U.S. Coast Guard experience, good/bad?

[Kimble]

Like many on this forum, my career goal is to become a federal LEO. I'm working on my last semester in attaining a masters in CJ, but since I'm 23, I have no work experience. I've applied with several agencies, some looking like prospects, others wanting more experience. My question is in regards to the U.S. Coast Guard. I've been told officer in the armed services is excellent experience for FLEOs. How is the Coast Guard viewed, since their mission includes both military and law enforcement aspects? Would a position with them help a candidate for Dept. Homeland Security LE agencies (USSS, ICE, etc.) since they are now under DHS?

[cobravenom1]

Like many on this forum, my career goal is to become a federal LEO. I'm working on my last semester in attaining a masters in CJ, but since I'm 23, I have no work experience. I've applied with several agencies, some looking like prospects, others wanting more experience. My question is in regards to the U.S. Coast Guard. I've been told officer in the armed services is excellent experience for FLEOs. How is the Coast Guard viewed, since their mission includes both military and law enforcement aspects? Would a position with them help a candidate for Dept. Homeland Security LE agencies (USSS, ICE, etc.) since they are now under DHS?

Why do you want to go military for FLEO experience? Being in the military gets you looked at first or sooner if you qualify but doesn't guarantee you the job. Your soon to be Masters Degree should get you looked at pretty much anywhere. Consider applying to the military CI (1811) jobs such as NCIS, AF OSI, and Army CID. Coast Guard also has a CI position you may be interested in. Do some research of the various federal CI jobs and pick the one's that you would be comfortable with. Follow that particular agencies hiring requirements and paperwork formats. Then shotgun the market now before you graduate and take the one you want. Don't be too concerned with which department the CI agency is part of. GOOD LUCK and have patience!!

[darrell]

The man to ask USCG questiosn to is barenaked pm him and he will chat you up.

[MrMisterSU]

I used to want to be in the USCG. I think perhaps one day ill join up as a reserve or the auxilary. Always thought about it - never did it. My car keychain has been a USCG and Reserve keychain since I started driving two years ago.

[Kimble]

Why do you want to go military for FLEO experience? Being in the military gets you looked at first or sooner if you qualify but doesn't guarantee you the job. Your soon to be Masters Degree should get you looked at pretty much anywhere. Consider applying to the military CI (1811) jobs such as NCIS, AF OSI, and Army CID. Coast Guard also has a CI position you may be interested in. Do some research of the various federal CI jobs and pick the one's that you would be comfortable with. Follow that particular agencies hiring requirements and paperwork formats. Then shotgun the market now before you graduate and take the one you want. Don't be too concerned with which department the CI agency is part of. GOOD LUCK and have patience!!

Cobravenom: To be honest, I have in fact applied for 1811 positions with AF and Navy. I was told I didn't have enough experience with Navy (which is why I'm looking for experience outside of my master's degree) and am still under consideration with AF. I want to be as competative as possible, thus I'm am exploring my options in regard to Coast Guard officer. Does anyone have an opinion on how this experience would be viewed by FLEOs?

[mcsap]

Municipal /State police certainly look favorably upon military service. We even give 10 points on your test score if you are prior military. However, you must otherwise be an excellent candidiate. Simply having been in the military doesn't not make up for shortcomings on your part. Good Luck.

[Kimble]

[QUOTE=mcsap]Municipal /State police certainly look favorably upon military service.QUOTE]

While I certainly appreciate the responses received, my question was in regards to Federal LE, so my question still remains, for anyone with knowledge from a federal perspective, how experience as an officer in the Coast Guard (as opposed to the other branches under the DoD) would be weighed for an 1811 applicant. Anyone with insight on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[john2190]

ROS, I would recommend going to www.coastguardocs.com or http://forums.military.com/1/OpenTop...038&f=67919558. I have talked to a many people on military.com that were active duty coast guard and are now a FLEO, so I would check this site first. The coastguardocs.com site will tell you what experience you will recieve in the coast guard, not where you might go after your out.

Hope this helps.

[Sides]

I am in the same boat as you. I am currently finishing my last semester of grad school, and being 23 I don't have that substantial of work experience. However, you can still apply.

I am assuming your undergrad was in CJ as well. If that is the case, you would be able to apply for the DEA. The undergrad degree would have you entering as a GS7. If you finish your masters, and you obviously would by the time you would potentially be hired, you would be starting at a GS9. With the DEA you normally progress to a GS12 in 3 years.

DEA is hiring nationwide. If you are interested, then just go to dea.gov and click on employment. THe hiring process is really long, I am more than a year into it and they have just started my BI. But, it will allow you to finish grad school while you wait.

Once you are deemed "most competitive" by DEA, you are in the same boat with somebody with 10 years of experience in law enforcement, or a guy like me straight out of college.

So, that's the only agency I have gone through the process with, but you would definitely have a shot with the DEA.

[Kimble]

I appreciate all the tips from everyone. Like everyone else around here, I've put my applications out and am ready to give it my all. If I'm turned down for not having enough experience, then I'll gain work experience and apply again... it's dedication that'll pay off in the end.

[plnkownr87349]

Ros Send me a number or a e-mail address to call you I'll answer anything you want to know........ I'm fininshing up 7.5 years in the Coast Gaurd this month wouldn't trade it for the world...BUT if you have a masters why not go to the Officer Corps.. get paid more do your time on a major cutter than (2years) doing LE and other stuff than put in for command of a Tatical LE Team after your 4 years everyone will want you.... My time in the coast guard did play a big part getting a SWEET FLEO job...... start FLEC in 2week

Talk to a recruiter...
Scott

[EMS1]

USCG exp. is BIG PLUS they are doin more LE duties than any other military agencies.
they fall under the DHS and they are now the smallest branch of the military.
they have jobs that will help you go to LE right away,make sure you look into ''GUNNERS MATE (GM)they only deal with weaponds and you work with the LE units. also, look into PORT SECURITY UNITS as well.their like swat teams,used for speacial ops. visit the web site, they have videos for each of the jobs they have.

also,if you wanna think about it then look into the aux units,get some exp. in the mean time.and you can work with the regular units as well.also looks good in your back ground.

i am in the aux unit as well.and we are busy evryday.
GOOD LUCK.

EMS1

[Kimble]

plnkownr87349: I have sent you a private message with my email and phone number, I'd appreciate any insight you can provide.

[tunlrat]

Hey pinkownr, congrats on going to FLETC. What agency did you get hired onto? I'm enlisting into the USCG myself to become an MST (I'm color blind & don't want to be a Yeoman or something). I'm like ROS too (w/o the master's but I did get a bachelor's in CJ), I'm hoping solid Guard experience after 8+ (or more) years can lead to a "sweet" FLEO job like you. What steps can we all take to get where you are now---MSST? VBST? LEDET?

[UC Pope]

I would apply to federal agencies that you are interested in working for, check USAJOBS for job announcements and apply with a state LE agency that has an investigative mission, such as Georgia Bureau of Investigation, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Since I don't know where you are from, I would recommend that you look at your state or a neighboring state for employment. Investigative experience is looked upon with a high regard in Federal Law Enforcement. Be aware that it could take 18-24 Months to be hired by a federal agency.
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