing it in my notebook until I got it
I ship out for BC on dec 15. My Chief Recruiter. said that if you don't know the general information listed in the pocket guide and helmans, that they can delay your ship date. not only is that important but your fitness is also. There was a guy who shipped off few months b4 me and only survived a week due to not passing the 1.5 mile run by 1:30.
+king dino ling - All very true. Things have gotten even more stringent since I went through Cape May - which isn't that long ago - so everyone who's getting ready needs to be on their game way beforehand like you said. You need to show up with the complete package. Mentally prepared and physically prepared. If you have holes in your preparation you will probably end up getting sent home.
I just got out of CG Bootcamp and at minute 4:23 of this video your example of being asked something and responding with "I request to inform you" is wrong. You request to inform unsolicited information, if asked, you reply as "Petty Officer YOU, Seaman recruit ME, the shoulder board for an Oscar 4 is blah, blah blah"
jay23cr You are absolutely right! At the time I made this video, that was still the correct way of speaking at Cape May. That is how my company and all other companies at USCG Boot Camp had to speak. This has since changed and those changes have been made in the actual Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide in the Chapter on how to speak and respond appropriately. Anyone that purchases a copy of my book will have the correct info. I will eventually make an updated video addressing this, and some other changes that have taken place since this video was made. Thank you again for your input and congratulations on finishing Coast Guard Boot Camp!
Mike Company 140 in 92'. YOU NEED TO BE LOCKED DOWN ON YOUR GENERAL ORDERS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. WINNING THE WHITE PENNANT FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS IS A MUST FOR EVERY COMPANY. DO NOT BE THE BOOT THAT FAILS YOUR SHIPMATES.
Got some great updates on USCG Boot Camp this morning from a successfully graduated recruit. Thank You! The BIGGEST change I learned is that apparently they are no longer having recruits say "I request to inform you + whatever they want to say". I was just told that recruits are being yelled at for saying that so if you're reading the book and are on Chapter 6, please ignore that particular item. I will try to find out what it is they are having recruits say instead now and will make the update.
Well wish i had some of the info when i went to Cape May, where the national bird is the mosquito, But good videos. I was in the CG back in the 80's. Thanks for bringing back the memories. LOL Semper Paratus!
(uniform 141), I was reverted a week for sarcasm... I would add sarcasm to the list of things not to arrive at Cape May with, CC's love that in a sick way. (Anyone remember CC Horky around the 1992 timeframe?) He dropped me every chance he got, it would be great to see him again. Unless you have had to retrieve a piece of your firearm (M1 Garand) from the BA because you were >6ft from your locker, you have not experienced the sense of humor that these fine men have. I spent 7 years as a BM on a 378', and small boat station doing SAR and LE as Certified/Qualified BO and CGDT Instructor. YOU WILL GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE COAST GUARD THAT YOU PUT IN AND MORE, MAN UP AND JOIN IF YOU ARE ABLE, YOU WONT REGRET IT...
AWESOME! I hope you are prepared physically and mentally. Make sure you know your 11 GO's, Rates and Ranks, and Chain of Command by heart. If someone woke you up in the middle of the night from deep sleep and asked you for your 4th General Order, you should be able to recite it perfectly with no hesitation. If you can do that with the Required Knowledge then you are well on your way. Good luck and let me know if I can be of any help to you.
Great Question. I don't really have an answer. My guess would be because WO's don't actually go through any sort of basic training process to be designated a WO. It's based on the fact that they've achieved the level of being an expert in their field, have been with the CG minimum 8yrs (E-6+) & don't have the opportunity to become a Commissioned Officer because they don't have a college degree. CO's are 0-1 @ OCS & become 0-2 upon graduating. No "WO Boot Camp", so skip right to W-2? Pure guess.
TheTexan98 - No problem. That's my goal. Have every new recruit who shows up on Day 01 be ready to withstand whatever is thrown at them. Start training now so when it's your time, you'll be like Superman.
In 1980 we also had "knot of the day." One day the nautical term of the day was "knot." When asked the nautical term, I answered, Sir, knot, sir. "No! Not the knot. I asked for the nautical term. Give me 20." Sometimes you'll never have the right answer.
+J Babb - Ha! I agree. I think CC's will sometimes find a way to mess with you here and there just because. I remember when I received my shaving chit, my CC's started yelling at me about not being shaved and when I tried to respond (completely correctly and according to protocol) they wouldn't let me finish and kept screaming and cutting me off. I tried several times and finally they just hit me with a performance tracker. I didn't do anything wrong but like you said - sometimes you'll never have the right answer. My CC's definitely had a lot of respect for me - and vice versa - and the incident I just described happened to me fairly early on. Before they determined that I was a squared away recruit.
updated...As of this year you will no longer even be allowed to ship out to boot camp if you don`t know your info they now test you before you leave and if you dont know it they reschedule you till you do.
Izzy Lebasi Updated again....that was just somthing my recruiter told me to force me to study and know everything before going to cap may. The section commanders at cape may where actually upset with my office because we basically knew too much.
Zephyr Mika - Anytime. Glad you liked it. Check out the latest video I posted if you have a moment. Share it per the instructions in the comments and you can win a FREE copy of the best-selling Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide. Good luck to you in your preparation.
Echo 70 July 1969. Shipped out to SupDep Ketchikan...Only 197 inches of rain that year! My duty was One and Seven, then off to Juneau, Dist. Office...My Nicname was Rackets! No duty for six months and when I got tired of making beds and cooking Coffee, It was off to TRA/CEN Governors Island to SK-A School, and finished off my enlistment stationed at Base New York Public Works Div. Now you know why they call us Old Salts! Oh! Did I forget that Paprika was too hard to spell?
So... it's would be said 01 half inch gold band below 01 quarter inch gold band below 01 half inch gold band. DONT REQUEST TO KNOW IF THEY ASKED YOU A QUESTION.
Yes. At the time I made this video they were still doing the 'I request to know...' thing at Cape May, but that is no longer the case. There are a few things that are outdated in this video (but I update everything in the Survival Guide) and that's one of them. Thanks for your comment.
Just remember....Your Mother left you at the airport, and that is all you need to know! And today's Boot Camp is a bunch of hollering and screaming, because they can't touch you or call you any derogatory names! While I was at Boot Camp in 1969, we had one recruit die of a perforated stomach ulcer, and one got tossed through three racks when caught sitting on his rack...His broken arm was better in a couple weeks! You NEVER walk if by yourself! YOU RUN! You march if three or more are together! I screwed up just once! I was commanded to appear in front of a Petty Officer from another Company, at the top of his lungs, and was summarily dressed down for walking, and while being lifted completely off the ground by his right arm and being pounded on the chin by the knuckles of his other hand...He descriptive utterances about just how worthless I was, and other colloquialisms were being leveled at me for not following protocol, and being stupid on that particular day while getting back to the barracks by my self, and not running. I ended up doing about 150 pushups for that small infraction. That was fun! Terrifying...But Fun! Petty Officer Humberg SK3 1969-1978 Vietnam Era Disabled Veteran DUTY MORMON! Ha Ha!
They changed the format of answering questions recently, you no longer say "I request to inform you" if they prompt a question They'll say "you don't need to request to inform me of shit, I asked you the question" Also did you have PO Allen? That guy is hilarious, coolest CC on the base
Mike Mahoney Hey Mike - Thanks for that. I'm aware of that as well. I updated the Survival Guide to reflect that. I need to make a new video soon to let recruits know of the new speaking terminology though. I've just been busy. No I didn't have PO Allen. Of my three CC's, PO Ross was the resident comedian. He used to say the most ridiculous things. It was really hard not to laugh.
Holy Shit Camp Consoler, when I went through in 1981, they could hit you, sleep deprive you, and PT you to death...without any videos to prep you..God Bless America..we've gone viral instead of crack a book and working out.
+Jack Sparrow In 1978, they would march your ass into Alameda bay in November with your seabag fully loaded to let your company "think" on what they did wrong. The water was probably in the 40's? I don't remember having to know the detailed bullshit about half inch stripes etc. If I did, it is long forgotten. Sleep deprivation was daily, and PT was every time we crossed some line in the quad. So glad I was young then. I would tell them to F off now :) Oscar Alfa 122, 1978
Chris - Do your best because you can't mess up words. You'll get screamed at and you'll have to fill out performance trackers (punishment later). Here's my tip on memorizing the 11 GO's: Don't try to memorize all of them in 1 day. Repeat #1 over & over in your head until you have it perfectly memorized. Then start repeating #2 in the same way, but every 3rd/4th time, say #1 first and then repeat #2. Then just keep adding on in the same way. Once you have 1&2 down, start on #3. You can do it man.
Another question is I ship out in march to basic could you explain how jobs work in the coast guard just to clarify it for my relatives? Because it obviously different than other branches. And explain that first year after basic when it comes to jobs and training
Hey David - As far as jobs go, you pick your job from what's available with your recruiter before you shit out to Cape May - or at least that's the way it worked when I went last year. My recruiter gave me options and I chose BM from what was available. After you graduate Basic, you get assigned to a station, but you don't officially do your job yet because you haven't been properly trained. That's what A-School is for. The wait list for a lot of A-schools is pretty ridiculous at this point. The popular jobs have wait lists that can stretch out through almost your entire initial 4-year enlistment. For most you will have to wait at least a year. Folks who go in the Reserves actually tend to get moved up the wait list faster and IF they are lucky will only wait a few months. While you are waiting to go to A-School you are basically like a Coast Guard "intern" for lack of a better description. You still work and everything, but not in the same capacity necessarily as after you graduate from A-School. Also, depending on your job, you can go to further training even after A-School which will provide you with further knowledge and qualifications. That's a general overview. I hope that helps.
Hey Trevor. Great question. The answer is yes and no. Yes in the sense that you will have to know it for classroom exams, but no in the sense that you will not be quizzed on it on the daily by your CC's. Also, no in the sense that there's really not much need for you to learn it ahead of time. There are so many other WAY more important things to learn before you ship out (i.e. - the stuff I cover in the Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide). Don't worry about this now. You'll learn it in class, and again, it's not information that you are quizzed on by your CC's during the day. No one's walking around the regiment with a picture book of boats going "Hey Recruit, what boat is this?"...Let me know if you have any other questions.
Navy does not have W-1 anymore. It is now from W-2 to W-5 for Chief Warrant Officers. Oh, and the Navy Flying CWO program does not exist anymore as of last year.
+USCGBootCamp You mentioned earlier in your comments that recruits no longer say "I request to inform you + whatever they want to say". Do you know how they are supposed to respond now? Also, I am strongly considering purchasing your book, and I was wondering if chapter 6 has been updated?
Daniel Rolph Thanks for reaching out. Great question. I appreciate your attention to detail - it will get you far when you get to Cape May. In terms of your question, the answer is yes, BUT the update doesn't take the item out. I simply put an asterik next to it and added this footnote: ***I have been told by a recent Cape May returnee that they are no longer having recruits say “I request to inform you...” (item #2 above). It’s very likely that the training center staff have seen my youtube videos and probably decided to switch it up on recruits. Be careful with this one and be prepared for it to no longer be valid. The rest should be fine.*** The returnee that I referenced in the footnote told me that the formula works the same way, they have simply taken out the "I request" part. So using the example from the video, it would look like this instead: Petty Officer Allen: PIERCE! Seaman Recruit Pierce: Pierce I, Petty Officer Allen! Petty Officer Allen: Pierce, what is the title of an Echo Seven (E-7) pay grade? Seaman Recruit Pierce: Petty Officer Allen, Seaman Recruit Pierce, the title of an Echo Seven is Chief Petty Officer. Petty Officer Allen: What does the shoulder board insignia of a Chief Petty Officer look like? Seaman Recruit Pierce: Petty Officer Allen, Seaman Recruit Pierce, the shoulder board insignia of a Chief Petty Officer looks like ZERO THREE gold chevrons, a rating designator, ZERO ONE gold rocker, and a white eagle / crow* on top. Petty Officer Allen: Very well, go away. In my opinion, I think you should memorize it the way it's written above and if you see that the "I request" is still being used, then simply make the adjustment. Based on recent feedback I've received from 3 recruits (now Seaman) who have written me thanking me for my help, everything else seems to be the same as when I went through Cape May. I like to keep everything up to date for future recruits and recent graduates help a lot with that. Luckily, there hasn't been many big changes from what's in the book and what people have experienced. Everyone's experience will of course be slightly different, but the meat and potatoes of it will be mostly the same. Just as an example, the author of the below blog posted about USCG Boot Camp in 2012: dschmitty.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/boot-camp-at-a-glance-pt-2/ If you read that post, and scroll down to the 9th block of text, you'll notice that this author is also advising to go with the "I request to". When reading that entire post, the experience was very close (though not exactly the same) to mine. This is why I'm saying to learn it without saying "I request to" BUT to also keep it in the back of your head in case you need to make an on the spot adjustment. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
Hey, Im currently 15 years old and I am asking, If I am to pass the expectations of my physical ability, Would there be any daily routines/exercises that would help me in the future? Like things that I can do ate my age right now that would benefit me. Thanks for feedback or sudjestions and feel free to answer my question having to do with buying things (if beneficial).
+Michael Jaxon - Hi Michael! Happy New Year. Thanks for reaching out. It's always nice to see motivated young people who are already seeking out information. It's tough for me to give you specific advice without knowing anything about you besides the fact that you are 15 years old. With that said, in a general sense, I would begin following an exercise program that incorporates calisthenics, running, swimming, and mobility into your routine (if appropriate for your situation). Some form of activity 4-5 days per week that incorporates the aforementioned elements will start building a solid foundation so that as you get closer to going to MEPS, taking your ASVAB, etc, you will be in a good place (physically at least). Pullups, pushups, squats, pistol squats, various core exercises (planks, hollow body holds, etc), and once you get stronger - muscleups, handstands, and other more advanced movements - will all set you up for success. Again, I don't know your particular situation so some of these things might not be appropriate for you. Always consult with a qualified professional before starting or changing any exercise program to ensure you get the best results and that you don't hurt yourself.
I have a question about reserve maritime law enforcement reserves. Can I go straght to maritime enforcement, or would I need a primary MOS before i can go into maritime enforcement.
Hey Orionteam11. Thank you for reaching out. Before I answer your direct question, I just want to bring to your attention that in the Coast Guard career paths are referred to as "ratings", not "military occupational specialities" (MOS) - that's the Marine Corps. It means the same thing, but you should know that what they are called in CG vernacular. To answer your question, a Maritime Enforcement Specialist is a primary rating for an enlisted Coastie. Read more here: www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/enlisted-opportunities/enlisted-ratings-descriptions/maritime-enforcement-specialist-(me)
Haha! That's too funny. I heard that from a lot of people...where they'd try to mess with you by asking you what the 12th general order is...never happened to me but my CC's found plenty of other ways to mess with us.
Can you bring information with you to bootcamp? I'm an army guy going to hopefully go to DEPOT and was wondering if i can bring any information with me?
Great question. You can only bring the Helmsman and the Recruit Pocket Training Guide. Any other material you'll be forced to pack in your bag and you won't be able to access it until after you graduate or leave by other means. So basically, you'll have access to it up through the bus ride to Cape May and then it's bye-bye. It's also a great way to attract attention to yourself so I wouldn't recommend it. If anything, just write notes to yourself on the Recruit Pocket Training Guide or staple a small page (the same size as the other pages) with notes to it.
The Coast Guard isn't the only service you have to know this. All recruits need to know it in boot camp. Shaved also. After boot camp it is alo helpfull to know other service member ranks, especilly if you are stationed at a military base with other members stationed on the base. Some bases train other military. General orders are common for other services.
I took adhd medicine in 2013, I had to give my recruiter a letter from my doctor saying im am good to go, do you think I will be okay? I will be devastated if they turn me down for medicine I took 2 years ago.
Jaquan Floyd I wish I could say one way or another, but my opinion doesn't matter. Only your recruiter will be able to tell you that. I wish you the best of luck. For what it's worth, I think you should be able to make it in, but again, only your recruiter will be able to determine that.
USCGBootCamp I got turned down, fuck it, time to start applying for colleges I guess. All I ever wanted to do was have one of the most dangerous jobs I the military, now ill be stuck in a office
Jaquan Floyd I'm sorry to hear that. The Coast Guard is arguably the most difficult branch to get into (outside of special ops for all the branches). It's a tiny service with very limited slots opening up every year and a HIGH demand for those slots. That means that any little thing that doesn't make you "perfect" can be used to disqualify you. There are now enough "flawless" candidates that pretty soon being ugly might disqualify you...haha...no, but seriously, it is VERY competitive. With that said, I encourage you to pursue something else in life that might be a good fit for your personality. You aren't destined to be "stuck in an office". Do some thinking about what type of activities excite you and then find some careers that match those interests. Good luck! I wish you the best.
Hey I am relatively young so I am 15 years old. I have always wanted to be a coast guard. So my question is can you start at 17? If not when? And also people say why do you want to be a coast guard so I can defended the people of our country. Any good tips for pre boot camp? Like a younger kid/teen?
Gregory Young - I love your enthusiasm. In order to join the Coast Guard, you must not only meet qualification criteria, but also meet a whole person evaluation. You must sincerely desire to serve your country and develop your leadership and professional potential.The qualification criteria include:You must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien.You must be between the ages of 17-27, (prior service up to age 29 and up to age 32 if attending an 'A' school) for Active Duty. (If you are 17, you'll need parental consent.)Reservists must be between ages 17-39. Prior service personnel should contact their local recruiter for specific programs.You must have a high school diploma. GEDs are accepted in rare circumstances.You can have no more than two dependents.
Gregory Young - I would also look into this: The Coast Guard currently has two JROTC programs.The Claude Pepper Junior Leadership Pilot Program (CPJLPP) was created at the Maritime and Science Technology Academy (MAST) located in Miami, Fl. The CPJLPP was created December 1989 with the passing of Pub. L. 101-225, title II, Sec. 204. This congressional mandate formed the CPJLPP which was modeled off of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) units of other Services. MAST has evolved from a Trade School to a "Top 100," nationally recognized high school with over 95% of its student body college bound immediately after graduation. The huge minority base of the student population routinely receives scholarships to prestigious colleges and universities. The curriculum provides the students a challenging environment in which to learn.Camden County/CamTech High School (CCHS) Junior Leadership Program in Camden County, NC (just outside Elizabeth City, NC). The Junior Reserve Officer Training Pilot Program (JROTPP), now referred to as the Junior Leadership Program (JLP) was created at the Camden County High School (CCHS) on 19 April 2010 in following the legislation in Pub. L. 109-241, title IV, Sec. 401. This congressional mandate formed the JLP which was modeled off of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) units of other Services. The JLP is broken up into two semesters and each student takes JLP classes for one semester a school year. During their "off" semester, the students are expected to participate in calisthenics, drill and extra-curricular activities. CCHS has had the highest rate of graduation in the local Elizabeth City, N.C. area.Both JROTC programs educate high school students on leadership, citizenship, nautical science, close order drill and general military knowledge.
I leave for Coast Guard boot camp soon, hypothetically if I didn't memorize any of this stuff before I get there how screwed would I be? I am studying and plan to know all of this, but I am just curious
+clidelivingston - Hey Clide! It's not really "hypothetically", but more realistically, you'd be very screwed - particularly with Rates and Ranks + 11 General Orders. You could get away with learning the Chain of Command once there, but why would you want to? There will be so much other information thrown at you and you won't be sleeping very much to process it all, so there really is no good reason to not learn it now. I'm happy that you are taking your preparation seriously. Coast Guard Boot Camp keeps getting more and more competitive which means that someone that may have squeezed through in the past won't be able to now. Don't try to squeeze through. Plan on excelling. It begins with your state of mind and your preparation beforehand. Waiting until you get there is almost a surefire way to get reverted or even sent home if you don't adapt fast enough.
Do you have any tips for memorizing all this stuff? I go to boot camp April 5th, and I go to have my pt and required knowledge test with my recruiter March 3rd. I'm looking at the helmsman confused as fuck, I feel like I'm going to get roasted at bootcamp
+ImReadyD151 - April 5th is about 2 months away. 2 months is how long you'll be in boot camp so if you take your preparation seriously for these 2 months, the 2 months that you are there will be a lot more bearable. You WILL get roasted if you just "show up". As for tips, I cover a lot of that in the Survival Guide, BUT what I can tell you in a general sense is to break it up into chunks. It's A LOT of information and I know staring at it all can be overwhelming so create a lesson plan where you will commit to memorizing chunks at a time. For the GO's it's just repetition. Read. Say it out loud. Read it again. Read half the sentence. Read the full sentence. Repeat. Do a set of 30 pushups and immediately say it out loud. Keep focusing on GO #1 over and over again until it's embedded in your brain. Then move on to GO #2. Every 3rd or 4th time of repeating GO #2, start by saying GO #1 first. Keep doing it over and over until both are cemented in your brain. Then move on to #3. You get the idea. For the Rates and Ranks, just watch my video on it and use it to study. For Chain of Command, check out this page and scroll to the bottom: www.survivecoastguardbootcamp.com/required-knowledge-what-they-dont-tell-you.html I hope that helps.
Hey Thad, Unfortunately I don't have that information. That varies from year to year. Your best bet on that one is to ask your recruiter. They will have the most up-to-date info as far as that goes. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
USCGBootCamp hey my brothers in the airforce he says its almost like a civilian job he works 8-5 then have the rest of the day to himself to workout or schooling, would that be the same for the coast guard? thks
In a sense you are correct. Like any job, it's going to have its unique qualities, culture, norms, etc. Working at Bank of America is not going to be the same as working for Raytheon. Heck, working for the Marines isn't the same as working for the Air Force. Also, the job you do also plays a huge role in what your day-to-day is like. A mechanic in any branch will probably have more in common with another mechanic from another branch than a medic from the branch they are in. The REALLY big difference between military vs. civilian jobs is that in the civilian world, if you don't feel like doing something, you can always say no and quit. In the military, you cannot quit. Everything is based on the needs of the service and you agree to that when you sign up. If you work for McDonalds and they want to relocate you to Alaska you can say "I'm sorry, but that's not for me. Thank you for your time, but I'm leaving.". If you are in the service, it's either you go to Alaska or you face some sort of bad consequence - dishonorable discharge or worse, jail. I hope that helps.
so it depends on the job? nd lol dnt worry about that i wanna go overseas or just travel so dats not a problem the problem is is it like a job when you could have weekends or other hours to yourself or you always have to be on the ship u live and die by the ship 24/7? thks
It depends on your job and the needs of the service. A recruiter for example, resembles more of a civilian 9-5 job, whereas a search and rescue operator has to be on call at all times. If someone is drowning out at sea and you're needed to save a life...that can happen anytime. I hope you see what I'm getting at. It really depends on the job, but again, the main difference is that in the civilian world, if you don't like something, you can quit. You can't do that when you are in the service.
So my friends want to have a shave party for me before I ship out. Do you know if company commanders will give me a hard time for showing up to bootcamp already shaven or does it not matter? Thanks in advance!
Hey Aaron! Great question. Quite the contrary. They will appreciate you showing up already clean shaven. Of course they aren't going to show you any sort of appreciation outwardly but you'll score brownie points in their heads. The more squared away you are when you get there the better for you.
+Random Mayhem Female PFT Standards are: 15 push-ups in 60 seconds. 32 sit-ups in 60 seconds. Run 1.5 miles in under 15:26. Sit and Reach 19.29". Complete a swim circuit. Tread water for 5 minutes. Jump off a 5-foot platform and swim 100 meters. These are the MINIMUM passing numbers. If you show up doing the minimum you might as well not show up though because there is a high chance you will survive. You need to be putting up numbers that are above and beyond these.
TheyCallMeJSmaz Great question. Well that depends on a few things. First of all, if you learn how to speak and respond correctly, you will know that if you make a mistake but immediately follow it up with "Belay my last" and start your answer over again (and get it right on the second try), then you might be okay for that round of questioning. If you don't belay your last, or if you're simply quiet, or if you say "I don't know" (TIP: NEVER say "I don't know" - It's always better to try to give an answer to the best of your ability than to say "I don't know".) then you will get verbally harassed, chewed out, etc. You will also be told to fill out a performance tracker. Depending on how many mistakes you make in a given interaction, you can be given multiple performance trackers. These not only go in your file, but in the evening when it's time for IT (incentive training), you will get your butt kicked. The more trackers you accumulate throughout the day, the harder your butt will be kicked in the evening. If you get too many, you can be sent to R.A.M.P. - you don't want to go to R.A.M.P. GET READY NOW so that this doesn't happen to you. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
I know I am replying to an old question, but if you are never able give the correct answer verbatim, would you be reverted? Let's say you 'know' the first general order but can't quote it from the book?
It depends on the environment. When you are in the classroom learning environment, then yes, you can sometimes take notes. Key word being 'sometimes'. If you are in any other environment then no. For example, at some point early on your CC's will introduce you to some basic commands that they will call out while you are marching. They will demonstrate what you should do when they make those commands and how you should respond. There will be no place for you to take notes. You'll just have to absorb the information and apply it. On the flip side, you might find yourself in a classroom learning about different types of ships/boats that the USCG uses. There you can take notes. With that said, you have to keep in mind that even the classroom stuff will mostly be very hands on and you will learn by doing more so than taking notes. For example when you have knot tying class or when you are learning how to put out a fire. You'll get demos and explanations and then you'll just have to do it. No note-taking there. I would say that most of USCG Boot Camp is like this - more so than note taking and studying in the traditional sense. You will at some point take classroom style test though. We had a mid-term and a final. They gave us ample time to study for it though so you should be okay. I hope that helps.
USCGBootCamp thanks, good info. My memory sucks so I take notes, repeat details in my head, and study later. I'm a 39 year old paramedic hoping to get into the USCG reserves. I take a lot of notes at work. Having to study and teach has lead me to rely on notes and mental rehearsal. If I get in I'll probably check out your study material.
Haha...If I had a dollar for every ambitious rescue swimmer that contacts me. Not that there's anything wrong with that. You should always follow your goals, but just realize that becoming a rescue swimmer is just as difficult as become a Navy SEAL or a Marine Recon or an Army Ranger, etc. You don't pick your job after you graduate, you pick it before you even ship out to Cape May. It's something you will do with your recruiter. However, you can't just show up and say you want to be a rescue swimmer. You will need to qualify and it's not easy to qualify. Your best bet is to speak with your recruiter about the process. He or she will also be able to tell you if you meet the barebones requirements, and point you in the right direction. You will also have to take the ASVAB first because you will need to get certain minimum scores to qualify. Again, your recruiter is the best bet.
thanks man. And I know how difficult it is but whatever it takes to save lives thanks for replying ? I love your vids...... one more question on a level of 1 to 10 how hard is regular uscg bootcamp
seadoos1 No worries. I'm glad you find the vids helpful. I also think you have a great attitude and that you want to do it for the right reasons. That will help you a lot. Being selected for Rescue Swimmer is difficult but what separates you from the pack is your character and you seem to be on the right track. As for difficulty - it's relative. There were people in my company who thought it was the hardest thing in the world and would give it a 10. For me personally, I would give it a 6.5 - 7.5. The sleep deprivation and lack of adequate calories was the hardest thing for me. The physical part was easy. At times it was actually boring (the physical part). I actually got out of shape from being there, but again - it's relative. I think as long as you go in prepared you'll be fine.
Harold Tavarez Yes you do. That's why I go over this stuff with you guys because no one told me before I went. If I knew ahead of time, my life would've been 10x easier at Cape May. They purposely don't give you that info because they don't want you to know everything before you show up and while it's impossible for me to tell you "everything", I definitely do my best to give you as much info as possible to make those 8 weeks a bit more bearable.
Harold Tavarez All the info for Rates and Ranks is in this video I made for everyone to use as a study guide: Coast Guard Rates and Ranks Video Study Guide (if you look through this channel, you'll find other useful videos I made to help you get ready for Coast Guard Boot Camp).
Harold Tavarez Yes, you have to know both nautical terms and also how to speak and respond correctly. Most of the nautical terms are in the Helmsman and all the CC's will be using them constantly and talking that way so you'll pick up on it pretty quickly. As with everything else though, I would try to learn them all ahead of time because there is SO MUCH to learn when you get there. As for the proper way to speak and respond (and some of the missing nautical terms that aren't in the Helmsman), I cover all that in the Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide (CHAPTER ZERO FIVE: Nautical Terminology and Military / Cape May Slang & CHAPTER ZERO SIX: Learning a New Language (Step-by-Step Guide on Responding Correctly).
***** Hey Hunter, congratulations on getting your ship-out date. That's awesome news. As for your question - it's a really good one and it has already been asked. Please look through the comments thread and you'll see that it's already been answered. Good luck! You can do it! Semper Paratus.
***** I ship May 12th. i memorized them by sitting down and writing each order out as many times it took to fill up my notebook paper. i did 3 orders a night and it took up about an hours worth of my time so 20mins per order
Manny Pedroso I'm not sure what you mean by "PQS", BUT I will tell you this much - when you are in USCG Boot Camp, when they tell you to do something very specifically, and it's ALWAYS VERY SPECIFICALLY, you need to do it EXACTLY how you are told. There is no room for error or doing anything your own way. Please define what you mean by "PQS" and perhaps I can be more specific, but in a general sense - that is your answer (it's always exactly how they tell you).
they messed with us in the Navy, asking us what's your 12th general order? (there's only 11 general orders) the ans. was to know the first 11 general orders.
Bri G. Haha...that's too funny. Yeah, they definitely like to mess with you in boot camp - doesn't matter which branch it is. The worst part is not being able to laugh even though you want to.
carl fleurant During basic training all recruits go through basic arms training. It's no longer done with live ammunition though. It's basically a video game, but the guns you use feel very real and they have these high pressure air pumps so every time you shoot at the screen you get a recoil feeling as if you were using a real gun. Though not quite like the real thing, it's a pretty cool simulation. As for when you're out in the fleet - that depends on your job. A yeoman has no need to carry a gun so no, not everyone has a gun on them after graduation.
USCGBootCamp thank you. can you only choose one rating in the coast guard? like i wanna go for information system technician, but i also like the ME and the GM. can i choose to do something else after i'm done with the IST training?
carl fleurant Hey Carl. Unfortunately you can't have two jobs at the same time. Once you go to A-school to learn your job, that's your job. You can possibly go to other schools (C-school, etc) to learn other skills to get better at your job, but you can't have two jobs at the same time. You can request to switch your rating - not the easiest thing to do, but not impossible - but you can only have one rating at a time. Also, some jobs have long wait list times for their A-schools, but in my opinion it's worth it to wait to do what you want to do. You can go FS and be sent to A-school almost right away, but if you don't want to do FS, then why would you do that? Choose wisely.
+Random Mayhem - They are more tolerant of ink these days, BUT I would keep a few things in mind: #1: If you can wait, just wait. #2: If you can't wait, don't get it in a place that can't be covered up in an interview. #3: Don't get anything inappropriate. You can actually look at photos from Cape May and see Company Commanders who are tatted up but they are already in the Coast Guard and have proven themselves. You are a nobody off the street so you will be scrutinized a lot more. Like I said, the best thing to do is wait, but if you want to get it now, make it appropriate and not highly visible. If you want to read the OFFICIAL Policy go here: www.uscg.mil/hr/cgpc/psd/fs/docs/Tattoo/Updated%20Tattoo%20Policy.pdf
+Random Mayhem - Read the document in the link I provided. It's straight from the horse's mouth. It doesn't get any more straight-forward or official than that.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
Another thing that worked well for me was writing the 11 GOs over and over and over again until I knew them. I started out copying them and would quiz myself writing them without looking and then have my wife quiz me saying them.
I went through bootcamp twice essentially. It was about 9 years ago but I still have most of the memories...I started in Gulf 172, blew out my right knee and had surgery in week 4, waited in Cape May for about 2 months while I recovered, and then was sent back to Sexton Hall to join a new company, Echo 173 when they showed up on a tuesday night... Needless to say the guy is correct in the information you should know, mostly the rate and ranks because as a civilian you really have no clue unless you have been around military before.
Also I recommend memorizing your required knowledge, you WILL be quizzed on this information throughout bootcamp. I didn't do any of this before bootcamp and I paid for it during my time.
Good luck to all-
One day I found myself in the dreaded situation of walking around the base alone. This was a first for me, I had always been in formation. Anyway, I'm walking back to the barracks and I see this guy walking my way...oh crap! So as he gets closer I see his collar...and all I can see is a propeller. I'm thinking...what the hell is a propeller? Finally when he has just about passed me I see his other collar....WARRANT OFFICER! I throw a salute and a "Good morning Sir!" he just says "A little late aren't you?" LOL Warrant Officers...I hated Warrant Officers because unlike Academy Officers, they know what you should know! LOL
Nick Wilson Haha...ain't that the truth! Great story. Thank you for sharing. Definitely made me smile and gave me a flashback of my own when I found myself walking around the base alone going from a medical appointment. I was nervous as hell and praying no one would stop me. Luckily no one did - that time.
I'd have to say the 11 general orders will be the hardest for me. I've looked, read, reread, and more for all of them, but not only do I miss words but after a while they all sound the same so I can distinguish one from the other.
Boot camp must have changed quite a lot since I was there. We never had to put that much emphasis on identifying rank.
Larry Longneck Hey Larry, I'm not sure when you went in, but my theory is that at some point the ins and outs of USCG Boot Camp became "Marine Corps-ized". Many of the customs, sayings, and other things at Cape May are borrowed directly from the Marines. Granted the two have a close historical relationship, but I really think that at some point they decided to do an overhaul based on USMC boot - including heavy emphasis on identifying rates and ranks. Many of the CC's at Cape May are also former Marines. My lead CC was a Jarhead for 10 years (and you could tell - in a good way). I could be completely wrong of course, but either way, the emphasis on rates and ranks is VERY important and should definitely be learned ahead of time. I have a video on this channel going over all of them so there should really be no excuse.
USCGBootCamp
I was in Alameda, CA in 1975. PT is something else that, at that time, was mild compared to what I see now. But I don't know if the training differed any from Cape May either.
The general orders is definitely what got me just because it was the first thing that was required to know I guess. What I did was keep writing it in my notebook until I got it
I ship out for BC on dec 15. My Chief Recruiter. said that if you don't know the general information listed in the pocket guide and helmans, that they can delay your ship date. not only is that important but your fitness is also. There was a guy who shipped off few months b4 me and only survived a week due to not passing the 1.5 mile run by 1:30.
+king dino ling - All very true. Things have gotten even more stringent since I went through Cape May - which isn't that long ago - so everyone who's getting ready needs to be on their game way beforehand like you said. You need to show up with the complete package. Mentally prepared and physically prepared. If you have holes in your preparation you will probably end up getting sent home.
I just got out of CG Bootcamp and at minute 4:23 of this video your example of being asked something and responding with "I request to inform you" is wrong. You request to inform unsolicited information, if asked, you reply as "Petty Officer YOU, Seaman recruit ME, the shoulder board for an Oscar 4 is blah, blah blah"
jay23cr You are absolutely right! At the time I made this video, that was still the correct way of speaking at Cape May. That is how my company and all other companies at USCG Boot Camp had to speak. This has since changed and those changes have been made in the actual Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide in the Chapter on how to speak and respond appropriately. Anyone that purchases a copy of my book will have the correct info. I will eventually make an updated video addressing this, and some other changes that have taken place since this video was made.
Thank you again for your input and congratulations on finishing Coast Guard Boot Camp!
I'm in the USCG program in MAST Academy
Jackson Teller how is it there? I was gonna go but now I'm doing the Navy program at another school
Mike Company 140 in 92'. YOU NEED TO BE LOCKED DOWN ON YOUR GENERAL ORDERS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. WINNING THE WHITE PENNANT FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS IS A MUST FOR EVERY COMPANY. DO NOT BE THE BOOT THAT FAILS YOUR SHIPMATES.
Got some great updates on USCG Boot Camp this morning from a successfully graduated recruit. Thank You! The BIGGEST change I learned is that apparently they are no longer having recruits say "I request to inform you + whatever they want to say". I was just told that recruits are being yelled at for saying that so if you're reading the book and are on Chapter 6, please ignore that particular item. I will try to find out what it is they are having recruits say instead now and will make the update.
Thad,
I just received my MST a school orders after three years of being in. It took me, once on the list, a little over 2.5 years to get orders.
Well wish i had some of the info when i went to Cape May, where the national bird is the mosquito, But good videos. I was in the CG back in the 80's. Thanks for bringing back the memories. LOL Semper Paratus!
I thought Boot Camp was OJT. It was at Government Island April 1967, B-57(Old Guard)
(uniform 141), I was reverted a week for sarcasm... I would add sarcasm to the list of things not to arrive at Cape May with, CC's love that in a sick way. (Anyone remember CC Horky around the 1992 timeframe?) He dropped me every chance he got, it would be great to see him again.
Unless you have had to retrieve a piece of your firearm (M1 Garand) from the BA because you were >6ft from your locker, you have not experienced the sense of humor that these fine men have. I spent 7 years as a BM on a 378', and small boat station doing SAR and LE as Certified/Qualified BO and CGDT Instructor.
YOU WILL GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE COAST GUARD THAT YOU PUT IN AND MORE, MAN UP AND JOIN IF YOU ARE ABLE, YOU WONT REGRET IT...
Thanks for sharing r0adraycer!
Shipping out December 13th!
AWESOME! I hope you are prepared physically and mentally. Make sure you know your 11 GO's, Rates and Ranks, and Chain of Command by heart. If someone woke you up in the middle of the night from deep sleep and asked you for your 4th General Order, you should be able to recite it perfectly with no hesitation. If you can do that with the Required Knowledge then you are well on your way. Good luck and let me know if I can be of any help to you.
Yes sir I've been studying and running.
Great Question. I don't really have an answer. My guess would be because WO's don't actually go through any sort of basic training process to be designated a WO. It's based on the fact that they've achieved the level of being an expert in their field, have been with the CG minimum 8yrs (E-6+) & don't have the opportunity to become a Commissioned Officer because they don't have a college degree. CO's are 0-1 @ OCS & become 0-2 upon graduating. No "WO Boot Camp", so skip right to W-2? Pure guess.
March 31st and I'm off to Cape May. Semper Paratus!!
Sam Hillman Semper Paratus shipmate! Good luck to you.
see you there ill be there 4/14/2014
USCGBootCamp I'm only 14 and 4 years away from B.M.T, this will help me very well in 2018, thank you.
TheTexan98 - No problem. That's my goal. Have every new recruit who shows up on Day 01 be ready to withstand whatever is thrown at them. Start training now so when it's your time, you'll be like Superman.
In 1980 we also had "knot of the day." One day the nautical term of the day was "knot." When asked the nautical term, I answered, Sir, knot, sir. "No! Not the knot. I asked for the nautical term. Give me 20." Sometimes you'll never have the right answer.
+J Babb - Ha! I agree. I think CC's will sometimes find a way to mess with you here and there just because. I remember when I received my shaving chit, my CC's started yelling at me about not being shaved and when I tried to respond (completely correctly and according to protocol) they wouldn't let me finish and kept screaming and cutting me off. I tried several times and finally they just hit me with a performance tracker. I didn't do anything wrong but like you said - sometimes you'll never have the right answer. My CC's definitely had a lot of respect for me - and vice versa - and the incident I just described happened to me fairly early on. Before they determined that I was a squared away recruit.
updated...As of this year you will no longer even be allowed to ship out to boot camp if you don`t know your info they now test you before you leave and if you dont know it they reschedule you till you do.
Woah! Seriously? I mean it makes sense.
Izzy Lebasi
Updated again....that was just somthing my recruiter told me to force me to study and know everything before going to cap may. The section commanders at cape may where actually upset with my office because we basically knew too much.
Izzy Lebasi
The hardest part is when youre actually in and need to get quals in order to go to A School.
BLAZE45 that’s not true for me. I ship out in 3 days and I’m not taking a test
Great detail, enjoyed the video a lot. Thank you.
Zephyr Mika - Anytime. Glad you liked it. Check out the latest video I posted if you have a moment. Share it per the instructions in the comments and you can win a FREE copy of the best-selling Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide. Good luck to you in your preparation.
Oscar/Charlie 98 Alameda 1974
+Rick Davis Thank you for your service.
+USCGBootCamp And to you for yours.
Great video. Thanks so helpful
Forgot to mention...The Old Guard...July 1969...Government Island, California!
Echo 70 July 1969. Shipped out to SupDep Ketchikan...Only 197 inches of rain that year! My duty was One and Seven, then off to Juneau, Dist. Office...My Nicname was Rackets! No duty for six months and when I got tired of making beds and cooking Coffee, It was off to TRA/CEN Governors Island to SK-A School, and finished off my enlistment stationed at Base New York Public Works Div.
Now you know why they call us Old Salts! Oh! Did I forget that Paprika was too hard to spell?
So... it's would be said 01 half inch gold band below 01 quarter inch gold band below 01 half inch gold band. DONT REQUEST TO KNOW IF THEY ASKED YOU A QUESTION.
Yes. At the time I made this video they were still doing the 'I request to know...' thing at Cape May, but that is no longer the case. There are a few things that are outdated in this video (but I update everything in the Survival Guide) and that's one of them. Thanks for your comment.
Are you still in? Just curious
Nope. Just helping future recruits at this point.
What rate where you?
I went in for BM.
Just remember....Your Mother left you at the airport, and that is all you need to know! And today's Boot Camp is a bunch of hollering and screaming, because they can't touch you or call you any derogatory names! While I was at Boot Camp in 1969, we had one recruit die of a perforated stomach ulcer, and one got tossed through three racks when caught sitting on his rack...His broken arm was better in a couple weeks!
You NEVER walk if by yourself! YOU RUN! You march if three or more are together! I screwed up just once! I was commanded to appear in front of a Petty Officer from another Company, at the top of his lungs, and was summarily dressed down for walking, and while being lifted completely off the ground by his right arm and being pounded on the chin by the knuckles of his other hand...He descriptive utterances about just how worthless I was, and other colloquialisms were being leveled at me for not following protocol, and being stupid on that particular day while getting back to the barracks by my self, and not running. I ended up doing about 150 pushups for that small infraction. That was fun! Terrifying...But Fun!
Petty Officer Humberg SK3
1969-1978 Vietnam Era
Disabled Veteran
DUTY MORMON! Ha Ha!
They changed the format of answering questions recently, you no longer say "I request to inform you" if they prompt a question
They'll say "you don't need to request to inform me of shit, I asked you the question"
Also did you have PO Allen? That guy is hilarious, coolest CC on the base
Mike Mahoney Hey Mike - Thanks for that. I'm aware of that as well. I updated the Survival Guide to reflect that. I need to make a new video soon to let recruits know of the new speaking terminology though. I've just been busy. No I didn't have PO Allen. Of my three CC's, PO Ross was the resident comedian. He used to say the most ridiculous things. It was really hard not to laugh.
Holy Shit Camp Consoler, when I went through in 1981, they could hit you, sleep deprive you, and PT you to death...without any videos to prep you..God Bless America..we've gone viral instead of crack a book and working out.
+Jack Sparrow In 1978, they would march your ass into Alameda bay in November with your seabag fully loaded to let your company "think" on what they did wrong. The water was probably in the 40's? I don't remember having to know the detailed bullshit about half inch stripes etc. If I did, it is long forgotten.
Sleep deprivation was daily, and PT was every time we crossed some line in the quad. So glad I was young then. I would tell them to F off now :)
Oscar Alfa 122, 1978
Chris - Do your best because you can't mess up words. You'll get screamed at and you'll have to fill out performance trackers (punishment later). Here's my tip on memorizing the 11 GO's: Don't try to memorize all of them in 1 day. Repeat #1 over & over in your head until you have it perfectly memorized. Then start repeating #2 in the same way, but every 3rd/4th time, say #1 first and then repeat #2. Then just keep adding on in the same way. Once you have 1&2 down, start on #3. You can do it man.
Another question is I ship out in march to basic could you explain how jobs work in the coast guard just to clarify it for my relatives? Because it obviously different than other branches. And explain that first year after basic when it comes to jobs and training
Hey David - As far as jobs go, you pick your job from what's available with your recruiter before you shit out to Cape May - or at least that's the way it worked when I went last year. My recruiter gave me options and I chose BM from what was available. After you graduate Basic, you get assigned to a station, but you don't officially do your job yet because you haven't been properly trained. That's what A-School is for. The wait list for a lot of A-schools is pretty ridiculous at this point. The popular jobs have wait lists that can stretch out through almost your entire initial 4-year enlistment. For most you will have to wait at least a year. Folks who go in the Reserves actually tend to get moved up the wait list faster and IF they are lucky will only wait a few months. While you are waiting to go to A-School you are basically like a Coast Guard "intern" for lack of a better description. You still work and everything, but not in the same capacity necessarily as after you graduate from A-School. Also, depending on your job, you can go to further training even after A-School which will provide you with further knowledge and qualifications. That's a general overview. I hope that helps.
Should we know anything in particular about the USCG Boats, Cutters, and Aircraft?
Hey Trevor. Great question. The answer is yes and no. Yes in the sense that you will have to know it for classroom exams, but no in the sense that you will not be quizzed on it on the daily by your CC's. Also, no in the sense that there's really not much need for you to learn it ahead of time. There are so many other WAY more important things to learn before you ship out (i.e. - the stuff I cover in the Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide). Don't worry about this now. You'll learn it in class, and again, it's not information that you are quizzed on by your CC's during the day. No one's walking around the regiment with a picture book of boats going "Hey Recruit, what boat is this?"...Let me know if you have any other questions.
ha. Alright great. Thanks again, this page has been a lot of help.
W-1 and W-5 don't exist in the Coast Guard because they are not needed; only W-2, W-3 & W-4. The army and navy have W-1-W-5
Navy does not have W-1 anymore. It is now from W-2 to W-5 for Chief Warrant Officers. Oh, and the Navy Flying CWO program does not exist anymore as of last year.
Reiji Minato Didn't know that. Thank you Reiji!
+USCGBootCamp You mentioned earlier in your comments that recruits no longer say "I request to inform you + whatever they want to say". Do you know how they are supposed to respond now? Also, I am strongly considering purchasing your book, and I was wondering if chapter 6 has been updated?
Daniel Rolph Thanks for reaching out. Great question. I appreciate your attention to detail - it will get you far when you get to Cape May. In terms of your question, the answer is yes, BUT the update doesn't take the item out. I simply put an asterik next to it and added this footnote:
***I have been told by a recent Cape May returnee that they are no longer having recruits say “I request to inform you...” (item #2 above). It’s very likely that the training center staff have seen my youtube videos and probably decided to switch it up on recruits. Be careful with this one and be prepared for it to no longer be valid. The rest should be fine.***
The returnee that I referenced in the footnote told me that the formula works the same way, they have simply taken out the "I request" part. So using the example from the video, it would look like this instead:
Petty Officer Allen: PIERCE!
Seaman Recruit Pierce: Pierce I, Petty Officer Allen!
Petty Officer Allen: Pierce, what is the title of an Echo Seven (E-7) pay grade?
Seaman Recruit Pierce: Petty Officer Allen, Seaman Recruit Pierce, the title of an Echo Seven is Chief Petty Officer.
Petty Officer Allen: What does the shoulder board insignia of a Chief Petty Officer look like?
Seaman Recruit Pierce: Petty Officer Allen, Seaman Recruit Pierce, the shoulder board insignia of a Chief Petty Officer looks like ZERO THREE gold chevrons, a rating designator, ZERO ONE gold rocker, and a white eagle / crow* on top.
Petty Officer Allen: Very well, go away.
In my opinion, I think you should memorize it the way it's written above and if you see that the "I request" is still being used, then simply make the adjustment. Based on recent feedback I've received from 3 recruits (now Seaman) who have written me thanking me for my help, everything else seems to be the same as when I went through Cape May. I like to keep everything up to date for future recruits and recent graduates help a lot with that. Luckily, there hasn't been many big changes from what's in the book and what people have experienced. Everyone's experience will of course be slightly different, but the meat and potatoes of it will be mostly the same.
Just as an example, the author of the below blog posted about USCG Boot Camp in 2012:
dschmitty.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/boot-camp-at-a-glance-pt-2/
If you read that post, and scroll down to the 9th block of text, you'll notice that this author is also advising to go with the "I request to". When reading that entire post, the experience was very close (though not exactly the same) to mine. This is why I'm saying to learn it without saying "I request to" BUT to also keep it in the back of your head in case you need to make an on the spot adjustment.
Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
Hey, Im currently 15 years old and I am asking, If I am to pass the expectations of my physical ability, Would there be any daily routines/exercises that would help me in the future? Like things that I can do ate my age right now that would benefit me. Thanks for feedback or sudjestions and feel free to answer my question having to do with buying things (if beneficial).
+Michael Jaxon - Hi Michael! Happy New Year. Thanks for reaching out. It's always nice to see motivated young people who are already seeking out information. It's tough for me to give you specific advice without knowing anything about you besides the fact that you are 15 years old. With that said, in a general sense, I would begin following an exercise program that incorporates calisthenics, running, swimming, and mobility into your routine (if appropriate for your situation). Some form of activity 4-5 days per week that incorporates the aforementioned elements will start building a solid foundation so that as you get closer to going to MEPS, taking your ASVAB, etc, you will be in a good place (physically at least). Pullups, pushups, squats, pistol squats, various core exercises (planks, hollow body holds, etc), and once you get stronger - muscleups, handstands, and other more advanced movements - will all set you up for success. Again, I don't know your particular situation so some of these things might not be appropriate for you. Always consult with a qualified professional before starting or changing any exercise program to ensure you get the best results and that you don't hurt yourself.
I have a question about reserve maritime law enforcement reserves. Can I go straght to maritime enforcement, or would I need a primary MOS before i can go into maritime enforcement.
Hey Orionteam11. Thank you for reaching out. Before I answer your direct question, I just want to bring to your attention that in the Coast Guard career paths are referred to as "ratings", not "military occupational specialities" (MOS) - that's the Marine Corps. It means the same thing, but you should know that what they are called in CG vernacular. To answer your question, a Maritime Enforcement Specialist is a primary rating for an enlisted Coastie. Read more here: www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/enlisted-opportunities/enlisted-ratings-descriptions/maritime-enforcement-specialist-(me)
Thanks for the clarification. I guess it would look pretty dumb calling up a recruiter and saying MOS. Lol
-Thanks again
***** No worries. Good luck and let me know if you ever need anything else. I'll do my best to help you.
Thank u for the info
Are there anyway ways your recruiter can screw you over when it comes to enlisting in the coast guard?
USMC 1966, 12th general order, " Lock and load, walk your post from flank to flank, take no shit from any rank" 😜😜😜😜😜
Haha! That's too funny. I heard that from a lot of people...where they'd try to mess with you by asking you what the 12th general order is...never happened to me but my CC's found plenty of other ways to mess with us.
Can you bring information with you to bootcamp? I'm an army guy going to hopefully go to DEPOT and was wondering if i can bring any information with me?
Great question. You can only bring the Helmsman and the Recruit Pocket Training Guide. Any other material you'll be forced to pack in your bag and you won't be able to access it until after you graduate or leave by other means. So basically, you'll have access to it up through the bus ride to Cape May and then it's bye-bye. It's also a great way to attract attention to yourself so I wouldn't recommend it. If anything, just write notes to yourself on the Recruit Pocket Training Guide or staple a small page (the same size as the other pages) with notes to it.
The Coast Guard isn't the only service you have to know this. All recruits need to know it in boot camp. Shaved also. After boot camp it is alo helpfull to know other service member ranks, especilly if you are stationed at a military base with other members stationed on the base. Some bases train other military. General orders are common for other services.
Absolutely! Thanks for sharing that. Great point.
I took adhd medicine in 2013, I had to give my recruiter a letter from my doctor saying im am good to go, do you think I will be okay? I will be devastated if they turn me down for medicine I took 2 years ago.
Jaquan Floyd I wish I could say one way or another, but my opinion doesn't matter. Only your recruiter will be able to tell you that. I wish you the best of luck. For what it's worth, I think you should be able to make it in, but again, only your recruiter will be able to determine that.
USCGBootCamp I got turned down, fuck it, time to start applying for colleges I guess. All I ever wanted to do was have one of the most dangerous jobs I the military, now ill be stuck in a office
Jaquan Floyd I'm sorry to hear that. The Coast Guard is arguably the most difficult branch to get into (outside of special ops for all the branches). It's a tiny service with very limited slots opening up every year and a HIGH demand for those slots. That means that any little thing that doesn't make you "perfect" can be used to disqualify you. There are now enough "flawless" candidates that pretty soon being ugly might disqualify you...haha...no, but seriously, it is VERY competitive. With that said, I encourage you to pursue something else in life that might be a good fit for your personality. You aren't destined to be "stuck in an office". Do some thinking about what type of activities excite you and then find some careers that match those interests. Good luck! I wish you the best.
Jaquan Floyd USCGBootCamp I took ADD meds when I was a kid growing up, up until about 9th grade. Im 21 now. Do you think this could disqualify me?
ImReadyD151 They look for whatever they can to wee people out, but your circumstances you sound like A okay
Hey I am relatively young so I am 15 years old. I have always wanted to be a coast guard. So my question is can you start at 17? If not when? And also people say why do you want to be a coast guard so I can defended the people of our country. Any good tips for pre boot camp? Like a younger kid/teen?
Gregory Young - I love your enthusiasm.
In order to join the Coast Guard, you must not only meet qualification criteria, but also meet a whole person evaluation. You must sincerely desire to serve your country and develop your leadership and professional potential.The qualification criteria include:You must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien.You must be between the ages of 17-27, (prior service up to age 29 and up to age 32 if attending an 'A' school) for Active Duty. (If you are 17, you'll need parental consent.)Reservists must be between ages 17-39. Prior service personnel should contact their local recruiter for specific programs.You must have a high school diploma. GEDs are accepted in rare circumstances.You can have no more than two dependents.
Gregory Young - I would also look into this:
The Coast Guard currently has two JROTC programs.The Claude Pepper Junior Leadership Pilot Program (CPJLPP) was created at the Maritime and Science Technology Academy (MAST) located in Miami, Fl. The CPJLPP was created December 1989 with the passing of Pub. L. 101-225, title II, Sec. 204. This congressional mandate formed the CPJLPP which was modeled off of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) units of other Services. MAST has evolved from a Trade School to a "Top 100," nationally recognized high school with over 95% of its student body college bound immediately after graduation. The huge minority base of the student population routinely receives scholarships to prestigious colleges and universities. The curriculum provides the students a challenging environment in which to learn.Camden County/CamTech High School (CCHS) Junior Leadership Program in Camden County, NC (just outside Elizabeth City, NC). The Junior Reserve Officer Training Pilot Program (JROTPP), now referred to as the Junior Leadership Program (JLP) was created at the Camden County High School (CCHS) on 19 April 2010 in following the legislation in Pub. L. 109-241, title IV, Sec. 401. This congressional mandate formed the JLP which was modeled off of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) units of other Services. The JLP is broken up into two semesters and each student takes JLP classes for one semester a school year. During their "off" semester, the students are expected to participate in calisthenics, drill and extra-curricular activities. CCHS has had the highest rate of graduation in the local Elizabeth City, N.C. area.Both JROTC programs educate high school students on leadership, citizenship, nautical science, close order drill and general military knowledge.
How long did you have to wait before you were shipped off to boot camp?
I leave for Coast Guard boot camp soon, hypothetically if I didn't memorize any of this stuff before I get there how screwed would I be? I am studying and plan to know all of this, but I am just curious
+clidelivingston - Hey Clide! It's not really "hypothetically", but more realistically, you'd be very screwed - particularly with Rates and Ranks + 11 General Orders. You could get away with learning the Chain of Command once there, but why would you want to? There will be so much other information thrown at you and you won't be sleeping very much to process it all, so there really is no good reason to not learn it now. I'm happy that you are taking your preparation seriously. Coast Guard Boot Camp keeps getting more and more competitive which means that someone that may have squeezed through in the past won't be able to now. Don't try to squeeze through. Plan on excelling. It begins with your state of mind and your preparation beforehand. Waiting until you get there is almost a surefire way to get reverted or even sent home if you don't adapt fast enough.
Thanks for the response. You have some really good input. I will keep studying.
Do you have any tips for memorizing all this stuff? I go to boot camp April 5th, and I go to have my pt and required knowledge test with my recruiter March 3rd. I'm looking at the helmsman confused as fuck, I feel like I'm going to get roasted at bootcamp
+ImReadyD151 - April 5th is about 2 months away. 2 months is how long you'll be in boot camp so if you take your preparation seriously for these 2 months, the 2 months that you are there will be a lot more bearable. You WILL get roasted if you just "show up". As for tips, I cover a lot of that in the Survival Guide, BUT what I can tell you in a general sense is to break it up into chunks. It's A LOT of information and I know staring at it all can be overwhelming so create a lesson plan where you will commit to memorizing chunks at a time.
For the GO's it's just repetition. Read. Say it out loud. Read it again. Read half the sentence. Read the full sentence. Repeat. Do a set of 30 pushups and immediately say it out loud. Keep focusing on GO #1 over and over again until it's embedded in your brain. Then move on to GO #2. Every 3rd or 4th time of repeating GO #2, start by saying GO #1 first. Keep doing it over and over until both are cemented in your brain. Then move on to #3. You get the idea. For the Rates and Ranks, just watch my video on it and use it to study. For Chain of Command, check out this page and scroll to the bottom:
www.survivecoastguardbootcamp.com/required-knowledge-what-they-dont-tell-you.html
I hope that helps.
+USCGBootCamp can I shoot you an email asking you some more questions?
+ImReadyD151 - Definitely. That's what I'm here for my man. Hit me up. bootcampsuccess@yahoo.com.
+ImReadyD151 We had one week to memorize them, all while in luxurious confines of the boots barracks. You can do it.
How is it now? Are you a USCG?
Hello, I was just wondering if you knew the wait list time for Marine Science Technician
Hey Thad,
Unfortunately I don't have that information. That varies from year to year. Your best bet on that one is to ask your recruiter. They will have the most up-to-date info as far as that goes. Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
USCGBootCamp hey my brothers in the airforce he says its almost like a civilian job he works 8-5 then have the rest of the day to himself to workout or schooling, would that be the same for the coast guard? thks
In a sense you are correct. Like any job, it's going to have its unique qualities, culture, norms, etc. Working at Bank of America is not going to be the same as working for Raytheon. Heck, working for the Marines isn't the same as working for the Air Force. Also, the job you do also plays a huge role in what your day-to-day is like. A mechanic in any branch will probably have more in common with another mechanic from another branch than a medic from the branch they are in. The REALLY big difference between military vs. civilian jobs is that in the civilian world, if you don't feel like doing something, you can always say no and quit. In the military, you cannot quit. Everything is based on the needs of the service and you agree to that when you sign up. If you work for McDonalds and they want to relocate you to Alaska you can say "I'm sorry, but that's not for me. Thank you for your time, but I'm leaving.". If you are in the service, it's either you go to Alaska or you face some sort of bad consequence - dishonorable discharge or worse, jail. I hope that helps.
so it depends on the job? nd lol dnt worry about that i wanna go overseas or just travel so dats not a problem the problem is is it like a job when you could have weekends or other hours to yourself or you always have to be on the ship u live and die by the ship 24/7? thks
It depends on your job and the needs of the service. A recruiter for example, resembles more of a civilian 9-5 job, whereas a search and rescue operator has to be on call at all times. If someone is drowning out at sea and you're needed to save a life...that can happen anytime. I hope you see what I'm getting at. It really depends on the job, but again, the main difference is that in the civilian world, if you don't like something, you can quit. You can't do that when you are in the service.
So my friends want to have a shave party for me before I ship out. Do you know if company commanders will give me a hard time for showing up to bootcamp already shaven or does it not matter? Thanks in advance!
Hey Aaron!
Great question. Quite the contrary. They will appreciate you showing up already clean shaven. Of course they aren't going to show you any sort of appreciation outwardly but you'll score brownie points in their heads. The more squared away you are when you get there the better for you.
how many push ups and sit ups and Other exercise do women have to do in physical fitness?
to pass it
+Random Mayhem Female PFT Standards are:
15 push-ups in 60 seconds. 32 sit-ups in 60 seconds. Run 1.5 miles in under 15:26. Sit and Reach 19.29". Complete a swim circuit. Tread water for 5 minutes. Jump off a 5-foot platform and swim 100 meters. These are the MINIMUM passing numbers. If you show up doing the minimum you might as well not show up though because there is a high chance you will survive. You need to be putting up numbers that are above and beyond these.
What camp did you go to?
+Random Mayhem There is only ONE camp for enlisted personnel. It's in Cape May, New Jersey. Tracen Cape May.
www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/
+USCGBootCamp Tread water for 5 minutes...what? What happened to 60 minutes?
How come there isn't a W-1?
What would happen if you answered the questions wrong or mixed up the rates and insignia
TheyCallMeJSmaz Great question. Well that depends on a few things. First of all, if you learn how to speak and respond correctly, you will know that if you make a mistake but immediately follow it up with "Belay my last" and start your answer over again (and get it right on the second try), then you might be okay for that round of questioning. If you don't belay your last, or if you're simply quiet, or if you say "I don't know" (TIP: NEVER say "I don't know" - It's always better to try to give an answer to the best of your ability than to say "I don't know".) then you will get verbally harassed, chewed out, etc. You will also be told to fill out a performance tracker. Depending on how many mistakes you make in a given interaction, you can be given multiple performance trackers. These not only go in your file, but in the evening when it's time for IT (incentive training), you will get your butt kicked. The more trackers you accumulate throughout the day, the harder your butt will be kicked in the evening. If you get too many, you can be sent to R.A.M.P. - you don't want to go to R.A.M.P. GET READY NOW so that this doesn't happen to you. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
I know I am replying to an old question, but if you are never able give the correct answer verbatim, would you be reverted? Let's say you 'know' the first general order but can't quote it from the book?
Is there any way to take notes when stuff like daily information is given?
It depends on the environment. When you are in the classroom learning environment, then yes, you can sometimes take notes. Key word being 'sometimes'. If you are in any other environment then no. For example, at some point early on your CC's will introduce you to some basic commands that they will call out while you are marching. They will demonstrate what you should do when they make those commands and how you should respond. There will be no place for you to take notes. You'll just have to absorb the information and apply it. On the flip side, you might find yourself in a classroom learning about different types of ships/boats that the USCG uses. There you can take notes. With that said, you have to keep in mind that even the classroom stuff will mostly be very hands on and you will learn by doing more so than taking notes. For example when you have knot tying class or when you are learning how to put out a fire. You'll get demos and explanations and then you'll just have to do it. No note-taking there. I would say that most of USCG Boot Camp is like this - more so than note taking and studying in the traditional sense. You will at some point take classroom style test though. We had a mid-term and a final. They gave us ample time to study for it though so you should be okay. I hope that helps.
USCGBootCamp thanks, good info. My memory sucks so I take notes, repeat details in my head, and study later. I'm a 39 year old paramedic hoping to get into the USCG reserves. I take a lot of notes at work. Having to study and teach has lead me to rely on notes and mental rehearsal. If I get in I'll probably check out your study material.
Sounds good brother. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. Good luck!
after you graduate how do you pick if your job like for example I want to be a rescue swimmer
Haha...If I had a dollar for every ambitious rescue swimmer that contacts me. Not that there's anything wrong with that. You should always follow your goals, but just realize that becoming a rescue swimmer is just as difficult as become a Navy SEAL or a Marine Recon or an Army Ranger, etc. You don't pick your job after you graduate, you pick it before you even ship out to Cape May. It's something you will do with your recruiter. However, you can't just show up and say you want to be a rescue swimmer. You will need to qualify and it's not easy to qualify. Your best bet is to speak with your recruiter about the process. He or she will also be able to tell you if you meet the barebones requirements, and point you in the right direction. You will also have to take the ASVAB first because you will need to get certain minimum scores to qualify. Again, your recruiter is the best bet.
thanks man. And I know how difficult it is but whatever it takes to save lives thanks for replying ? I love your vids...... one more question on a level of 1 to 10 how hard is regular uscg bootcamp
seadoos1 No worries. I'm glad you find the vids helpful. I also think you have a great attitude and that you want to do it for the right reasons. That will help you a lot. Being selected for Rescue Swimmer is difficult but what separates you from the pack is your character and you seem to be on the right track. As for difficulty - it's relative. There were people in my company who thought it was the hardest thing in the world and would give it a 10. For me personally, I would give it a 6.5 - 7.5. The sleep deprivation and lack of adequate calories was the hardest thing for me. The physical part was easy. At times it was actually boring (the physical part). I actually got out of shape from being there, but again - it's relative. I think as long as you go in prepared you'll be fine.
So you have to describe in detail how it looks like? Thats not in my book lol.
Harold Tavarez Yes you do. That's why I go over this stuff with you guys because no one told me before I went. If I knew ahead of time, my life would've been 10x easier at Cape May. They purposely don't give you that info because they don't want you to know everything before you show up and while it's impossible for me to tell you "everything", I definitely do my best to give you as much info as possible to make those 8 weeks a bit more bearable.
I understand. My point is that I know I have to see it and know what it is. But how to describe it is a different story. Measurements? Terms?
Harold Tavarez All the info for Rates and Ranks is in this video I made for everyone to use as a study guide: Coast Guard Rates and Ranks Video Study Guide (if you look through this channel, you'll find other useful videos I made to help you get ready for Coast Guard Boot Camp).
USCGBootCamp I see. Whaf about nautical terms?
Harold Tavarez Yes, you have to know both nautical terms and also how to speak and respond correctly. Most of the nautical terms are in the Helmsman and all the CC's will be using them constantly and talking that way so you'll pick up on it pretty quickly. As with everything else though, I would try to learn them all ahead of time because there is SO MUCH to learn when you get there. As for the proper way to speak and respond (and some of the missing nautical terms that aren't in the Helmsman), I cover all that in the Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide (CHAPTER ZERO FIVE: Nautical Terminology and Military / Cape May Slang & CHAPTER ZERO SIX: Learning a New Language (Step-by-Step Guide on
Responding Correctly).
Im shipping out may 19th, any tips on memorizing the 11 general orders?
***** Hey Hunter, congratulations on getting your ship-out date. That's awesome news. As for your question - it's a really good one and it has already been asked. Please look through the comments thread and you'll see that it's already been answered. Good luck! You can do it!
Semper Paratus.
***** I ship May 12th. i memorized them by sitting down and writing each order out as many times it took to fill up my notebook paper. i did 3 orders a night and it took up about an hours worth of my time so 20mins per order
Hey Noah I emailed you, I had a few questions, I ship on May 19th.
Do PQS answers have to be answered in the EXACT same words are in the manual ?
Manny Pedroso I'm not sure what you mean by "PQS", BUT I will tell you this much - when you are in USCG Boot Camp, when they tell you to do something very specifically, and it's ALWAYS VERY SPECIFICALLY, you need to do it EXACTLY how you are told. There is no room for error or doing anything your own way. Please define what you mean by "PQS" and perhaps I can be more specific, but in a general sense - that is your answer (it's always exactly how they tell you).
they messed with us in the Navy, asking us what's your 12th general order? (there's only 11 general orders) the ans. was to know the first 11 general orders.
Bri G. Haha...that's too funny. Yeah, they definitely like to mess with you in boot camp - doesn't matter which branch it is. The worst part is not being able to laugh even though you want to.
USCGBootCamp does everyone in the coast guard do arm training and carry guns?
carl fleurant During basic training all recruits go through basic arms training. It's no longer done with live ammunition though. It's basically a video game, but the guns you use feel very real and they have these high pressure air pumps so every time you shoot at the screen you get a recoil feeling as if you were using a real gun. Though not quite like the real thing, it's a pretty cool simulation. As for when you're out in the fleet - that depends on your job. A yeoman has no need to carry a gun so no, not everyone has a gun on them after graduation.
USCGBootCamp thank you. can you only choose one rating in the coast guard? like i wanna go for information system technician, but i also like the ME and the GM. can i choose to do something else after i'm done with the IST training?
carl fleurant Hey Carl. Unfortunately you can't have two jobs at the same time. Once you go to A-school to learn your job, that's your job. You can possibly go to other schools (C-school, etc) to learn other skills to get better at your job, but you can't have two jobs at the same time. You can request to switch your rating - not the easiest thing to do, but not impossible - but you can only have one rating at a time. Also, some jobs have long wait list times for their A-schools, but in my opinion it's worth it to wait to do what you want to do. You can go FS and be sent to A-school almost right away, but if you don't want to do FS, then why would you do that? Choose wisely.
are you still in the USCG??
+Philip Padila - Hey Phil! Thanks for reaching out. No, I am not currently serving in the USCG. Have a great day!
Oh ok. Thanks for all the 411. I'm about to go to BC.
shady cypher 2.0!
It was used on the Shady Cypher but the original song is this: East Flatbush Projects - Tried By 12
Nice thanks man
If you get s tatoo before going to boot camp will it be acceptable?
+Random Mayhem - They are more tolerant of ink these days, BUT I would keep a few things in mind:
#1: If you can wait, just wait.
#2: If you can't wait, don't get it in a place that can't be covered up in an interview.
#3: Don't get anything inappropriate.
You can actually look at photos from Cape May and see Company Commanders who are tatted up but they are already in the Coast Guard and have proven themselves. You are a nobody off the street so you will be scrutinized a lot more. Like I said, the best thing to do is wait, but if you want to get it now, make it appropriate and not highly visible. If you want to read the OFFICIAL Policy go here: www.uscg.mil/hr/cgpc/psd/fs/docs/Tattoo/Updated%20Tattoo%20Policy.pdf
Is like the middle of your back, your butt okay?
+Random Mayhem - Read the document in the link I provided. It's straight from the horse's mouth. It doesn't get any more straight-forward or official than that.
USCGBootCamp it doesn't load
USCGBootCamp okay it loaded thanks
Shady 2.0 cypher (;
Yes, the beat was used on the Shady 2.0 cypher BUT real hip-hop heads know that the original is this: East Flatbush Projects - Tried By 12
How did you just say the four things...without moving your lips....holy shit
Mighty MaX Skills. They don't teach you that in boot camp though. That's super secret special skills known only to a few.