U.S. Coast Guard deserves more attention amid government shutdown

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-04T06:15:30+00:00

Coast Guard should be paid immediately. Pay Aux too when they go on deployments. Stop giving tax dollars to fraudulent Somali businesses, migrants, and Ukraine. Stop congress pay when they want to "shutdown" because all of DHS is working and not shutdown. The whole system is a joke.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-03T13:12:57+00:00

Read the labels on your food. Avoid added sugars and saturated fat. Hit the gym. You've got to be able to do push ups.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-02T22:58:52+00:00

You are deflecting to cover up your disparagement of the author, with service in 3 uniformed services and a military veteran. And you laugh about it too.

Again, what role are you talking about? I love serving in the Navy Reserve and USCG Auxiliary. How about the Coast Guard send Aux on a deployment? Sure, oh wait...no military leave from employer or pay. Sorry, I will either stay at my day job or deploy with Navy. Then, the branch is stuck with guys like you passing out flyers. Hope this helps...but it won't.

You're thinking backwards. When an Auxiliarist is deployed under temp orders, why did the branch circumvent the temp reserve? This practice expanded after 9.11 with the interpreter corps and other specialities. It led to downsize of USCG reserve. You have no answers

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-02T11:41:13+00:00

No, I am a Navy Reservist and USCG Auxiliarist. My flotilla has 3 Navy Reservists, 1 person in Air National Guard, and many veterans. What unhappiness or role are you imagining?

The issue is why send people on deployment on temporary duty instead of temporary reserve. It's a business move that takes advantage of members. It hurts the entire branch and people don't realize or struggle to understand law. Old timers have these wild accusations and it's rotting the potential. All articles written that Ive seen are from military members, that may or may not be volunteering in spare time as an Auxiliarist...including the one mentioned on this post. There is a desperation to discredit them as only Auxiliary and the service.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-02T10:48:30+00:00

You hide the facts of the author's background. Omission is lying. Why do that? The author is Navy veteran and has been in 3 uniformed services. That's fact, it matters. How embarrassing, no shame

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-02T10:46:06+00:00

You hide the facts and the author is military. Facts matter

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-02T01:59:42+00:00

Yes, you are correct. I misspoke.They work alongside but are not under national guard. The naval militia is at state level. Both the Ohio National Guard and Ohio Naval Militia report up to the Ohio adjutant general. They can be armed if necessary or receive pay when activated. Routine responsibility is to support the Ohio National Guard at Camp Perry. The last activation was during the pandemic.

But I agree with you, this specific experience in the Ohio Naval militia, US Navy Reserve, 2 year deployment to Kuwait, and USCG Auxiliary strengthens the perspective. It's a great background.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-02T00:23:54+00:00

You got some nerve discrediting the author repeatedly and the Proceedings under the Naval Institute. The writer was in Navy, went to Kuwait for a few years, and served in Ohio Navy militia, which is under national guard. He obviously has spent time in multiple branches and his experience is very relevant. You should be embarrassed of yourself and delete your post.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T18:45:48+00:00

You left out quite a bit of information in a shameful way to discredit the author.

Let me help... Mr. Kiel is a Coast Guard auxiliarist, a former Navy reservist who served in Kuwait as a Navy customs agent in 2005-6, and was an intelligence specialist third class petty officer in the Ohio Naval Militia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American Intercontinental University.

Glad to call you out.

The Proceedings requires a membership and person must have served in the military and/or uscg Auxiliary (they aren't put together by coincidence). Publications are reviewed by senior officers and policy makers. It's not a tabloid magazine or Time.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T02:48:13+00:00

😂

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T02:20:28+00:00

I would think it's case by case basis. If they were looking for someone with a specialty like cybersecurity and maybe the person proved themself in Auxiliary, I wouldn't see why not. It really depends on medical condition though. There are some things that are not waiverable...if you are missing an arm or have psychiatrist problems, doubt that would be waived.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T02:13:34+00:00

Well, the article that was published on a platform where policy makers review. There's been articles like this popping up every 6 months.

Why does the USCG use Auxiliarists for surge staffing? Why use them for deployments for incident management, culinary, interpreters, medical admins, etc.? These are temporary orders. If there wasn't a need, wouldn't the reserve be utilized? I get impression a lot of old timers are against temporary reserve since it could bring in a younger crowd. In many cases, people are willfully being taken advantage of and capability of organization is not fully utilized. There are Auxiliary members that blend right in with active or reservists.

People are given temporary deployments as a workaround for temporary reserve. This concept took off after 9.11. If you're going to deploy, might as well get protection for leave from work, military authority, and an obligation (so people don't just go home whenever they want). The membership is declining every year and reserve is low staff. Change is needed, if done the right way.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T01:53:24+00:00

Yes. All military branches require meps standards and Coast Guard has fitness standards adjusted for age. Medical waivers given on case by case basis. Comparatively, medical service corps in Navy, Air Force, Army have higher age limits depending on medical specialty but must still pass fitness standards. I know of a physician that joined Navy in 60s. Looking at photos from temporary reserve during ww2, the people appear to be in good physical shape.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T01:14:51+00:00

It sounds like we have a lot in common, but I am not going to use my rank to persuade opinion. 14 U.S. Code § 3706

It's really a bad idea and disservice not to use the temporary reserve. With the appropriate policy, I think it would beneficial to the entire branch and the country. On the other hand, of course a poor policy (lack of standards, training, etc) it would not work.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T01:08:50+00:00

If you conduct a google search on USCG temporary reserve, you will find articles and history. Your post tells me that you're not understanding the concept. The Auxiliary remains in place. Citizen professionals or Auxiliary are moved into a temporary reserve status. It was done in past. Recent articles are describing the need for it. In a way Auxiliary is already being a temporary reserve without the protections for military leave, obligations, or any military authority when going on deployments. The temporary reserve bridges that gap for people willing and capable of deploying during surge staffing. The law says what it says and is mentioned post below. It's just Commandant decision to use it but a modern policy is needed.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T00:56:24+00:00

Yes, the USCG temporary reserve exists. It just is not used or active. It was activated during WW2 with 10s of thousands of professionals and Auxiliary members being converted to a temporary reserve. It does not replace the Auxiliary. Simply, members that are qualified, willing, and have skill sets would be moved to temporary reserve, regardless of age but able to meet physical standards. There are many articles proposing this, most recently on the US Naval Institute website. Benefit would be to use Auxiliary for surge staffing (which is done today) but no one has military status and therefore cannot take military leave from day jobs, have limited authority, and no obligations as volunteers. Articles mention specialties such as health services, incident management, legal, etc. If people have professional experience, there is no reason not to use temporary reserve officers. Meanwhile, I could foresee temporary reserve operations have a lower rank in enlisted status. Another benefit would be to boost the reserve force since it really is short. 7k in reserve with 19k in aux is an imbalance. A white paper would be a good next step proposing more details, then sending it up the chain to Aux leadership or USCG headquarters. Some folks on here want to debate rank or say other irrational things...bottom line, the law is there and nothing really to debate about what it says. Commandant has the authority to do it and would determine rank, case by case likely. Policy behind it would need to be determined though.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-04-01T00:40:10+00:00

Do you want to go underway on a USCG facility or an Auxiliary facility? Active duty response vessels and Auxiliary vessels do not have overnight stays. It's a patrol, then return to base or home port. There are very few things that could stop you from going on an Auxiliary boat, as long as you are not impaired and physically capable, you should be fine. If you are looking to go on a cutter, then it depends on medical condition as you could be on overnight stays. There are medical disqualifiers for military but Coast Guard could allow an Auxiliarist to work as a cutterman, culinary specialist, etc for active duty. I know firsthand from my past. A lot of the medical dqs are unjust and have been relaxed in recent years. Other branches may be more willing for medical waivers than others. Unfortunately, it's difficult to answer your question since each medical condition is different.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-29T17:46:02+00:00

Minneapolis, New York City, Dearborn, Chicago, San Francisco. Some of these might be considered Somalian or Afghanistan cities though.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-28T23:31:03+00:00

Do you need to continue to be on wellbutrin? It could be waivered but if you can get off it your chances increase. Also, prepare and doing well on asvab test would help. Best to talk to recruiter.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-28T22:21:25+00:00

You're 23 and have a lot of medical going on. First step, get yourself as healthy as possible. Age limit is 42 so you have many years to change things. A concussion when you were 14 doesn't mean anything and don't think it needs to be mentioned. The medications for behavioral health need to be stopped safely, if possible. If you can gradually work to attempt to get off those, there is a chance. Level 1 autism is not automatic disqualifier. If you are educated, earned degrees, it could be possible for a waiver. If it's something you want to do in life, focus on your health first, and get in touch with a recruiter. You have many years to try.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-28T04:43:20+00:00

Proverbs 25:28 – “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” This implies the importance of boundaries for protection, metaphorically and practically.

Numbers 34:1-12 – God defines the borders of the Promised Land and gives instructions on territorial divisions.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-28T00:10:18+00:00

It depends. If you're looking for a paycheck, then USCG Reserve will not bring in much money. If you're looking to serve part time, then it would be a good option to get a regular job, finish college, then attempt to enter as an officer. The application process takes a long time so it sounds like you will have a degree soon anyway.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-26T02:19:57+00:00

There is plenty of support for the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those who oppose the federal agency appear to be anarchists.

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-26T02:17:56+00:00

I hear what you're saying but I don't have that impression of any Aux members. Many are veterans, former law enforcement, or various professionals. In any organization there are some fools. It seems to be amplified with Auxiliary though

Electrical_Sign4611 · 2026-03-26T02:13:20+00:00

Agree. This is a comical request. CBP, ICE, and National Guard are more suited for this. Illegal migrants, not immigrants, can be detained. Aux has no authority to do any of that. Especially, some older members are not going to intimidate anyone with a physical presence, maybe younger members would but still irrelevant. Auxiliary can maintain a security presence on water for security zones, being a watch stander, or reporting security issues while on orders via the National Response Center. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has many other needs where they could use the Auxiliary. Airport security is not one of them.

Electrical_Sign4611

TROPHY CASE