How can I survive Coast Guard boot camp?
January 15, 2006 1:17 AM   Subscribe

How can I make it through Coast Guard Basic Training?

I know it is 100% do-able. I have one week before I leave for it. I can swim. What do I need to know to survive US Coast Guard basic training?

Thank you in advance.
posted by merlin17 to Education (14 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I am currently in the U.S. Navy but I'm fairly sure the training is not much different. There's no real order of precedence. The following may sound brain-dead simple but it'll get you by with a minimal amount of headaches.

Be open minded! Learn to accept the culture of those who you're forced to be around because it'll just make things a lot easier. Do as you are told. It will suck at first but you'll see that the beatings will turn out to be much shorter this way. Encourage others to achieve the common goals that you and your division is assigned to complete. A lot of stupid small things are asked of you and they are there for a specific reason. That reason is usually attention to detail. Attention to detail is not just another buzz phrase but it makes sense if you ponder over it for a second. You may be working on equipment that costs a lot of money and it may require you to pay special attention. Umm...I guess that's about all I can think of. I'll be sure to check back up on here if you have any other questions.
posted by Jonasan at 1:34 AM on January 15, 2006


Response by poster: By beatings, I assume you mean smokings. (*_*)

I have heard how it is much more team oriented than other basic trainings, thanks.
posted by merlin17 at 1:37 AM on January 15, 2006


Smokings, beatings...I guessing they're the same thing. I've never heard of smokings but sure. More team oriented than the other basic trainings? Compared to what other branches? Maybe more than the Navy but surely not as team oriented as the Army or the Marines.
posted by Jonasan at 1:52 AM on January 15, 2006


Well, you can't get in shape in a week if you're not already. (I don't know if this is what you're asking.) I'd focus on cardio for the next week, try to run for 40 minutes with ten minutes of stretching before and after, twice a day and rest on the day before leaving. Come to think of it, swimming for 40 minutes twice a day will probably serve you better.

There's two ways to get through basic. One way is to never be at the beginning or end of any line, excercise or reveille. The other is to try to excel at every single thing you do. What they're looking for is someone who learns quickly and thinks creatively. Just like every other institution on the planet. Remember, they're not neccesarily looking for obedience they're looking for a quick learner. The obedience is just the easiest way of showing you've learned.
posted by raaka at 2:41 AM on January 15, 2006


I once asked a friend what U.S. Navy basic training was like, and he answered that you were constantly, deliberately kept off balance. Just a constant barrage of rapidly changing situations and demands, the purpose being to divorce your mind from its old way of doing things and force it to adapt to (and ultimately adopt) the Navy mindset.

So I would echo what was said earlier about keeping an open mind, with the additional suggestion of preparing yourself mentally to be tossed into the wringer, knowing that the faster you adapt to the new environment, the better.

Physically, in the next week, I suggest not overdoing it, because you can't force yourself into shape, as suggested above. Rather, I suggest focusing on light (light!) cardio, stretching and flexibility. Nothing could be worse than going into basic training with sore muscles because you tried to "teach" yourself how to do 100 pushups in a week.

Good luck. I envy you. By the time I realized that the Coast Guard might've been a good experience for me, I was exactly one year too old to be accepted. ;-(
posted by frogan at 3:24 AM on January 15, 2006


I don't know if they still do this, or even if the CG ever did, but when I went through AF boot it was a given. At some point, the instructor would find a reason (however small) to " Get in your face", usually in front of the entire group, for every candidate. They want to know how you will react under extreme pressure. In my instance, the DI made me shave 3 times before my Flight was allowed to eat breakfast, berating me ala " Officer and a Gentleman" during the process. If you keep your cool, and look straight ahead ( never give them the evil eye) you will be fine. Good Luck.
posted by lobstah at 6:22 AM on January 15, 2006


Assuming that Coast Guard boot has a similar training environment to the Army, try to remember, every second of every day, that it's all a mind game. Nothing the instructors say is personal, even if it sounds or feels like it at the time; it's just business. Remember that "this too will pass" and don't take anything personally, and you should be fine. Oh, and always do exactly what you're told to the best of your ability. :)

Good luck.
posted by ZakDaddy at 9:57 AM on January 15, 2006 [1 favorite]


Navy here. Just like everyone else said, follow instructions to the best of your ability. The Company Commanders (or whatever they're called in the USCG) are doing a job, and so are you.
It's been six years since I went to RTC, but I remember a lot of sleep deprivation and a lot of routine. Work with the other guys/girls there and you'll be fine.

Also, I agree with not trying to work out too much. You won't get beat (or cycled, which was what we called it) until you're medically cleared, which was a couple days for us. Stretch a lot and get some rest.
posted by jawbreaker at 10:03 AM on January 15, 2006


My brother was in the Navy, did boot at Great Lakes.

I agree the big thing isn't physical preparedness -- you're either ready or you're not, and you'll soon find out -- but mindset. Be ready to learn, pay attention, and absorb a lot of culture you're not used to, while setting aside many preconceptions. Don't try either to "excel" at boot camp -- that's not what it's about -- nor should you plan to just get by. Be ready to think in terms of your team.

You may be working on equipment that costs a lot of money and it may require you to pay special attention.

You may be working on equipment that can kill you or others if you don't pay attention. Not so much at boot camp, of course, but that's the point.
posted by dhartung at 2:26 PM on January 15, 2006


You may be working on equipment that can kill you or others if you don't pay attention.

LOL. And so, so very true. Once talked to an Army guy about learning to throw grenades.

"So, why don't they throw grenades baseball-style? Why is it always a lob?"

"Well, during grenade qualifying..."

"Wait. You have to qualify? Doesn't everyone, like, already know how to throw stuff?"

"Dude. It's a GRENADE. It blows shit up. That's its job. And trust me, it's really good at its job. You think they let just anyone carry them?"

"Oh."
posted by frogan at 2:41 PM on January 15, 2006


My father, a retired CG captain, said that the hardest part of OCS was not laughing his ass off.
posted by TheGoldenOne at 3:14 PM on January 15, 2006


Keep in mind that every smoking or beating or whatever they're calling it is very tightly scheduled. During one, as long as the instructor can see you keep trying, visibly, you won't be singled out for special attention.

At Army basic, some guys started sneaking out to a mini-PX to get candy at night. I'm sure this was no surprise to the drill sergeants. When they were caught (inevitably) we all suffered. One older, wiser guy said to us, "Watch. Some guys are going to quit over this. Don't be one of them."
He was right. Don't be one of them.
posted by atchafalaya at 3:44 PM on January 15, 2006 [1 favorite]


Navy here too.
What ZakDaddy said! It's a mind game.
What The GoldenOne said. When you know what's happening, it's hilarious.

Listen now to me:
You are you, you will remain yourself. You can't be anything else. 'They' want you to break. Their game is to try to make you rebel, so they can punish you.

But you won't do that. You will be stone when you must be still. You will be water when you must be flexible. You will make every effort to do exactly as ordered.

Best wishes, enjoy your hitch. The CG is a good organization. Friend of mine retired from there.
posted by Goofyy at 11:08 PM on January 15, 2006 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Great words Goofyy, I will implement them!
posted by merlin17 at 10:34 PM on January 16, 2006


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