Greetings from US Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Southeast Alaska! I am LT Catherine Cavender, and I am honored to be a part of the Juneau Maritime Festival planning committee. I am currently stationed at US Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska. Sector Southeast Alaska is visualized in the lime green portion of the above image, and we are located in Juneau, AK. Coast Guard District Seventeen oversees all of the Coast Guard Operations in Alaska and is collocated with Sector Southeast Alaska at the Juneau Federal Building. Between District Seventeen, Sector Southeast Alaska and other units, Juneau is home to more than 800 active-duty US Coast Guard members and 61 members of the USCG Auxiliary (our uniformed non-military volunteer corp).
Below are a couple of commonly asked Questions about the Coast Guard:
How do you join the Coast Guard?
When considering joining the USCG, most people start by browsing the GoCoastGuard.com website. Here you can find eligibly, career paths, and bonus eligibility. Of note, people applying to enlist in the USCG today may be eligible for bonuses up to $75,000 based on the field they choose to pursue and the needs of the USCG at the time of enlistment. The GoCoastGuard.com website will direct you to the nearest recruiter. The Anchorage office is the only recruiting station in Alaska, but if anyone in Juneau is interested in more information job shadowing someone, or getting involved with the USCG Auxiliary feel free to contact me at Catherine.E.Cavender@uscg.mil.
How long is initial training?
Coast Guard basic training is eight weeks, whereas officer accession programs range from five weeks to four years.
How are initial duty locations decided?
During basic training or your officer accession course, you will submit a ‘dream sheet’ from a list of available billets. Fun fact: If you are graduating from basic training, you are guaranteed the opportunity to return to Alaska for your first assignment. Detailers try to take in account your own specific needs—for example, if required medical care is available in a certain duty station or if the job provides growth—but ultimately the needs of the service decide where members are sent.
How can I contact the Coast Guard in an emergency, and does it cost money?
Should you need USCG assistance, call our 24/7 phone number at 907-463-2980 or reach out on VHF Channel 16. Often people ask if there is a cost associated with calling the Coast Guard for assistance. Most often, no; the Coast Guard does not charge for Search and Rescue. The only exception is if you make a hoax distress call, then yes, you’ll have to pay the Coast Guard back for costs incurred. Keep in mind if you are not in a life-threatening emergency (for example if you ran out of gas on a sunny day), then a commercial towing company may be the primary responder.