Coast Guard Website Analysis
Once I have earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I aspire to attain the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E9) in the United States Coast Guard. I researched the latest pay rates and benefits for military personnel on the U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center’s website: https://www.uscg.mil/ppc/rates.asp. This website is the premier resource for Coast Guard members. This site is an official military/government website that is frequently updated. Having worked at this unit in Topeka, Kansas, I am certain that this website is the property of the U.S. Coast Guard; therefore, a reliable site. Unlike civilian employment, basic pay for military personnel is based solely on rank and time in service. Additional entitlements such as basic allowance for housing (BAH) and cost of living allowance (COLA) will vary based on permanent duty assignment location and number of dependents. In addition, the website chosen includes the rates for special and incentive pay. Military basic pay may be less compared to civilian salaries; however it is made up for with the abundant benefits such as free healthcare, comprehensive life insurance, 30 days of guaranteed vacation each year, longevity raises, educational benefits, and tax advantages. This information is consistent with my career
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goal. I am currently in a paygrade, E-7 with over 8 years of service. When I return to active duty, I can expect to make $3,678.00 per month in basic pay alone (United States Coast Guard, 2016). This amount does not include the housing, cost of living, subsistence, or clothing allowance that I will also receive. The monthly rates for these allowances in the San Francisco Bay Area are sufficient to cover the expenses my family incurs, especially since we will be going from a single income to a dual military family. My only concerns are increases to advancement requirements and the ever-looming threat of Congress decreasing or suspending entitlements. I look forward to seeing what effects our new retirement system has on career members.
Part II: Library Search for an Article from a Professional Journal
The journals, Defense Daily and Jane’s Defence Weekly, caught my attention while I was researching articles regarding Coast Guard modernization.
I was particularly interested in the articles regarding the dire condition of the Coast Guard’s current icebreaker fleet (Biesecker, 2015) and the Coast Guard’s proposed acquisition of a new heavy icebreaker (Grace, 2016). The first article details the approximate $1 billion expensive of a new heavy icebreaker, which is not consistent with the Coast Guard’s current acquisition budget. However, the second article describes the Obama Administration’s support of appropriating the necessary funding in the fiscal year 2017
budget.
My first military duty station assignment was on the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea. I have very fond memories of this icebreaker and it is truly heartbreaking to see such a powerful fleet face decommissioning. However, the aging Polar-class icebreakers are not suited for continuous ice operations. I had feared that the Coast Guard would have to cease operations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions due to lack of funding. The Coast Guard’s Homeland Security missions have taken priority over ice operations in past years, so it is refreshing to see that there is hope for a new icebreaker in the midst of the Coast Guard modernizing its aging fleet. Information regarding this acquisition directly affects my future in the Coast Guard. I had always envisioned that my last tour of duty before retirement would be on an icebreaker. That dream seemed unrealistic until now.
I wish the articles had pursued more details regarding whether or not the acquisition of an icebreaker would negatively affect the acquisition of Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs) and National Security Cutters (NSCs). Both of these boats are essential to coastal security mission support and are possible assignments that I may receive upon returning to active duty.
Part III: Career Platform Registration and Holland Interest Assessment
For this assignment, I created an account for the online curriculum, The Career Platform. I have previously taken vocational assessments, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) so I was self-aware of my areas of strengths and weaknesses. The results of the Holland Interest Assessment reflected my operational focus being geared towards resource management, complex problem solving and social skills. I would agree that these results coincide with the areas in which I believe I am well-suited.
My results revealed that I was likely to find success in occupations in the science and medical fields, although I used a military specific discipline filter. Some of the careers suggested for me were physicist, molecular and cellular biologist, biochemist, pathologist, neurologist, and surgeon. I have always been fascinated by science, especially human biology; therefore, I am not surprised by the overall results of the interest assessment. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the lengthy, formal education that these occupations require. I prefer to gain the knowledge required for my job from hands on experience. I was surprised; however, that my results suggested a set of occupations that seem to come from left field. Poet, lyrist, and creative writer were sandwiched between neurologist and physicist. Although I am an avid reader and love to listen to music, I intend to leave the writing up to the professionals. I do not consider myself to have much creativity or imagination.
Social skills, complex problem solving skills, and resource management skills will warrant occupational success in my future career. Although technical skills are important, continuing to develop my critical thinking skills will benefit me more as a senior enlisted member. These skills are essential in the leadership role I will be assuming in the Coast Guard.
goal. I am currently in a paygrade, E-7 with over 8 years of service. When I return to active duty, I can expect to make $3,678.00 per month in basic pay alone (United States Coast Guard, 2016). This amount does not include the housing, cost of living, subsistence, or clothing allowance that I will also receive. The monthly rates for these allowances in the San Francisco Bay Area are sufficient to cover the expenses my family incurs, especially since we will be going from a single income to a dual military family. My only concerns are increases to advancement requirements and the ever-looming threat of Congress decreasing or suspending entitlements. I look forward to seeing what effects our new retirement system has on career members.
Part II: Library Search for an Article from a Professional Journal
The journals, Defense Daily and Jane’s Defence Weekly, caught my attention while I was researching articles regarding Coast Guard modernization.
I was particularly interested in the articles regarding the dire condition of the Coast Guard’s current icebreaker fleet (Biesecker, 2015) and the Coast Guard’s proposed acquisition of a new heavy icebreaker (Grace, 2016). The first article details the approximate $1 billion expensive of a new heavy icebreaker, which is not consistent with the Coast Guard’s current acquisition budget. However, the second article describes the Obama Administration’s support of appropriating the necessary funding in the fiscal year 2017
budget.
My first military duty station assignment was on the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea. I have very fond memories of this icebreaker and it is truly heartbreaking to see such a powerful fleet face decommissioning. However, the aging Polar-class icebreakers are not suited for continuous ice operations. I had feared that the Coast Guard would have to cease operations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions due to lack of funding. The Coast Guard’s Homeland Security missions have taken priority over ice operations in past years, so it is refreshing to see that there is hope for a new icebreaker in the midst of the Coast Guard modernizing its aging fleet. Information regarding this acquisition directly affects my future in the Coast Guard. I had always envisioned that my last tour of duty before retirement would be on an icebreaker. That dream seemed unrealistic until now.
I wish the articles had pursued more details regarding whether or not the acquisition of an icebreaker would negatively affect the acquisition of Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs) and National Security Cutters (NSCs). Both of these boats are essential to coastal security mission support and are possible assignments that I may receive upon returning to active duty.
Part III: Career Platform Registration and Holland Interest Assessment
For this assignment, I created an account for the online curriculum, The Career Platform. I have previously taken vocational assessments, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) so I was self-aware of my areas of strengths and weaknesses. The results of the Holland Interest Assessment reflected my operational focus being geared towards resource management, complex problem solving and social skills. I would agree that these results coincide with the areas in which I believe I am well-suited.
My results revealed that I was likely to find success in occupations in the science and medical fields, although I used a military specific discipline filter. Some of the careers suggested for me were physicist, molecular and cellular biologist, biochemist, pathologist, neurologist, and surgeon. I have always been fascinated by science, especially human biology; therefore, I am not surprised by the overall results of the interest assessment. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the lengthy, formal education that these occupations require. I prefer to gain the knowledge required for my job from hands on experience. I was surprised; however, that my results suggested a set of occupations that seem to come from left field. Poet, lyrist, and creative writer were sandwiched between neurologist and physicist. Although I am an avid reader and love to listen to music, I intend to leave the writing up to the professionals. I do not consider myself to have much creativity or imagination.
Social skills, complex problem solving skills, and resource management skills will warrant occupational success in my future career. Although technical skills are important, continuing to develop my critical thinking skills will benefit me more as a senior enlisted member. These skills are essential in the leadership role I will be assuming in the Coast Guard.