How to Be a Coast Guard Recruiter

A Coast Guard recruiter is a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard is the smallest branch of the military with just 46,000 men and women in service as of 2010. The recruiter's role is to provide the best quality applicants to meet the Coast Guard's military needs and to increase public awareness of Coast Guard jobs. The Coast Guard says prospective recruiters should be "energetic and show a spirited focus" on recruiting minorities and women to support a diversified workforce. The job involves visiting schools, colleges, clubs and community centers, and speaking to the applicant's parents and siblings to put them at ease about the applicant's career choice. Recruiters may also be required to perform honor guard duty for funeral services or parades.

Instructions

1. Visit the U.S. Coast Guard's Personnel Service Center Special Assignment webpage. Scroll down to the link, "Coast Guard Recruiting (Click for info)." View the status of the Coast Guard's application process and the deadline, and click on the link.

2. Ensure that you meet all of the minimum qualifications listed on the Coast Guard Recruiting page. For example, you must have a rank of between E-4 and E-7. You cannot rank above E-7 or be predicted to make E-8.

   Take note of all important deadlines and application requirements listed on the page.

3. Return to the Personnel Service Center Special Assignment webpage. Click on the "Certification Form" link (beneath the "Coast Guard Recruiting" link) and complete all of the information.

4. Email your completed certification form and two scanned 4-by-6 full-length, clear digital photos of yourself in the appropriate attire in one email to "YN1 D. Rhone" at [e-mail] with the subject line "AY11 Recruiting Application." Alternatively, send a hard copy to the address listed on the Coast Guard Recruiting page.

5. Wait to hear from the Coast Guard Recruiting Command, which will conduct telephone interviews with candidates after the application deadline. All recruiters chosen attend a four-week recruiter course at Training Center Cape May, New Jersey and receive human resource training and skills on the job.

References

• United States Coast Guard: Coast Guard Recruiting
• United States Coast Guard: U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Distribution Center
• United States Coast Guard: Advancement

Resources

• U.S.Coast Guard: Personnel Service Center Special Assignments
• U.S. Coast Guard: Training Center Cape May
• U.S. Coast Guard: Recruiter Performance Qualification Standards (PQS) Workbook
• Coast Guard Personnel Manual