I am planning on joining the Coast Guard Reserves?

Banning any past criminal record or health problems you should be good to go as soon as you get a diploma. All the civilian training you have had on diving and boats honestly won't mean a thing. They will train you their way.

Ross

In terms of most business cycles, as long as one has the resources to go to college, it is better to be finishing high school and entering college when the economy is mired in a recession than it is when the economy is at an upswing or peak in the business cycle. On graduation in 4-5 years the economy should be on the upswing and most companies should be increasing hiring, whereas to graduate high school and start college during a boom or at a peak in a business cycle often means that at time of college graduation, the economy may be scaling back or at least no longer growing and companies downsizing and cutting back on hiring due to a recession or fears of a recession.
Graduates of USMMA and the six state Maritime Academies: California, Great Lakes(Michigan), Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, can direct commission as Ensigns or Lt. Jg's in the Coast Guard.
http://www.usmma.edu/military/
http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-fit/officer-opportunities/programs/maritime-academy-graduate
http://www.csum.edu/Military/MilitaryOptions.asp
California Maritime Academy:
http://www.csum.edu/
Great Lakes Maritime Academy:
http://www.nmc.edu/maritime/
Maine Maritime Academy:
http://www.mainemaritime.edu/
Massachusetts Maritime Academy:
http://www.maritime.edu/
New York Maritime College:
http://www.sunymaritime.edu/
Texas Maritime Academy:
http://www.tamug.edu/Corps/
Also students at a very limited number of colleges are able to utilize the Coast Guard's very generous College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative:
http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-fit/officer-opportunities/programs/college-student-pre-commissioning-initiative
Until they changed the rules last month, this program was much more widely available. They still have not updated the website at Cal Maritime:
http://www.csum.edu/Military/cspi.asp
As long as you are physically and medically qualified and don't have a criminal history or drug problems, you should be able to join the Coast Guard. They also are the strictest service with regards to tattoos.
I forgot to mention that not every major at every state maritime academy qualifies for direct commission. It has to be a major that includes earning a Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer license. These licenses are issued by the Coast Guard. A degree with a major in Marine Environmental Protection also qualifies for direct commission.
LOL...I also forgot to mention the Coast Guard Academy. If you are a Junior, it is too late to apply for AIM, the Coast Guard Academies Summer Seminar.
http://admissions.uscga.edu/i2e/summer/index.asp
A candidate can be appointed to the Coast Guard Academy till the year when he is age 22 on July 1. Coast Guard Academy offers a Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering degree:
http://www.cga.edu/display.aspx?id=507
This answer describes the path to a service academy appointment. The Coast Guard Academy, however, does not require a nomination:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AodQMYg9PwsBLze6O_LBAL3ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090321112755AAca1Ts&show=7#profile-info-pPzS2GTDaa
Calculate regular military compensation at the link. Location makes a significant difference due to the housing allowance(BAH.) Single Enlisted Sailors and Coasties ranking below E-5, Enlisted Marines and Soldiers ranking below E-7, Enlisted Airmen below E-4 live in the barracks and do not collect BAH:
http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/mpcalcs/Calculators/RMC.aspx
2nd Lt( Army, Air Force, Marines) = Ensign(Navy, C.G.) = O-1.
1st Lt( Army, Air Force, Marines) = Lt JG(Navy, C.G.) = O-2.
Captain( Army, Air Force, Marines)= Lt(Navy, C.G.) = O-3.
Advancement to O-2 around the 18th month.
Advancement to O-3 by about 42nd month
Good Luck!

smtfs2113

Our armed forces will never stop accepting qualified people. There is always a need for soldiers and sailors. As long as you can pass their swimming and PT test, and you have high enough test scores, you will be alright.

P.S.
Your shooting skills will be going to waste in the Coast Guard. Unless you are stationed in the Miami area you won't ever be shooting anything.

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