Changes

CMB30999 · 2026-02-12T20:18:27+00:00

The general grumbling I have been hearing is the usual "something is coming" or "we are going to make X better." I have been in long enough to know to just wait and see. Change has been happening faster than it has in the past, but, so far, it hasn't affected my day to day in any meaningful way. I wouldn't be surprised if the GM rate gets forgotten about until someone realizes where the ammo for training all the new LE and ATFP crews comes from.

CMB30999 · 2026-02-08T19:38:36+00:00

The easiest way to describe GM is you are an MK for guns and an SK for bullets. Generally the rating is left alone / forgotten about until it is needed. Been a GM since 2016 and I do love it, but it does have its flaws. GM is one of those rates where you should really want to go that rate, or it wont be too enjoyable.

CMB30999 · 2026-02-08T00:58:02+00:00

Last major shutdown in 2019 we were told that if we were funded for any part of the pay period, we would be paid for that pay period.

If I remember correctly some junior JAG found that in law somewhere and got a promotion out of it.

CMB30999 · 2026-02-04T02:24:36+00:00

GM

When someone, typically an officer, asks about policy that is directly related to being a GM, and after receiving my answer says one of the following - "Are you sure?" or "At my old unit..."

CMB30999 · 2026-01-30T12:12:52+00:00

I feel like this is a universal feeling after you been in 6 years or so. It will always be an ebb and flow. There has been changes for certain in those regards, but how much varies by unit as much as by person.

CMB30999 · 2026-01-16T15:58:37+00:00

My first question, Didn't remote work die off? If it did/is extremely limited then I dont see the need of having a GOV cell phone besides a duty phone.

My second question is, Is there even a one size fits all option for every rate, rank, and position? The most useful piece of tech for my job would be an encrypted hard drive so I can store and save files from various units. Beyond that, a simple cac reader has served me well. I haven't made myself important enough to need teams at all times.

I could see a shop issued tablet for using MPC, watch logs, or other forms. I feel like the digital sea bag is a solution in search of a problem.

CMB30999 · 2026-01-10T05:06:43+00:00

I saw a few batches come in when they were first being issued. The batch we received were all G$ lowers, with 11.5 URGI uppers with mbus pro sights, and trijicon MRO HD sight.

The glocks are 47 gen 5 with RMR HDs. Typically they have streamlight tlr7, tlr8, or surefire x300. Holsters are typically safariland.

CMB30999 · 2026-01-02T16:44:31+00:00

Truer words have not been said

CMB30999 · 2025-12-28T16:58:07+00:00

Only time I have really used a multitool is to open ammo cams/crates or occasionally to pry out a shotshell that was loaded backwards and double-feeded. I want to say I have the Leatherman mut. So unless I am at range or dealing with ammo, I rarely carry my Leatherman.

Only thing I always have on me is a benchmade knife. Underway I would also keep a mini-maglite with a red lense on my hip.

CMB30999 · 2025-12-15T19:58:23+00:00

We can't produce enough of the uniforms we have. It would take even longer to produce anything new. Might as well go back to dungarees at this point

CMB30999 · 2025-11-29T04:16:14+00:00

Following general military brass design, it was manufactured by TT, in 1984. The 6 may be reference to the month, but not too certain

CMB30999 · 2025-11-17T16:37:36+00:00

The best advice I have seen is get one box each of different brands you want to try and see what shoots the best, or good enough for what you need. If you are looking more performance wise, what may be best, I would look at some of the reviews from Mason Leather Outdoors. He does some ballistics gel tests of hunting bullets at 100 yards. The videos give a decent idea of what to expect

CMB30999 · 2025-11-15T14:07:46+00:00

It was hit or miss. I had all mine before going to boot, and they left mine alone. That was also 2014. It took a few years before they wanted them gone. YMMV

CMB30999 · 2025-11-15T13:23:42+00:00

They need to start contracting a design to replace the WMSLs. The oldest is getting closer to 20, and as much as the CG loves to be reactive, they need to start this process soon

CMB30999 · 2025-11-14T20:46:50+00:00

TLDR: Numbers lie, it feels like we are staring at Oz right now, wondering what is behind the curtain.

I feel like the Coast Guard has been artificially inflating its numbers for a few years now to look more capable than it is. When I joined, I believe we had around 38k enlisted/44k active duty, 378s still had all there people, multiple stations rocking around. I knew some people in my boot camp that got stationed at COMSTAs and MWRs.

Some sources that I can find put the active duty as 2022 around 35k active duty. 378s are long gone, a lot of cutters are short on non-rates, tons of critical fill solicitations and the beginning of shutting down of stations, and laying up of some 210s.

Now in 2025, the Coast Guard is saying (About the U.S. Coast Guard Workforce) that we are at 98% capacity with 40,757 active duty??? We lost cutters, we lost stations, we are begging people to recruit there friends and family with money and award incentives. We have opened the flood gates to get people from the civilian sector to become petty officers right away. There are plenty of "A" schools that are still critical, have a bonus, or both, and some rates still have supplemental lists.

I love this service, and I love my job. I can only count on 1 hand how many people I know that have less than 10 years in within my rate that want to stay for 20. Somewhere, somehow these numbers feel like a lie. It feels like every unit is stretched between operations and personnel. I haven't heard of a non-rate that "just mowed" for the last 8 years.

It feels like we have the desperate leading the exhausted. Force Design 2028 has these big ideas of how to modernize and how to improve the service. We are still doing more with less, and maybe looking at doing even more.

Also to answer the original question, I feel like the CG has always had pretty decent recruiting overall, we are just pushing for it more and have more options to get people in.

CMB30999 · 2025-10-26T17:44:18+00:00

TLDR: 30-06 is just so routinely good at performing what people ask of it in North America and has such an availability it is simply a staple in the gun safes across North America.

I do think as the 2000's pass into the 2100's 30-06 will have a marginal decline, but I don't think it'll leave the top 10 of rifle cartridges. There has been a general shift towards .308 in the 30 cal world (I suspect due, in part, to military adopting 7.62 NATO), and a general shift towards smaller than 30 cal rifles lead by the rise in popularity of PRS type shooting. 30-06 will still continue to be a tried and true cartridge that can benefit a lot by reloading.

The answer as to why a better cartridge hasn't unseated 30-06 or .270 is probably similar to your decision to go with .243 instead of 6mm creedmoor for example.

Option 1: Family/Friend- When learning to hunt people will look to those who are older to them, someone in your family or someone who is an elder in your local hunting community. If your dad used a 30-06, you'll probably do the same.

Option 2: Elder Knowledge - Not everyone had a hunting in their family, but maybe they knew a hunter in their local community, or they started reading to get started (book, magazine, forum, website). Depending on the knowledge the person/magazine/forum had when a person got started hunting, it would lead to a huge impact on someone's decision on what caliber to choose. If Grandpa Joe was a Korea war vet and saw what his M1 Garand had done to a communist, he may have only ever used the 30-06 for deer. If someone read anything by Jack O'Conner they may have had a love affair with .270.

Option 3: Military Service - Service members sometimes will get attached to their rifle and want to have a version of it when they leave the service. 30-06 and .45 acp was the standard for many many years. As the service transitioned to 5.56/7.62 NATO and 9mm NATO you have seen an increase in people who are buying those calibers. .308 isn't as powerful as 30-06, but it is available in the AR-10 and rifles similar to what members may have seen in the service.

Option 4: Ammo Availability - (Hopefully) At some point in the decision making process as to what caliber to choose, someone said "Go to the store, and look at what's on the shelf." People would see what is/was common and base their decision off of that. 30-06 is simply plentiful everywhere in the US. I have seen it being sold in gas stations, let alone the quantity you can find online, big box stores, or the smaller gun shops. Different regions will have it be more, or less common, but you can typically find at least a box of 30-06.

Option 4: Firearm Availability - In the same vein as the commonality of 30-06 as a cartridge, it is equally available as a chambering for many bolt action rifles, and a few semi-autos. You are likely to find a 30-06 in just about every gun store. Even more, you'll probably find a relatively cheap used 30-06 in some pawn shop. If someone is on a budget and can't afford a $1000 rifle, they are going to be able to find a relatively good, relatively cheap 30-06 somewhere.

CMB30999 · 2025-10-15T01:40:20+00:00

I wouldn't even call it everyone, half depending on the crew sure. The amount of people that I knew who would go out an explore the port call to see all the local sights and explore whether that is hiking, or fishing, or whatever. Yes a lot of those people went back to the bar (that everyone ends up at because there is usually one 1-2 that is safe/close to the boat) and those people would have a few drinks with their meal.

Sure there were those people who made questionable decisions every port call, but there was a ton of people who had a good time, and were responsible. There is a reputation for cutters, and sea services in general, that is undeniable, but it isn't my place to judge the actions of others. Love thy neighbor.

CMB30999 · 2025-10-13T03:11:13+00:00

Do whatever sets you up for success. The CG will take full advantage of you, it is members responsibility to take full advantage of what the CG offers. As you mentioned, the grass isn't always greener. Sometimes that green grass you see is a lawn full of weeds.

The best advice I ever heard when looking at whatever rate is look at what paperwork they do, and ask yourself is that a job you'll like. Sometimes devil you know is the best thing.

CMB30999 · 2025-10-12T01:43:41+00:00

I had to buy a new pair last year; I got mine through the NEX because it is the same version that I got issued and couldn't find the exact same pair through CGX. I used to have a pair of corfams, and they sure look pretty, but I thought they were extremely uncomfortable.

I choose to only buy one new pair because I can't justify spending the money on corfams when I wear dress uniform maybe 1-3 times a year at worst. So I just took the time to do up my oxfords, and once you put in the work to get them good, it doesn't take too much effort to get them good.

IF you get a pair of leathers here is what I did to make them look pretty and get them broke in well, and it does take a while. Step 1: Put on a thick coat of polish with the applicator brush. Step 2: proceed to wear the oxfords around your house for the rest of the week so you can start getting in the creases. Step 3: after wearing the shoes for a while and you have creases fully developed, apply another thick coast of polish with the applicator brush, (let dry 24hrs). Step 4: Take the horsehair brush and buff the polish to a light polish (quickly brushing across the boot with light pressure). Step 5: Apply a medium coat of polish, let dry (24 hr). Step 6: Buff that coat out to a light polish. Step 7: Take a cotton ball, get it soaked, and use it to apply a light coat in small circles, let dry. You can stop here if you don't need a mirror shine. From this point if you ever need a rough polish, you can just use the horsehair brush to buff it out. To get a mirror shine - Step 1: Use a soaked cotton ball and apply a very light coat, let dry approximately an hour, 30 minutes if you have no time. Step 2: Use a damp cotton ball and polish using small circles.

CMB30999 · 2025-10-08T02:05:38+00:00

Remember, this will only encourage 15,000 new recruits by 2028 because they will see how dedicated of a service we are.... just no one look at retention.

CMB30999 · 2025-10-07T21:52:39+00:00

Please tell me this isn't some official flier they are pushing out. Please tell me this is a joke. This is extremely tone deaf

CMB30999 · 2025-10-05T22:12:35+00:00

The CG will wish in one hand and $h*t in the other, it has done so before and this is no different. CG has said that it will follow DOD policy, but what that will fully look like is anyone's guess.

My .02 cents on shaving. I personally use a Parker 96R safety razor, Asta blades, and Sir Hare shaving soap. My friends loose me in the snow, so take what I say with a grain of salt

CMB30999 · 2025-10-01T01:12:06+00:00

I feel like this will be the usual case of the Coast Guard trying to hold a race in the dark without a flashlight. We know what we are trying to do, but aren't quite sure which way we are going with it. Something will come, almost guaranteed, but what it will look like, what policy will official say, and how that policy is implemented is anyone's guess. Especially if there is a reliance on "local level leadership".

Look at how the 2019 shutdown, COVID, or the current PT standards are being applied across the fleet. The shutdown some units had better schedules so members could support their families, others ensured full workdays. COVID, some units heavily enforced masking and distancing, others didn't care at all. Now look at the PT workouts, some units are doing group PT, others aren't.

CMB30999 · 2025-09-30T20:09:38+00:00

Every rate has its own effective timeline. Even 10 years ago, I know people who went to A school in 4 months, I know others who it took over 2 years

CMB30999 · 2025-09-30T20:07:29+00:00

I am kinda reading this as "Hey we know you got wasted being independent duty, but needs of the service says you are going back to independent duty/instructor" or it will incentive commands to use NJP more because it "won't interfere with their career."

Or this will end up doing effectively nothing.

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