The US Coast Guard has a historical presence in Connecticut, where since 1876 its National Academy has been located in New London. Besides this important landmark where all officers are trained, bases in New Haven and Fisher’s Island also play significant roles in Atlantic Seaboard operations, as does the Coast Guard’s remaining facility in the state located in Manchester. Last year the Connecticut Coast Guard’s budget topped $148 million, with nearly $50 million of that being spent on local contracts and awards as well as the support of 1,228 active-duty and reservists serving in the state. Four Coast Guard cutter vessels are stationed in Connecticut, along with 142 Coast Guard boats.
Joining the Coast Guard in Connecticut
There are three primary angles to take in pursuing Coast Guard jobs: basic enlistment, officer enlistment, and civilian employment. Basic enlistment requires completing eight weeks of basic training, after which time new enlistees will move on to more specialized Coast Guard training focused on their new career path which can be in four major areas:
- Deck and Ordinance, including jobs like Gunner’s Mate and Maritime Enforcement Specialist
- Hull and Engineering, with positions such as Machinery Technician and Electrician’s Mate
- Aviation, such as an Avionics Electrical Technician or an Aviation Survival Technician
- Administrative and Scientific, with jobs as a Marine Science Technician and Yeoman
For those interested in joining at a higher rank and pay level than basic enlistees, this will mean obtaining a bachelor’s degree and joining at the officer level. After completing the 17-week Officer Candidate School at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, candidates may have the option of pursuing a career that is related to their degree:
- Engineer degree positions include:
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Computer Engineer
- Naval Engineer
- Intelligence Officers
- Electronics Specialists
- Network Specialists
- IT and Computer Science degree positions include:
- Law Degrees lend themselves to Coast Guard Lawyers
- Business Management degree can be advantageous for becoming part of the Command Staff
Civilian employees also have an important place in the Coast Guard, and like the private sector, having a bachelor degree can increase job opportunities:
- Degrees in medicine and health lend themselves to nursing, pharmacy, dentist, and physical therapy positions
- Degrees in mathematics or statistics relate with Intelligence Analysts
- Biology and other sciences degrees can translate to Coast Guard Biologist or Marine Toxicologist
- Degrees in business can segue into Budget Analyst Management and Program Director
- Physics degrees can cross over to Electrician or Research and Development positions
Coast Guard Education in Connecticut
Besides being the location for the Officer Candidate School, the Coast Guard Academy is one of the premier education facilities in the country where undergraduate cadets receive the best training for Coast Guard careers available. Each year only 300 applicants are chosen among thousands, who will be admitted on a full scholarship to one of the nation’s most respected schools in exchange for five years of service upon graduation. After four years approximately only two-thirds of those initially accepted will make it through the rigorous academic program, which awards bachelor degrees in the subjects of:
- Engineering
- Management
- Humanities
- Strategic Intelligence Studies
- Science
- Mathematics
- Professional Maritime Studies