Coast Guard DCA

[mdubs]

Trying to breathe some fresh air here. Recent DCA selection here. No idea what I’ll be flying or where, or when for that matter. Is there anything anyone recommend I start studying? Also is DCO school like a ‘boot camp/OCS’ environment?

I just went to DCO school in August. They did a major overhaul. It’s much better than what it was. They treat you like an adult. Feel free to give me a call if you want to chat (shoot me a pm for number). No need to study anything until you get to your unit. Life in the Coast Guard is much better in my opinion. Welcome!

Willow

 

[Meyerkord]

I just went to DCO school in August. They did a major overhaul. It’s much better than what it was. They treat you like an adult. Feel free to give me a call if you want to chat (shoot me a pm for number). No need to study anything until you get to your unit. Life in the Coast Guard is much better in my opinion. Welcome!

Willow

Were you Navy? Did you get a conditional release? Before or after MSR?

 

[mdubs]

Were you Navy? Did you get a conditional release? Before or after MSR?

I was Navy P-3 guy for 15 years. Was lucky enough to be selected for the O-4 to O-4 transition, so I separated from the Navy after my DH tour. Didn’t have to lose rank and owe the CG 5 years. Flying C-130J now.

 

[Jim123]

I was Navy P-3 guy for 15 years. Was lucky enough to be selected for the O-4 to O-4 transition, so I separated from the Navy after my DH tour. Didn’t have to lose rank and owe the CG 5 years. Flying C-130J now.

Lawrence approves of this career path.

 

[scoolbubba]

I was Navy P-3 guy for 15 years. Was lucky enough to be selected for the O-4 to O-4 transition, so I separated from the Navy after my DH tour. Didn’t have to lose rank and owe the CG 5 years. Flying C-130J now.

How’s that going over with all the guys who had to take the paycut?

 

[mdubs]

How’s that going over with all the guys who had to take the paycut?

They’re all fine with it. No one is hating on my good deal. The DCAs in my unit are all good dudes.

 

[scoolbubba]

They’re all fine with it. No one is hating on my good deal. The DCAs in my unit are all good dudes.

Nice. There seemed like there was some heartburn from the guys who didn’t get into that deal around these parts. Timing, as usual, is everything.

 

[SynixMan]

Nice. There seemed like there was some heartburn from the guys who didn’t get into that deal around these parts. Timing, as usual, is everything.

The flip side is the people who became JGs get to be give no fucks JGs again, with a lot of runway in front of them for flying tours or doing oddball coastie stuff. My understanding of the O4 transition was you were going to be DH level responsibility again. If you’re just looking to pump and dump to a 20yr retirement while flying and getting relatively well paid, fair.

 

[mdubs]

The flip side is the people who became JGs get to be give no fucks JGs again, with a lot of runway in front of them for flying tours or doing oddball coastie stuff. My understanding of the O4 transition was you were going to be DH level responsibility again. If you’re just looking to pump and dump to a 20yr retirement while flying and getting relatively well paid, fair.

Yeah I’m tagged for the Admin job, so it’s basically another DH tour. Absolutely no complaints. I get to fly, don’t have to do deployments longer than 2 weeks and didn’t lose any pay. I got very lucky when this program popped up and I was in a position to apply.

 

[Jim123]

Nice. There seemed like there was some heartburn from the guys who didn’t get into that deal around these parts. Timing, as usual, is everything.

To borrow some words from song lyrics,

I was born too late/I was born too soon...
You were born too late/I was born too soon


(I like all kinds of music)

 

[TB12]

Thread bump. This is still great info for hopefuls.

For a lot of good up to date info, the O-JAK is a great resource https://www.gocoastguard.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/ojak_updated_22_dec_16.pdf (page 70).

It even has 2012-2016 selection rates for DCA and all accession programs:
DCA:
2012: 46.15%
2013: 25%
2014: 38.46%
2015: 17.39%
2016: 35.56%

 

[MGoBrew11]

For guys that have made the DCA jump:

What happens if you somehow do not make O-4 in the Coast Guard? I'm considering DCA and thinking of the $$$ aspect. If I were to pick up DCA at 10 years of service in the Navy I know my timeline would look something like:

Commission in the CG as an O-2 at 10 years total active service.
Promote to O-3 at 12.5 total years active service.
Promote to O-4 at 18-19 (?) years active service.

At that point I would probably retire once I get high 3 of O-4. If for whatever reason I didn't make O-4, can you just retire as an O-3?

 

[sc0utwright]

Adding to this, we started a Facebook group that has a dedicated chat to DCA with a ton of Army and prior service guys willing to answer questions and help with packages.