US Coast Guard Employee Reviews about "coast guard"

Pros

The Coast Guard as an organization as a whole strives to make a better work environment for all.

Cons

The junior officers focus more on improving their own careers instead of focusing on what will create results....the people.

Pros

US Coast Guard is a fantastic team committed to serving the nation and keeping our waterways safe. Everyday has been an adventure. Consistently served with outstanding people

Cons

Staff jobs can sometimes demand more time away from family than operational tours. New headquarters in DC is a wonderful building but it is difficult to reach as a commuter.

Pros

The Coast Guard is an amazing organization if you want to serve your country. It is very committed to taking care of its members and their families. You will gain a tremendous amount of discipline whether you serve four years or twenty-plus. You'll also build closer relationships with your shipmates than you will have had at any other point in your life.

Cons

The Coast Guard is a great organization for those who value stability and long-term predictability. However, it may not be an ideal long-term if you prefer flexibility to routine. There are people who love what the Coast Guard offers and there are people who would do better in the civilian world. The Coast Guard has a long history and has learned a lot from its past. There are exact procedures for nearly every aspect of your job. It's great for those who like direction but if you may feel a little restricted if you prefer to come up with your own solutions to problems. The 'needs of the service' trump the needs/preferences of the individual. That's what's best for the organization and that's what matters the most. Just be aware that if you spend twenty years in the service you will get at least one very unpleasant unit, and you will be there for 2-4 years.

Pros

The US Coast Guard is an organization where you can make a difference and have varying experiences and learning opportunities.

Cons

Very bureaucratic and resistant to change. Good ideas are frequently dismissed due to a persons position and not the idea itself.

Pros

In the Coast Guard you will be given the opportunity to experience many different jobs. In each new duty station you not only experience a new location but will work on new or different equipment. The military gives you housing and ensures that you are trained in a skill. You will also be eligible for tuition assistance for college. Advancements are great.

Cons

Probably the biggest complaint is that you can be away from home for long periods of time. Another con is that you may get stationed in an area that you do not care for.

Pros

Workplace climate is friendly and rather than other branches training for the next war the Coast Guard missions are relevant at all times

Cons

Too many random additional duties

Pros

The coast guard was a great alternative for college instead of going to school straight out of high school

Cons

If you have a family or plan on starting one, it can be very difficult to raise a family if your stuck on a boat.

Pros

Great camaraderie and sense of team work. Great benefits including educational benefits. If you enlist for 4 years you should be able to get a BA/BS in that time without touching your GI bill. Great leadership skills development. You get to move every four years

Cons

Budget cuts are making it tougher to advance or promote. The Coast Guard always seems to fall back into the do more with less mentality. You will always find yourself reminding everyone the Coast Guard is one of the FIVE armed forces.

Pros

Humanitarian Service The Coast Guard is always operational, whether it is stopping drug runners, rescuing a stranded sailor or breaking ice in the Great Lakes Coast Guard members are doing something. Benefits are great. Untaxed housing allowance, Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill, full medical coverage. We are a small service therefore the chances of working with people you know or previously worked with is very likely You will work with a lot of fun and incredibly talented and educated people.

Cons

Being a small service also has a lot of cons. Like a small school word travels fast, so the rumor mill is an epidemic. Like all government and military jobs there is a lot of bureaucracy and can get very frustrating. It is very hit or miss on how much you are affected by this but generally the larger the unit the more there is. Outdated technology and assets. Our oldest cutters are 30+ years old. Work like balance is also hit or miss. If you are on a cutter you could be away for six-eight months out of the year. The Coast Guard budget is always a joke and we always get left behind compared to the other services. Officer Evaluation system is still flawed and your career can be affected by one bad supervisor.

Pros

The Coast Guard provides a great opportunity for those looking to serve and gain valuable training. Solid benefits and the chance to see new places.

Cons

Slow advancement and burdensome policy.