I'm planning on joining the Coast Guard when I'm 17 years old and still staying in

[Thomas]

high school? im wanting to try AST or HT training
any information on theses careers????

and is this a good decision to jon??????

[JoeDaBro]

You can enlist at 17 with your parent(s) approval.

In the Army we have a Split Op program, which enables a Junior who is at least 17 years of age to attend Basic Training in between his Junior and Senior year of High School and return to school as a senior. After his last year of high school he will attend his AIT (Advanced Individual Training) and continue his duty.

I am not sure if the Coast Guard has this option but I believe the Navy does.

However, you must realize that a Split Op program will affect what jobs you are eligible for.

For instance the Army does not offer Infantry for Split Op, so if you want Infantry, Split Op may not be the way to go.

If you are unable to find a similar program for the Coast Guard or cannot get the job you want, try the Delayed Entry Program at the start of your Senior year in High school.

Like I said, I don't know much about the Coast Guard but the best way to find out is go see a recruiter.

[dankohner1]

You can enlist, but as of now there is about a year waiting list to go to boot camp. So by the time you enlist and go to bootcamp you will most likely be finished with high school. HS "A" school is located at Petaluma, Calafornia and is 3 months. I was there for Yeoman "A" school and the base is ok. It is out in the middle of no where and you can't even get a signal for your cell phone there. The AST "A" school is in Elizabeth City, North Carolina and I heard it is one of the toughest schools in the military physically. Not sure how long the school is. I do know when you graduate AST "A" school you will still have to go to the HS "A" school in Petaluma so you can become a certified EMT. I think that part of the AST training is about a month, but I could be wrong.