Will it help???

Question

I'm considering joining the Coast Guard. Will the "MK" rate help me for a career as a diesel mechanic?
They don't work on trucks, but do work on the diesel engines.

MACHINERY TECHNICIAN(MK):
Train as a technician, manager and leader. Become knowledgeable in all areas of machinery operation and maintenance from internal combustion engines (gas/diesel gas turbines) to environmental support systems (heating/ventilation/air conditioning), hydraulics, basic electricity and areas of hazardous material recovery and control. Learn computers and computer-based programs.

Answer 1

Sure it will help.

Answer 2

Yes, it will help you in your career. After your time in, you may decide to stay, or go for a career working on ship motors. The basics of the engines are the same, so...

Congratulations on your decision. Good luck

Answer 3

No it won't, I have a degree in Industrial Maintenance and I can fix any machine in any plant, but I can't do nothing with a car engine.

Answer 4

whether it will help or not isn't the important thing, what is important is for you to know the USCG does not guarantee your job at enlistment. You may end up a medic, cook, laundry and bath.....

Job Qualification. Job qualification is based on several factors. Most significant are your ASVAB "line scores." The services have assigned minimum ASVAB line scores to each enlisted job. They've learned, though years of experience that these specific score requirements are what an applicant needs in order to successfully make it through the training for that job. ASVAB line score requirements for specific military enlisted jobs can be found in our Enlisted Job Description pages.
In addition to ASVAB line scores, many jobs require the applicant to qualify for a Security Clearance. Therefore, if the applicant has anything in their background that may prevent approval of a clearance, the MEPS job counselors are unlikely to allow the applicant to reserve that job. Some jobs require additional testing. For example, any job that requires one to learn a foreign language, requires a passing score on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB).

Different jobs have different physical requirements. When one goes through their medical examination at MEPS, one is assigned a Physical Profile, which is a series of numbers that indicates the member's medical condition in designated medical areas. In order to reserve a job, one must meet the minimum physical profile required for that job.

Some jobs, especially those designated as "direct ground combat" jobs are restricted, by law, to males only. Some jobs (especially in the Army and Air Force), require a minimum lifting ability, which must be demonstrated before the job can be reserved for the recruit.

"Guaranteed" Jobs. A word about "Guaranteed Jobs." It's important that you understand what a "guaranteed job" is in the military. If you have a "guaranteed job" in your enlistment contract, it does not mean you will get that job, come Hell or high water. There may be reasons, after you enlist, that you can't get the job that your enlistment contract "guarantees." What happens in that case, depends on the situation.

In general, if you are denied the job in your contract due to something beyond your control (such as the service phased out the job, or downsized the job, or made a mistake and discovered that you don't qualify for the job, or you are denied a security clearance -- not due to giving false information), then you will be given the choice of applying for a discharge, or choosing a new job from a list of available jobs that you qualify for. In this case, the choice is yours (It should be noted that while these situations have been known to happen, they occur rarely).

On the other hand, if you fail to qualify for the job due to a reason within your control (you fail in training, you get into trouble, or you give false information on your security clearance application and are denied a security clearance), the choice is not yours. The military will decide whether to discharge you (throw you out), or to retain you and retrain you into a job that you qualify for. In this case it's the military's choice.

Each of the services have different policies/procedures when it comes to "guaranteed jobs."

Army. In the Army, an enlisted job is called an "MOS," or "Military Occupation Specialty." The Army is the only service that offers a guaranteed job (MOS) to everyone. The Army has no such thing as an "open" or "undesignated" enlistment. However, the MOS's offered to you, might not be the one(s) you wanted. It depends upon your qualifications and what jobs have current/projected openings. If the job you want is not available, your only choices are to choose a different job, or not enlist. On the negative side, of all of the services, the Army has the worst reputation for working soldiers in jobs that have nothing to do with what their MOS is. Over the years, I've met dozens of soldiers who were (for example) assigned to drive trucks in the motor-pool, even though their MOS's had nothing to do with vehicles. A while ago, the Stars & Stripes Newspaper published a feature article about an Army Armored Company deployed to Kosovo (without armor) to man security checkpoints. Last year, the Army News Service featured an article about an Army National Guard Supply Company, who deployed to Iraq, and were "re-trained" as a group after arrival in country to perform infantry duties.

Coast Guard. Like the Navy, enlisted jobs in the Coast Guard are referred to as "ratings." Of all of the services, the Coast Guard offers the fewest guaranteed jobs. One normally enlists in the Coast Guard, undesignated, then "strikes" for a job after a period of on-the-job training in "basic coastguardmanship" at their first duty station. A few schools (and therefore jobs) are offered during basic training. While this system may seem (on the surface) disadvantageous, there is something to be said about having the chance to spend some time scoping out the situation "on the job," before deciding what job you're going to "strike" for.

As well as offering the fewest guaranteed jobs, the Coast Guard has the fewest overall jobs (about 23) of any of the services. On the plus side, for the most part, all of the Coast Guard jobs directly relate to a civilian occupation. Additionally, with so few job categories, Coast Guard personnel "specialize" less than the other services. As one Coast Guard member told me, in a 20 year career in the Electronic Tech (ET) rating, he's worked on communications from radio to satellite communications, radar, all forms of navigational equipment, lighthouses, telephone, computers, crypto, and electronic warfare. Those would be spread out over several different MOS/AFSC/Ratings in the other services.

Answer 5

i don't know.

but the occupation of iraq didn't prevent the terror attacks on london and spain. in fact, it may have caused them.

Answer 6

I would think so.