What to expect at coast guard boot camp

If you are considering joining the Coast Guard, then you will have to participate in military boot camp just like with any military group. The coast guard boot camp may be quite a different experience than anything you have participated in before so you should be fully aware of what to expect before you make a decision to join. In this way, there will be no surprises.

When you first arrive

When you first arrive at Camp May for the basic training, you will undergo a few tests for alcohol and drugs via a urine test. Then, you will be filling out paperwork for a while. However, even these tasks are done in a training mode. This means that you will have a timed amount of time to perform each task and this includes filling out the paperwork. You will not get much sleep the entire time you are there and on the second day, if you are a male, you will get your head shaved just like in marine boot camp, army boot camp and navy boot camp, etc. More medical tests and dental tests will be taken and you will get your immunisations as well as your uniform. The actual official boot camp training day is on the fourth day that you are there. You will then meet your company commander and anyone who will be his or her assistant. This is where your first week starts and what will become the toughest week yet.

Basic training

Your basic training includes just about everything else. This is where you will learn all about the Coast Guard, combat training, basic military training and everything in between. Each day starts at 5:30 a.m. and the lights have to be out by 10:00 p.m., all done in military time, of course. On Sundays, you can sleep 15 minutes later though. If you fall behind on your training as compared to your company or in general, you can be reverted, which means you are sent back the the previous company for up to however long it takes you to catch up. This can be a few weeks. So, be sure that you learn everything you can and do it correctly. You will engage in many physical activities and must pass a set order of physical standards in order to graduate. It will be harder than anything you have to do but you will graduate into the Coast Guard ranks when you are done.