My youngest son arrived at bootcamp.

[GARANDNUT]

My oldest is a Marine (he is now an E4) and my youngest (Joseph) arrived at CM for Coast Guard boot camp. He is on contract for AMT and wants to work rescues. Got the call last night with the script. Like my Marine my only fear is he wont make it for some reason. I will be able to relax, hopefully in six weeks after his final CFT.

I do not know how a lazy coward like myself raised such fine boys but damn I am proud of them.

Please keep Joseph in your prayers.

[aviator]

You did well and gave them the best possible education, now it's up to them. It sucks to sit on a big empty nest though.

[rto]

Good luck to both of your boys. All Joseph needs to do is listen and follow orders and he should be alright. When someone asks for volunteers I'd advise him to not to be one, volunteering doesn't always get a fella points.

[Retvet]

Don't sell yourself short. A part of you is in them. Their greatness stems from yours and how you raised them whether you realize it or not.

My sons graduation from the Coast Guard academy was one of the proudest days of my life, especially since he reserved his first salute for me, enlisted man to officer, then handed me the traditional silver coin that commemorates it.

[Solid Snake]

Good luck to both of your boys. All Joseph needs to do is listen and follow orders and he should be alright. When someone asks for volunteers I'd advise him to not to be one, volunteering doesn't always get a fella points.

I disagree. I was the one who never volunteered in boot camp. I didn't want the extra attention. And I regret it to this day. Yeah, if you put yourself out there as a hard charging go-getter, the drill instructors will test you to see how much of a hard charger you are. You only go through boot camp one time, get the most out of it. Look at that extra attention as a compliment.

[merc]

🫡🇺🇸

Best of luck .
Stay in the fight
Never give up .

All the best ,
MERC

[GARANDNUT]

Don't sell yourself short. A part of you is in them. Their greatness stems from yours and how you raised them whether you realize it or not.

My sons graduation from the Coast Guard academy was one of the proudest days of my life, especially since he reserved his first salute for me, enlisted man to officer, then handed me the traditional silver coin that commemorates it.

Love to know more. What was his MOS (I think they call it a rating)? Is he still in? What is the quality of life?

Thanks.

[Sanders]

I disagree. I was the one who never volunteered in boot camp. I didn't want the extra attention. And I regret it to this day. Yeah, if you put yourself out there as a hard charging go-getter, the drill instructors will test you to see how much of a hard charger you are. You only go through boot camp one time, get the most out of it. Look at that extra attention as a compliment.

You have to learn how to read the room, so to speak. Some of the most fun I had in the Army was on details I volunteered for. Some of the shittiest times I had in the Army were on details I got volunteered for. One time I got volunteered to help the brigade set up a huge live fire course at Ft. Carson for tanks, Infantry, and even A-10's. Downrange, the NCOIC asked for a volunteer. I figured, in for a penny, in for a pound, so I raised my hand. He needed someone to TC an M60 tank for him to drive it around on the course. So, I spent the week in the tank commander's hatch of an M60 Main Battle Tank, while everyone else did the manual labor.

So, asking for a volunteer - go for it, it might be something fun. But, when they ask for a group of volunteers? Try not to be seen.

[Solid Snake]

You have to learn how to read the room, so to speak. Some of the most fun I had in the Army was on details I volunteered for. Some of the shittiest times I had in the Army were on details I got volunteered for. One time I got volunteered to help the brigade set up a huge live fire course at Ft. Carson for tanks, Infantry, and even A-10's. Downrange, the NCOIC asked for a volunteer. I figured, in for a penny, in for a pound, so I raised my hand. He needed someone to TC an M60 tank for him to drive it around on the course. So, I spent the week in the tank commander's hatch of an M60 Main Battle Tank, while everyone else did the manual labor.

So, asking for a volunteer - go for it, it might be something fun. But, when they ask for a group of volunteers? Try not to be seen.

We didn't have opportunities like that in Marine Corps boot camp. Regarding volunteering, at the beginning of boot camp, the Senior Drill Instructor asked "Who thinks they have what it takes to be squad leader?" I shrunk back like no thanks. I shouldn't have, I should have been the first one to throw my hand in the air. Again, at the beginning, the Senior Drill Instructor called me into his office. Because I had a semester of college under my belt, he asked if I was interested in being the platoon scribe. I didn't want to stand out so I gave a very sheepish answer that translated to "I guess so." Another recruit was chosen for scribe. Scribe turned out to be a nice gig. Since the scribe keeps track of the firewatch schedule, the scribe never had firewatch.

Once I was in the reserves, we spent our annual 2-week detail in 29 Palms, CA at CAX. This is where numerous reserve units from all over meet up to train together. I was a mechanic. My first day there, I'm changing the oil pan gasket on a Hummer. Laying in the sand, covered in sweat, oil running down my forearms, I was already miserable. Then the sergeant call us all into the tent. There was a corporal there that was not part of our group. The sergeant asked for two volunteers. This felt like one of those "Uh oh, nope" moments. He then said "Come on, give me two volunteers or I'm going to have to pick them myself and I don't want to do that." I then thought "I'm already miserable, how much worse can it be?" So I raised my hand. I ended up being the personal driver for a Captain for the duration of the two weeks. It was such an easy gig, no more rolling around in the sand covered in sweat and oil.

[4thIDvet]

GARANDNUT stop worrying Joseph is going to be just fine. Hell the D.I.s are well trained and they will make sure he does well. I loved boot camp and A.I.T. at Tiger Land in the swamps of Louisiana. Shoot guns, blow things up 3 hots and a cot I thought I was in heaven. Again stop worrying I bet yah a case of beer he turns out to be one hell of a good recruit. 👍

[Johnny]

Retired US Army here. This evening was my scheduled time to work with a local youth group. Someone else is in charge; a person half my age, but I still tow the line. This evening it was nice to see a few kids react positively to my input. The kids like what I have to say as well as my example. Some of them are reaching out with questions.

I have no kids of my own, so it's nice when I see a connection.

[44044]

You raised them right Sir

[Klauss]

My oldest has been debating coast guard for a couple years. Definitely a good path if to go.

[Retvet]

Love to know more. What was his MOS (I think they call it a rating)? Is he still in? What is the quality of life?

Thanks.

He's an engineering officer. Naval architecture I believe was his degree major at the CG academy. He's a Lieutenant now working towards Lieutenant Commander. He loves being in the USCG. He's the chief maintenance officer in Guam, coordinating major work on the CG Cutters assigned to that region. Can't wait to get assigned to a boat again though. He prefers that over shore duty.

[GARANDNUT]

He's an engineering officer. Naval architecture I believe was his degree major at the CG academy. He's a Lieutenant now working towards Lieutenant Commander. He loves being in the USCG. He's the chief maintenance officer in Guam, coordinating major work on the CG Cutters assigned to that region. Can't wait to get assigned to a boat again though. He prefers that over shore duty.

Sounds like he is having a great career! The Coast Guard seems to be both laid back and hyper professional and they do not seem to treat the enlisted like babies like the Marines, at least while Marines are in MCT/ITB and the school house. I wonder what the reenlist rate is for the CG?