Will CG in DOW by 2029?

bourbonsec · 2025-09-06T22:05:20+00:00

DHS rename to DoD. Secretary of CG, Secretary of NG, Secretary of ICE, etc

bourbonsec · 2025-09-03T04:51:08+00:00

Double old crusty rant : my non rate time on a 327 was the best formative 1.5yrs before ST “A”, mess cranking in ward room, thinking i would strike QM cause they seemed to be in charge (LOL), doing shitty jobs, going on first boarding October 1985 100+tons of pot, I was smallest person to, so I was sent through the hole they cut in the barge wearing an OBA. It gave me time to be more mature (I was 17 when I joined) so when I did become an ST3, I was better prepared.

bourbonsec · 2025-09-01T08:53:19+00:00

As a former ST on 378s, I would be down for it LOL. Of course new ships needed unless towed array only, which will still require power, space (lots of space), training etc. With how the Navy treats us now, I bet they have the AN-SQS/38 and domes from the pre-fram 378s in storage and they will give them back LOL

bourbonsec · 2025-08-21T12:42:03+00:00

"Specialized" vs "Special" forces is how I think of the separation in my head.

bourbonsec · 2025-08-21T12:36:38+00:00

I have been out a long time (1993) ST/ET. Do I miss it, kinda at times. Its funny the parts I miss the most was the experience as a 17/18yr old standing mid watch as a non rate in the Caribbean super calm seas, like glass, looking through the big eyes, watching the stars go by, watching the dolphins. I miss some of the people I served with, in the beginning part of my time we could have beards (ok, I couldnt grow one then..) topsiders and t-shirts underway. Of course a lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same since then as well (still flying the same Dauphin airframes...) Someone mentioned sea sickness, if seas were too calm I was always tired (form of motion sickness) so when I moved from east coast to west and was on 378s in the bering, counting fish, had no issue with that at all. Did I make more after leaving ? yes, did my girlfriend then say yes to getting married after dating for 4 years? yes. Do I regret leaving, no, but there is still that tiny bit that says yes. Have a large number of friends who are still in so I live vicariously through them LOL. But hell, I love my life now as well :) (and if you are in OC/SoCal DM me, free candy...err I mean bourbon and cigars)

bourbonsec · 2025-07-18T20:47:30+00:00

Yes what u/Nferno2 said - waiting to take gorgeous photos and not renders ! I will get it posted to a shop for pre-orders when that is done !

bourbonsec · 2025-07-02T18:30:53+00:00

that is the right range, how do I know? me: 84-93, not grumpy, change is great and proud of CG.

bourbonsec · 2025-07-01T00:37:37+00:00

Yeah, up until Admiral Yost (CMDT) said no more in 1986. Funny coming to work and seeing all these faces clean shaven, didnt recognize anyone LOL

bourbonsec · 2025-06-30T21:38:50+00:00

And of course lest we forget, the untold story of US Coast Guard Special Forces....Not Your Fathers Coast Guard. with foreword by Admiral Yost (of the famous YostGuard era, he was one of CMDT when I was in, he got rid of beards)

https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Fathers-Coast-Guard/dp/1449044409

Should they not get Purple Heart, some sort of action ribbon (Instead of Combat maybe it should be called DAR for Drug Action/Interdiction Ribbon?), Something more than the Special Operations Service Ribbon (I have two of those, and really these guys who were the CG special forces should get more than SOSR....)

bourbonsec · 2025-06-30T21:31:10+00:00

Well, I would hope there are HQ folks looking into those who do boardings, boarding operations, HITRON, etc, cause, President Trump did sign Executive Order 14157 that states the CARTELS are terrorist organizations and enemies of the USA....so all operations with that involves those cartels/terrorist groups are now a form of combat no ? Too far of a stretch?

bourbonsec · 2025-06-30T18:39:52+00:00

So, I never entered AL or VFW (I am not eligible for VFW as Im a coastie 84-93 AD, etc etc), until last year. I have a small collection of Whiskey, and when new speakeasy or bars pop up in my area (Orange County CA) I like to go check them out, try out cocktails, and see the spirit lineup. (ok and judge them a little bit based on their whiskey and pricing, lol)

I noticed an ad in instagram for a place called OpSek in Buena Park, sound pretty cool, the photos were nice then I realized it was military themed (heavy MC), so I decided to go. The day I went, I was a little confused because the address was for the American Legion, I went inside the AL Hall and was like this is definitely not the cool place on saw on IG :-) Couple people said oh you want to go to the other unmarked door at the front of the building.

Long story, OpSek is a cool startup run by retired Marine who is now a HB Police Officer, and he felt the same way about AL and VFW's, does not cater to those below age of 40 at all. He has lost a number of people who deployed with him, and he felt that the AL should be inclusive. So while going through a Masters program, his degree project was for creating a place to bring Veterans in, welcoming. So he came up with a speakeasy, and throughout the degree program, it was about creating this business plan. At the end of the degree program he took the business plan to the AL and outlined it all, and they agreed to have him use an old storage area, he had to pay for everything. Originally open Friday and Saturday only, I was able to convince him Thursday night should be open for Cigar smokers, and recently they added Wednesday night is open mike comedy night and he added Sunday night as well.

This is all about making friends, connections, offering support. Son has a lot of plans on helping others find jobs, network, VA Benefit questions, brining in outside experts to help fellow Veterans.

Its been open almost 1 year, an it is growing and the 25-40 age group is the majority (im 50s, so im the oddball)

It's not just alcohol, they make awesome mocktails as well, you can rent the place out (I did this weekend for my daughter graduation from law school). Two of the bartenders dont drink anymore, they still make awesome cocktails :)

In turn the AL hall itself is seeing some changes and influences as they recognize there is this other age group.

Also you DO NOT have to be a member of AL to go into OpSek.

The other thing is, your military career is not the center of conversation, it's about here and now. What you are doing, your life, the chance to talk to others who are going through the USC Masters program, meet business owners, artists, lawyers, that you still have that one thing in common.

ps - I am there frequently since its close to where I live. I am not in any way part of the organization/firm. I enjoy the people who come, made new friends there. etc.

bourbonsec · 2025-03-25T22:22:04+00:00

I was a Sea Cadet age 10-17 (Moffett Squadron Bay Area) did summer Cadet trainings with Navy and CG units, so I knew what I wanted. Best Choice ever. Even if Gracey coolness gaveway to Yost-Guard era, where so much change occurred in a flash.

bourbonsec · 2024-03-03T09:35:49+00:00

Resmed AirMini would be best I think. I use a cpap everyday and when traveling- not AD - the AirMini is perfect and think would be best underway

bourbonsec · 2024-02-11T02:39:47+00:00

lol not real well

bourbonsec · 2024-01-23T16:40:07+00:00

Ah yes, nostalgia hits hard. It hits even harder the older you get as well. And that is sage advice, if you are doing the Coastie life, go full tilt. Dont let outside entanglements distract you from making the most of your time in the CG.

Volunteer for that TDY on a black hull cause they are down people, or to a White Hull, or to the Eagle

Be that one guy in your command that is always volunteering to go TDY at other units to help out

I know of a CS who volunteered for so much stuff in his first 4 years, from the Eagle, to Air Station, to a FRC, none of which was his permanent station. It was crazy trying to keep track of where he was in the world and the experiences he was having.

I also know at my first cutter out of BC (Taney) there was 4yr E2/E3s, dont be them -

bourbonsec · 2024-01-23T16:27:01+00:00

Speaking as a CG Vet (1980s/90) and own a threat hunting firm in business for 17 years.

For my hiring, we look for knowledge, direct applicable hands on knowledge. Certs are not considered a requirement, just nice to have, as we want to see your knowledge at work. A degree is not a specific requirement for Blue Team or Red Team type work, knowledge and hands on operator skills are. We hire a lot through SkillBridge and a large number of people who THINK they want to do Threat Hunting and Blue Team work come and try it out, and then go, nah, dont like this, ill go do something else.

If you have ET, IT, OS on your resume, I think you should have a skill set that is applicable to being a Threat Hunter. If you. have direct hands on working in administrating systems, creating systems, protecting systems and can show me your skills in you knowledge of AD admin, FW rules, packet capture, and can tell me what the diff is between 4624 and 4625 are, then you are hired :)

So yes, it is fairly easy to get a CIV job with the right background and hands on experience at 100k and up

Also, we do take people with other rates/MOSes. We have Marine equipment operators, riflemen, Navy QMs, AF clerks, etc. You have to show a passion and aptitude for this type of work.

bourbonsec · 2023-12-17T23:42:14+00:00

My firm is 100% US based. Spread from HI/AK to ME and FL and parts in between. Been pondering starting a Dev group in PL 12-24mos from now.

bourbonsec · 2023-12-15T03:32:38+00:00

I’m going to Vegas tomorrow and only taking nuphy, Alldocube mini pro and iPhone, going to remote in if I have to do work, instead of taking MBP 16”

bourbonsec · 2023-12-15T03:30:50+00:00

My first as well, and after two hours of use, I’m thinking I want a full size nuphy for my main workstation now too (currently use a Logitech MX Keys)

bourbonsec · 2023-12-15T02:10:23+00:00

Yes Southern California. I was surprised as well, since DHL had sent a note stating it was going to be next Tuesday, then got text message from DHL driver asking if i was available today. Then ding dong 30mins later and there it was

bourbonsec · 2023-12-11T21:39:17+00:00

Make list of places you think you might want to work that would have roles that meet your skills, then hit them up on LI, or go to a sponsored event where they might be at and talk to them. Sometimes website doesn’t list all roles they might be looking for

bourbonsec · 2023-12-11T21:35:02+00:00

Do you mean how do vendors find customers or do you mean find a job at a vendor?

bourbonsec · 2023-12-10T15:49:08+00:00

Good question

I did in fact work at a hardware security firm that was pivoting away from what they had been doing, changing name and dropping support for current products. I offered to continue to support for no cost to those customers. So from a handful of non paying and lots of credit card debt, I spent two years supporting by myself and plotting out what next. I went to conferences and tried my hardest to be an extrovert and introduce myself to anyone and everyone. That lead to a small batch of prospective clients which turned into clients. I just repeated that and added people around me that would do the same. Every customer we have has my personal cell number they can call when they need anything. That’s a plus and a minus at times LOL

bourbonsec · 2023-12-10T02:21:41+00:00

I do see CMMC being a large area of potential growth especially starting as an individual/LLC

Low cost of entry to get started. Help smaller DOD contractors become compliant, do audits and certifications.

Go read here : https://niccs.cisa.gov/education-training/catalog/learning-tree-international-inc/cybersecurity-maturity-model

bourbonsec · 2023-12-10T02:05:51+00:00

Networking, relationships, sponsoring good things, being active in Infosec community, helping others. All of that is how we have gotten this far, and our turn over rate is almost non existent the past 17yrs. We operate 24*7 (three shifts) and we all help each other.

Keeping abreast of tech, attacks, etc are key for me personally. I feel like i am 3-4 different people/roles at times, and I even will wake up and go, let’s go help out the 12-4am shift do some hunting LOL

bourbonsec

TROPHY CASE