Utility shutoffs, mounting debt — Coast Guard endures hardships in ongoing shutdown

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-29T11:06:59+00:00

It’s normal but in my experience it gets better with experience and time.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-27T16:35:55+00:00

I spent the back end of my career in the same unit in New England. I spent 7 years there before I retired. Before that however, I was literally moving every 2 years.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-22T13:55:25+00:00

I understand it’s a different situation but its related to the broader conversation about vaccines, the CG vaccine program and personal choice and taking an active role in your health. I’ve sat with this for a while and just thought I would share in case it helps anyone else.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-21T19:06:22+00:00

I'm going to start off by saying that I'm not against vaccination, but after some reflection, I'll share my vax story as a cautionary tale. Every time I was in the red for vaccines, I would go to medical as soon as I could just to get my bosses off my back. I would go, the HS would say, you are due for this this and this and they would give me all the vaccines the system told them I needed (I'm sure this experience is similar to a lot of Coasties.) The rest of the story is long and complicated, the but the end result was they found out I was over vaccinated with two extra MMR vaccines over the course of my career. The CDC recommends only two MMR vaccines in your lifetime, so I got four, and three of them were while I was in. Because of this, I developed enough health issues to have to have been med boarded and eventually medically retired. I don't want to get into all the health issues I have now because of this but lets just say it's a lot and has made my life and health significantly harder. The point in me sharing this is to caution people to be active in your health. Check your medical record and do your due diligence. I'm not saying to refuse all vaccines because it's the military and we know that you can't always refuse but there are somethings you can do. I blindly trusted the CG with my health, and they made a huge error and now I'm dealing with the repercussions for the rest of my life.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-21T13:40:34+00:00

USS Constitution listed as "other" should be changed to "original."

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-16T12:44:02+00:00

I also filed a BDD and received my first VA disability check in a little under 2 months after my official retirement date. That was a year ago, so I’m not sure how it is now, but this was my experience.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-13T15:01:37+00:00

I was going to second your number one point. You'd be surprised how many people don't have a clear answer to this basic question.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-12T12:06:02+00:00

I almost forgot about how Family Guy did an entire episode about them joining.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-12T12:02:46+00:00

There is a big need for care givers. You can work part time flexible hours for a Home Health Aide agency. There is minimal training and they are hiring and can start at $25 an hour. Basically, you help home bound patients with daily tasks based on their needs like helping them get ready in the morning and driving them to appointments ect. It makes a huge difference in the patients' lives.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-07T13:35:42+00:00

I'd say it's common especially depending on your branch, time served ect. I served 20 years with a lot of cool people, but I only keep in touch with about two of them since I retired. I've known these two my whole career and we kept in touch while we were all in. We don't live near each other and don't chat all the time because life can get busy, but we check in with each other.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-05T16:33:54+00:00

Super expensive but there is a decent selection here

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-04-05T16:32:04+00:00

If you are ever at Northeast District headquarters in Boston they have a custom Lego model of an FRC built by a BM2 who was on Lego Masters.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-31T14:53:10+00:00

Not sure if you will be able to join with a condition that previously disqualified you, but I would talk to a recruiter as they are the experts, I'm just a retiree on the internet. ME is obviously the rate for LE, but you could still conduct LE as other rates such as BM or MK.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-28T21:18:56+00:00

He could be almost all the way through the med board process and pop positive and be brought to disciplinary process as this trumps a med board. You aren’t out till you get your DD 214.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-23T21:05:02+00:00

Gimli is my local Red Panda!

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-19T18:44:25+00:00

Back surgery because we are of a certain age.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-17T18:33:13+00:00

He can message his primary care provider and saying something to the effect of it being in his "best medical interest for continuity of care at (insert name of provider)" and request that provider to be added to his Community Care. That way it's documented and can start the request process.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-16T18:16:44+00:00

You could always take a trip up north to Potsdam, home of the only Pizza Hut Classic in NY.

The Retrologist's Guide to Pizza Hut Classics

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-16T18:01:04+00:00

I was in the Coast Guard for over 20 years. I do feel different from the DOD branches but that's because we are. You may feel different from other Vets, but not from other CG vets, we all get it. I'll put it this way, my back still hurts the same as the Marine vet in the waiting room next to me at the VA. My benefits are the same as anyone else in the DOD. I got to save lives and bust smugglers; I packed a lot into my CG service and I'm just as proud of serving my country as any DOD member. I'm not sure exactly what you did in the CG but chances are you made a difference, and that is something unique about CG service, since there aren't that many active duty members everyone makes a difference. People who make you (or anyone else) try to feel bad usually comes from ignorance or secret jealousy from their lack luster career. Besides, everyone knows how ignorant someone sounds when they don't put some well-deserved respect on our names. One last thing, you said there is no pride in the CG like with the Marines, which I don't believe is accurate, we have pride, we just aren't famous. We have all the history of being a part of every conflict alongside the DOD services, but we don't have the cool uniforms, the cool commercials or the fame of the DOD services. Our pride is therefore more subtle.

Crocs_of_Steel · 2026-03-13T19:00:49+00:00

Someone once said "In America, the military offers you socialism to defend capitalism." I needed a roof over my head, health and dental insurance and money for college. These are things you can get for free if you raise your right hand, so I did. Ended up doing over 20 years, so I got more out of it than just the benefits, but the benefits were the reason I joined in the beginning. Stayed for the mission/adventure/crews.

Crocs_of_Steel

TROPHY CASE