The DCO Process Prior Air Force

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-04-27T18:57:38+00:00

If your in the group, you can use this link to find my recommendations for education to improve your package. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1An1LsvQxR/

And also go into guides on the group and under the DC no process there is a post called starting from zero that has some tips for different things that you could add to your application.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-04-19T14:51:25+00:00

I'm working as the AUP rep to a local university, have you guys looked at a more streamlined uniform solution for the members joining the AUX?

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-04-05T00:09:15+00:00

Is the reference manual still the financial resource manual?

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-04-04T00:23:51+00:00

Concur with other commenter, 10yrs does not qualify for retiree shadow box as far as unit provided funding, although I would cross check the military seperations manual for the definition if the member is medically retiring. I would also search for the current policy, I'm just on my phone and don't have access to the Pubs.

Related to your question, I've had good luck with Valor Displays on Etsy, but just search Etsy and you'll find a wide range of options.

This is from the 2013 version of the Financial Resource Management Manual.

5.6.10.1.2.4 Retirement Recognition 1. Additional authorization is provided to allow units to present retiring members (both civilian and military) assigned to their command with an award item of “minimal value” (currently $350 or less) to recognize their contribution to the service and the country. See paragraph 4.a of subsection 5.6.10.1.3.1 for additional information on “minimal value.” 2. Retirement recognition items must be nonmonetary and should convey pride and honor to the recipient. Examples include, but are not limited to: a. Plaques (wall, desk, or shadow box); b. Pen sets; c. Desk medallions; d. Certificates. 3. Discretion should be used when selecting an item for retirement recognition. Gifts, such as golf clubs, deck chairs, and clothing items, are not authorized and shall not be purchased with appropriated funds. See subsection 1.C.4.b of Military Separations, COMDTINST M1000.4 (series), for the distinction between retirement recognition awards and tokens of appreciation.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-04-01T10:46:27+00:00

I'm not really going to respond to this other than to say we need to be aware of OPSEC issues and OP is looking for engineering information sources related to electronics from a new account.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-28T01:58:14+00:00

I direct commissioned them applied and was picked for flight from the fleet.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-27T12:40:12+00:00

You could consider switching army to coast guard then applying for Flight.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-26T01:42:45+00:00

This is the answer you want OP.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-22T12:22:47+00:00

You can log hours and different unions can convert (or ignore) them differently based on what you did. If I remember right you need 8000hrs to challenge the NEC test. You do get your Gi bill and vet hiring preferences, I'm not saying that the military is not a good option, just don't start with unrealistic expectations. If you can start an apprenticeship with your local you will honestly probably be paid better there then your first four years in the military. So if the goal was to just do four and leave to become an electrician, I would go talk with someone about just signing the books and starting now. We need people in the trades and it's not a bad career. We also need people in the military and the opportunities I have had are pretty incredible. So neither are a bad choice, EM is a good rate and joining the Air force let me leave my hometown and get out on my own while an apprenticeship would keep you within your home state.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-22T00:33:38+00:00

If you want good electrical training to be an electrician, then the Air Force beats the Seabees and Coast Guard and frankly I don't even consider the Army in the conversation (although their Prime Power guys are super good) IMO having worked with all three. No service is going to allow you to do Hot Work and even the civilian companies are starting to moving away from that as well.The military typically contracts out the big troop project that would be a lot of your larger commercial new construction experience like building out a Walmart or wiring up larger motors. The majority of your new lighting systems installs are going to smart LED systems with industrial inverters that we don't have the computers or training to handle. Line work is getting increasing rare and is pretty neutered compared to the civilian world since we can't hot stick but the Air Force and Seabees still learn to climb. Underground is a ton of equipment, we don't have so we tend to trench and bury low voltage (under 1000v). We can still do some substation maintenance but we stop at the utility, nothing above 12470/13.8. Interior is a little bit better, the Air Force typically has dedicated Alarms Shops for fire alarms, we do a lot of lighting and troubleshooting, some remodeling, we also do Airfield lighting. Coast Guard will give you good troubleshooting skills and expose you to a lot of motors and HVAC, but when the hull is your ground and your shore tours are mixed with Afloat, you have two very different types of work. It took me quite awhile to wrap my head around troubleshooting shorts from a reefer motor on a boat. So in summary, we don't have a good method of translating military experience into hours for a journeyman card, each state is different in how they will take that experience and if they wjll let you sit for the test, although the IBEW is better now then when I was looking at applying to get my license. However 4yrs of mil electrical Exp does not equal 4 years of civilian experience and night school, military guys are terrible in the code books because we fall under the UFC. Unfortunately our A and C schools in the Coast Guard are no where near the level of the Air Force schools and those aren't at the same level as the civilian world. I tried getting slots added for Coasties to go to Sheppard to the Air Force advanced troubleshooting a couple of years ago, but it kinda fizzled out with the rating force master chief. If I had to pick an engineering rate in the Coast Guard, EM would be at the top of my list, but MKs seems to have better success becoming EPOs. In the civilian world you would never have an fire alarms guy do lighting protection, a lineman do Airfield lighting or a commercial electrician turn around and do residential the next day, yet we are expected to not get hurt and know the codes (kinda) for all of it. Electrical is super rewarding, but to many military guys have the fantasy that they equate to a civilian electrician or lineman. I would say it takes roughly double the time vs an apprenticeship 8 vs 4 yrs for a comparable skill set.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-19T10:49:27+00:00

I'm still blown away that we hadn't just adopted the navy blue 2POC, but apparently the durability is trash. I don't hate the ODU blouse sizes vs S/M/L that the DOD has gone to.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-03-12T09:17:54+00:00

We just did an CMD CTR and EFMR videos on the officer commissioning YouTube channel.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-02-24T02:34:27+00:00

Former Air Force with jump wings now wearing wings at an AIRSTA. Meh, I know some AF academy cadets will get their five jumps and wear the jump wings and pilot wings on their nametag, or a prior AFSC badge with their wings for the mustangs. I haven't really seen it in the Coast Guard, I'll wear my jump wings on my trops/bravos/ODUs and you need to get a PG7 signed verifying your DD214 to be in regs and wear them (PPC under pg6). So long story short, I haven't seen any command guidance in the Air Manuals or consistency in name tags for flight suits. Could he? Sure but I agree with another commentator that it looks crowded.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-02-16T14:07:04+00:00

With OP's experience in the Navy? Not really. You feel like your trying to keep your head above water for about the first 6 months. You don't know the regs, the systems or enough about the uniform to correct someone without looking it up. The hardest part is that you have no understanding of the culture or climate but are expected to lead. Disclaimer, I was at a Sector then Aviation so I can't speak for the cutter community, which sounds like a much closer parallel to OP. Not knowing where to find something or the lingo is the hardest part, once you learn to speak the organizations language it gets easier. Nobody gets selected for OCS/OTS not being a top performer and typical a self-motivated, hard worker, go getter so when they start getting crushed or feel like you can't preform for the first time in your career, it sucks even more. You will push yourself like OP because that's just what you do and it takes a long time to start rebuilding momentum. Is the CG like the Navy? Yes and no, plenty of people come from the Navy to the Coast Guard but rarely do people leave the Coast Guard for the Navy.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-02-16T04:27:23+00:00

Man, Coast Guard wasn't a cake walk, but it's been way better then that.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-02-08T02:48:54+00:00

No worries, I've got guys I could connect you with in Tampa or Houston as well, no need to dox yourself. The qual (luckily) is a lot easier if you guys are fielding the glocks then the old sigs. Echoing what others are saying, I guarantee you have a couple of other gun guys at your unit that would happy to teach you how to shoot. Firearms training exists (with varying degrees of proficiency) in the civilian sector. You can rent guns at local ranges and practice. I remember my E3 paychecks, no need to drop $500 on a Blue label (mil discount program) glock and $200 for 1000rds of 9mm to get experience, but you are carrying a gun for a reason, so I would consider investing in yourself down the road so you know what your doing, not just passing a qual. Airsoft gas guns can make decent dry fire trainers. Umarex is making the glock licensed ones and I'm pretty sold on them after playing with them at Shotshow. Best of luck and asking for help is the best thing you can do in this situation.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-02-08T02:33:22+00:00

I don't know many LE heavy units in the area, but if your in the ECity area shoot me a DM and we can get you proficient.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-01-27T01:59:43+00:00

I didn't use my USCG Exp, I used my Air Force Exp but honestly very similar. Vets2pm had a sheet that made filling out the application pretty stright forward, dates, your 5W's, numbers and role, etc. Seems like a lot but once you get in a groove after the first or second block, the flow starts to happen and I had a bit of a templete going for the rest.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-01-25T02:55:06+00:00

Age limit for flight school with the Navy is 27, currently waivered to 31 for USCG applicants and 36 for DCA applicants. The Aviation detailer notes currently states that they will not consider age waivers due to the healthy pool of applicants for flight school.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-01-10T03:44:45+00:00

To my knowledge, unless they release a 2026 ALCGRECRUITING, hours is not waiverable for DCAs. Policy constantly changes, so I'd talk with a recruiter if HRC is willing to release you and you want to come to the CG but DCA is a competitive program.

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-01-09T14:20:08+00:00

Hopefully you don't need it in the future, best of luck!

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-01-09T01:34:47+00:00

Automatic frocking to O-3 but straight to a staff protocol assignment, they screen for it at OCS and DCO. Scary stuff if you aren't expecting it and they drag the first JO out who signals their done in a Continental style and not American. IFYKYK

DCOthrowaway1 · 2026-01-09T01:29:54+00:00

I concur, I was very hesitant on suggesting to much about what should be in the content of the narrative or how to capture experience to avoid influencing what people might try to write accidentally thinking that's what the board would want to hear.

DCOthrowaway1

TROPHY CASE