By Averyl Hill         JobsInME.com

You may be an “ordinary” person, putting in an honest day’s work.  But through the tragedy of September 11th, you may have discovered a new sense of patriotism. Firefighters, police and rescue workers put their lives at risk to save others. On the “safer” side, IT professionals built websites and databases to help people find their loved ones, culinary artists volunteered to cook for the firefighters and police going through the rubble in NYC, mental health professionals offered counseling services to the traumatized, and people donated blood. Suddenly, people from all kinds of professions rushed to our country’s defense. Their true natures demonstrated the extremes they are willing to go to. Many died while serving their country, right here in America.

The best thing for many of us is to take action, whether it’s through volunteering, your present job, or for some, considering a new career. It’s normal to feel disoriented and take a hard look at what you value in life, seeing things from a different perspective. Some people may be questioning whether or not they would like to join the armed forces. The United States Coast Guard (CG) may be an option for some Mainers, providing an excellent way to serve your region and country. The CG has been receiving a lot of press lately as their responsibilities increase due to heightened harbor security. 

The CG is a military, multi-mission, maritime service. It operates within the Department of Transportation during peacetime, and falls under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy upon declaration of war or when directed by the President. What this means is that while you will be stationed in the United States, you could be called upon to serve elsewhere.

I met with Petty Officer William Kelly, currently a recruiter who has spent sixteen years in the CG to ask some of the questions Mainers may have. To start, I asked about the comments made by Governor Angus King, who recently stated that the Maine CG needs more manpower to meet increasing demands.  Kelly explained that because they have been meeting recruiting goals, it’s a matter of the Federal government allocating more funding to pay for additional people. In the meantime, CG personnel will be working harder to meet the increased challenges and they are always looking to recruit qualified people.

In Maine there are seventeen CG stations, each with fifty to seventy people. The entire CG has 38,000 active-duty men and women, and 8,000 Reservists. Mainers wishing to stay in the area won’t be guaranteed a placement in Maine, but they would be guaranteed a station somewhere in “District One” which is the Northeastern US. Reservists, however, can be more selective about where they are stationed.

The CG is no less rigorous even though it’s generally a peacetime mission. Additionally, Basic Training (“boot camp”) is tough, and Kelly assured me, with a friendly smile, that recruits “can do no right, no matter how perfect they are” during the first two weeks. This is a strategic part of the training process, consistent with other branches of service. At the completion, there is a large sense of pride and accomplishment, and a new sense of confidence. 

On a typical day, the CG will board vessels for port safety checks, seize illegal substances, investigate marine accidents, inspect commercial vessels, save lives, assist people in distress, save property, service aids to navigation, and interdict illegal migrants. The time spent on the job is a “Fireman’s Schedule,” meaning there could be two days on, two days off.  Generally, the longest time spent on a boat would be eight to ten weeks, which would be in the case of a deployment.

The knowledge that you are keeping your country safe while getting paid, and that you are part of a close knit community, makes the CG an extremely worthwhile profession for many, including prior service members.

The CG is selective. Besides age limits, you must have no more than two dependents, pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, a medical exam given at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), and enjoy spending your time on or around water. The ideal candidate will be able to successfully handle high stress situations, and understand the importance of being a team player. Kelly points out that the personal satisfaction is high, knowing that you are providing a service to your country and region. 

You can view the jobs available by clicking here: http://www.gocoastguard.com/jobs.html. For more information and specifics about joining, visit www.uscg.mil or call 761-4307.