As I’m sure regular readers know, I went to Coast Guard Basic Training this past summer, having enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.  Since coming back to MMA, I’ve had quite a few of my shipmates ask me about it, some of whom are interested in doing it themselves.  In my Internet travels, I have discovered some resources, some new and some well-established, that may be of interest to those with questions about recruit training.

First off, there is a video series that the Coast Guard has put together called “It’s Just Eight Weeks” which highlights portions of recruit training, to give prospective enlistees an idea of what training is like.  My understanding is that the videos will soon be obsolete, as they are overhauling the training program and a lot of things are going to change.  That said, it’s still an interesting series.  You can find it here:
It’s Just Eight Weeks

The next sites seem to have shown up in time for the Commandant’s announcement of expanding social media and Web 2.0 usage in the Coast Guard.  First up the TRACEN Cape May’s own web site, which seems to still be under construction, but has useful information nonetheless.  You can find that by going to www.uscgbootcamp.com.

The last site appears to be the newest of all.  TRACEN Cape May now has a blog on Blogger, with the very first post dated 23SEP08, which is only a day or two after the Commandant’s announcement.  The first “from recruit training” post on the blog shows a recruit company doing pugil stick training, so they’re obviously wasting no time in getting cool information out on the web.  You can find the blog at uscgbootcamp.blogspot.com.

One thing I find really cool about the last two sites is that they say right up front that they will be posting submissions from recruits during their training.  Some of you may be aware that while I was in boot camp, I posted on CGBlog.org via snail mail about my experiences.  I think it’s awesome that the Coast Guard is now embracing this idea as official policy.

I’m writing this at about 0130, mere hours before I will be hitting the road to go up to Boston and start my journey through boot camp and into the Coast Guard.  I’m excited, and a little nervous, but I’m confident that I will be able to handle it.

I may or may not be posting through snail mail, having my mom add my posts for me.  I will, however, be posting via snail mail over at AN UNOFFICIAL COAST GUARD BLOG, as I am the newest writer for that blog.  I am excited and honored to join such a great publication, and such fine writers and bloggers.  So keep an eye out for my posts over there (and probably here too!) over the next 8 weeks.

Also, if you feel like writing me a letter, whether it be just to say hi, or to ask me a question about something you’d like me to address in a blog post, here is the address:

SR Conover
USCG Training Center
1 Munro Avenue
Cape May, NJ 08204-5083

I’ll be going almost immediately from boot camp graduation in September up to MMA, so expect normal blogging to resume after boot camp is over.

Semper Paratus!

As I’ve mentioned on here before, along with some of my readers, I’m planning on going into the Coast Guard.  In fact, I’m making that happen very soon.  I’ve been speaking with a Coast Guard recruiter, and last Thursday I went and met with him.  We discussed options, available Reserve positions in the area, and my goals as a Reservist.  I am very serious about doing it, so I scheduled an appointment to take the ASVAB and get a medical examination for this coming Thursday.

As it stands, I’ll be going to boot camp this summer, reporting some time in early July.  While I’d love to be able to make regular blog entries while I’m there to give a glimpse of what it’s like in near-real time, I won’t be allowed to do so.  However, I will make posts periodically between now and then about the enlistment process, and my preparation for boot camp.  I’ll add a category to the Log Book for Coast Guard Reserve so you can follow that if you’d like.

There are a few interesting facts I thought people who are interested in joining the Coast Guard (Reserve) might like to know:

• If you are an Eagle Scout, you can enlist directly as an E-3 instead of an E-1.  For those not familiar with the miliary rank and pay grade system, that means a higher enlisted rank (Seaman instead of Seaman Recruit) and higher pay right off the bat.
• If you’re in college, you can be eligible for up to $4,500 per year in tuition assistance, plus additional money from the G.I. Bill.
• Almost all enlisted rates have involvement with law enforcement, regardless of primary mission.  So, if you like to cook but still want to have to opportunity to do the cool stuff you see in Coast Guard videos and posters, you can probably do both!

I’ll discuss the ASVAB and medical exam more after I get back from it on Thursday.

Semper Paratus!