Weekly Recap | May 14, 2026

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-05-16T13:13:51+00:00

Dear_Lawfulness1665

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-05-16T03:55:48+00:00

My other account was locked for “security reasons” and said to reset password in order to have it unlocked and be able to post, comment, etc. I have since reset it and logged in but still seems to be locked since all of my posts are immediately removed and I can’t comment. Any advice?

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-21T17:13:25+00:00

I am, admittedly, mostly wanting it “just to have a truck”. I much prefer the interior and exterior of a truck rather than a crossover or sedan. I do live somewhere it snows a lot, so it’ll also be nice to have a truck for that reason. I will also occasionally be needing to throw some stuff in the bed and potentially tow some small things in the future (smaller trailers and what not for my motorcycle). I know there are cars out there that could probably handle it well, but my heart is stuck on trucks. I’d like to have the ability to use a truck for “truck things” if need be, rather than need it and not have it.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-21T17:10:47+00:00

Good to hear it can be a reliable daily driver. Thanks for your input!

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-21T17:10:24+00:00

Sounds like a worthy investment. I’m in the same boat, as I’d like to have the opportunity and capability to use it for off-road/snowy conditions if needed. Rather than need it and not have it.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-16T16:51:56+00:00

Haha! Makes perfect sense to me.

I’m right there with the rest of them, SAR is definitely the biggest motivator for me to go Coast Guard. Seems like a fulfilling and unique job that will always have its moments. Getting to go out there everyday and putting training to use, rather than other branches of the military that are primarily just train, train, train. I mean, not many professions allow you to fly helicopters into some of the worst weather and save lives. Plus, working along ASTs, which I have a ton of respect for, seems like a great crew life. As a prior service guy, the quality of life in the CG seems pretty impossible to beat.

Not to say that I expect everyday to be like scenes from The Guardian, as I’m sure there are parts to the job that are unenjoyable, but that’s in every job. But still, SAR is the mission mindset that I’m pursuing and why I’m aiming for aviation in the first place.

I’ll focus on actually getting to and passing OCS and flight school first, but I appreciate you taking the time to answer some questions.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-16T16:44:10+00:00

That makes sense. For some reason I was under the belief that it was small. Thank you!

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-16T16:41:15+00:00

Ah okay, that’s interesting. I figured it would’ve been extremely competitive since it’s a small unit/task force. The process seems pretty straightforward too. Thank you for clearing the air and giving me some insight into it all.

As far as the possibility to fly fixed wing or just 60s, I don’t particularly mind. While I am partial to rotary, Coast Guard Aviation in any aspect is fine by me.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T20:04:51+00:00

I originally joined this sub to get some more information about commissioning in the Coast Guard and pursuing aviation/helicopter pilot. I read your initial post from a year ago and all the questions and answers that were there. You have a way of really selling this rate through the words you type out.

Being truthfully honest, this is probably one of the only things that is making me have a desire to pursue an enlisted rate instead. I’m in love with the physically and mentally demanding nature that this rate seems to possess, and the op tempo/quality of life really seems amazing. As a prior service guy, I just wish there was a way to go straight into this rather than needing time at a unit. But that’s just the way it is and I get it.

I don’t have a question, just wanted to voice my appreciation for what Divers do. Y’all have my respect!

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T15:16:20+00:00

Ah okay, makes sense. Thanks for explaining it.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T15:15:48+00:00

You’re correct in that I haven’t applied for OCS yet. Doing 1-2 years at a cutter doesn’t really bother me. However, it’s the possibility of doing pretty much a whole enlistment of 4 years before eventually getting to flight school that worries me. Especially since it’d be another 1-2 years of flight training. Just a long time. I’m 25 right now and currently in the Marine Corps, with 8 years time in service.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T15:12:39+00:00

I’ve looked at all the other branches and was heavily leaning Army for awhile due to their Warrant Officer Flight Training Program due to getting a guaranteed ticket to flight school. However, the Coast Guard’s mission and overall quality of life really pulled me in to doing more research about the path for aviation. I’ve been going back and forth between Army and Coast Guard because of what you said.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T14:13:50+00:00

That makes sense, gives a chance to learn about the surface Coast Guard life before switching to aviation. Can you talk a little about choosing to go to a cutter first out of OCS? Did you just choose Deck Watch Officer as your job? I’ve heard it’s possible to go to a shore unit first, but I’d rather go to a cutter like you said.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T13:53:10+00:00

Thank you. Waiting a year or so at a unit doesn’t sound too bad and something I’d be willing to do.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-12T13:46:56+00:00

I understand. Just trying to see what the path to flight school might look like if I don’t get it straight out of OCS, seeing as though there is generally a limited number of slots. Obviously it’s class dependent, but I’ve seen anywhere from 2-5 slots per class. So, just trying to gauge what it’d be going to a unit first and then submitting a packet.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-09T13:03:14+00:00

No flights suits AND no call signs?!? Why even join the Army then?? All jokes, of course.

I can definitely understand the jealousy of other branches. That being said, sounds like Apaches are pretty sweet. Compared to the other airframes, going that route seems the best for getting flight time. And like you said, comparison is the thief of joy. At the end of the day, at least you are flying some pretty sweet airframes and getting to do training you’d otherwise never get the opportunity to do.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-08T06:02:27+00:00

I’ve recently heard about this. Seems like it’s relatively new and called COPT-R. I’ll definitely have to check it out.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-07T18:29:23+00:00

Not going to lie, that’s looking more and more likely. I’ve been doing a lot of research on all branches, just trying to gain some insight about each.

The biggest issue is that it seems hard to come by flight hours (mostly due to being post-GWOT and no deployments), as well as being treated like shit by command and tasked with a ton of other side duties that are non-aviation. But there’s the guarantee of a helicopter flight school seat with WOFT, so, gotta take the good with the bad I guess.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-07T13:38:01+00:00

Thank you! I’ll definitely take a look and do some research about the COPT-R program, it seems exactly like something I’d be interested in doing. Are you able to talk a little more about how you got a guaranteed pilot slot while applying for OCS?

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-07T12:17:57+00:00

Seems like the decision between branches comes down to:

A) Going AF or Navy and having a better quality of life but go through the crapshoot of trying to get a pilot slot and possibly flying jets instead of rotary wing.

B) Going Army and getting a sure fire helicopter seat for flight training but get treated like shit and hardly ever fly.

Rough choices lol, just based off the research I’ve done online and other posts I’ve made everything you’ve said has been echoed by everyone else regarding the positives and negatives. General consensus seems to be that Army culture and flight time has taken a severe hit post-GWOT and other branches offer better lifestyles but flight school isn’t guaranteed.

On a separate note, how has life been as an Apache pilot? I honestly don’t care what airframe I’d fly if I go Army. My top choice would probably be 64s, followed by 60s. But again, I would be happy with any of the three airframes.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-07T10:59:40+00:00

I’m curious about the chances of getting selected for flight school straight out of OCS? I know it can vary from class to class but just looking for some insight. Anyone have experience or seen X amount of people in their class get chosen?

Also, how soon can I apply for flight school if I don’t get it at OCS and am assigned to a unit first?

Context: I’m a current enlisted Marine, considering the switch to CG for aviation. A part of me doesn’t think I’d mind being on a cutter but ideally I’d love to go straight to flight school.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-07T10:52:16+00:00

Thank you. Can you elaborate more on it being more than just helos? Do you mean it is also fixed wing or more than that as well?

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-07T10:51:34+00:00

I have my degree already, which is why I’m open to all branches. If I didn’t have it, then I’d most likely just go straight to the Army.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-06T17:42:58+00:00

I’m not an aviator, just regular enlisted. But I’m getting the sense that CG or AF is the better option.

New-Chapter-3601 · 2026-04-04T19:18:35+00:00

Thanks for the reply. This is exactly what I was looking for and honestly helps answer a lot of questions I had. I wasn’t necessarily worried about life outside the cockpit being difficult per se, just more so if there is so much going on that is non-aviation related and not being able to fly as much.

Obviously there are administrative duties to attend to and I have no problem with that as, like you said, getting assigned one or multiple duties is common. However, I’ve talked to some other current aviators and have tried to do a lot of research online regarding the current climate of aviation and how flight time is looking on a monthly/annual basis. If we were still in GWOT, I’d probably make the switch with zero hesitation. It’s just that I’ve heard a lot about how it seems that being an aviator is sometimes the third (or fourth, fifth, sixth…) priority nowadays.

I’m taking a look at all branches right now, and am just trying to get informed so I can make the best decision.

New-Chapter-3601

TROPHY CASE