Semper Paratus.Always Ready.Always There.
Every day, Coast Guardsmen stand between chaos and calm water. Search and rescue. Law enforcement. Environmental protection. If the ocean is the mission, the Coast Guard is the answer.
From Revenue Cutters to Global Operations
The Coast Guard has been saving lives and defending the homeland since before the Navy was re-established. This is a legacy built on the water.
The Revenue Cutter Service
United States
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton establishes the Revenue Marine, a fleet of ten cutters tasked with enforcing tariff laws along the young nation's coastline. It is the earliest ancestor of today's Coast Guard, and for years it serves as the only armed maritime force of the United States.
Honor. Respect. Devotion to Duty.
These three core values define what it means to wear the Coast Guard uniform. They guide every rescue, every boarding, and every decision made on the water and ashore.
HONOR
Integrity is our standard
Coast Guardsmen are bound by the highest standards of ethical and moral behavior. We demonstrate respect for human dignity and the rights of others. We are honest and truthful in our dealings with each other and with those outside the Coast Guard. We are loyal and accountable to the public trust.
RESPECT
We value our people
We treat each person with dignity, fairness, and compassion. We encourage individual opportunity and growth, recognizing that the strength of the Coast Guard comes from the diversity and talent of our people. We build trust through open communication and mutual regard.
DEVOTION TO DUTY
We are professionals
We are dedicated to the mission of the Coast Guard. We willingly accept the demands of duty. We take ownership of our responsibilities and hold ourselves accountable for our actions. Service before self. The mission comes first, but we never leave our people behind.
Find Your Rating
In the Coast Guard, your career specialty is called a rating. Each one is a skilled trade, a professional identity, and a path to a civilian career that starts the day you put on the uniform.
Boatswain's Mate
Master of the Deck
The backbone of Coast Guard operations afloat. Boatswain's Mates handle seamanship, navigation, and small boat operations. They lead deck crews, conduct search and rescue, and serve as the Coast Guard's experts on everything that floats.
Aviation Survival Technician
Rescue Swimmer
The most elite enlisted rating in the Coast Guard. ASTs jump from helicopters into raging seas to save lives. They are emergency medical technicians, survival experts, and some of the toughest athletes in any military branch. Their dropout rate exceeds 50 percent.
Maritime Enforcement Specialist
Law on the Water
Part law enforcement officer, part military operator. MEs conduct boardings, enforce federal law, and perform counter-narcotics operations. They carry firearms, make arrests, and serve as the Coast Guard's primary tactical rating.
Electronics Technician
The Signal Keeper
Maintain and repair the electronic systems that keep the Coast Guard connected and operational. Radar, communications equipment, navigation systems, and computer networks all fall under the ET's domain. High-demand skills that translate directly to civilian careers.
Health Services Technician
Frontline Medicine
The Coast Guard's medics and healthcare providers. HSs deliver medical care at clinics, sick bays, and remote duty stations. They are the first responders when injuries happen at sea and often serve as the sole medical provider aboard cutters.
Intelligence Specialist
Know Before You Go
Collect, analyze, and distribute intelligence that drives Coast Guard operations. From tracking drug smuggling networks to identifying port security threats, ISs provide the information commanders need to make critical decisions.
Coast Guard Boot Camp
Training Center Cape May is the only Coast Guard enlisted accession point. Every enlisted Coast Guardsman passes through these gates. Eight weeks of physical training, military instruction, and character development.
Week 1: Forming
Arrival at Training Center Cape May, New Jersey. Haircuts, uniform issue, and the shock of military discipline. Recruits learn basic customs and courtesies, begin physical conditioning, and receive their first introduction to Coast Guard core values. The transformation from civilian to recruit begins here.
Your Baseball Card
Track every milestone. Validate every credential. When recruiters see your profile, they will know exactly what you bring to the service.
How Ready to Serve Works
We built a platform that prepares you for success before you ever speak to a recruiter. Every workout tracked. Every test scored. Every milestone verified.
Create Your Profile
Build your digital identity. Set your goals. Choose your target rating. We will map the requirements and build your roadmap.
Complete Milestones
Track ASVAB prep with practice tests. Log PT scores and swim times. Upload credentials for verification.
Connect with Recruiters
When you are ready, local Coast Guard recruiters see your verified profile. No cold calls. Just qualified conversations.
Ship Prepared
Arrive at Training Center Cape May knowing exactly what to expect. You have already started the transformation.
The Coast Is Calling.Every Rescue Starts With You.
Somewhere right now, a crew is launching into heavy seas. A helicopter is spinning up over open water. A cutter is cutting through the dark toward someone who needs help.That crew could include you.
Ready to Serve is a career pathway partner platform. Always free for candidates.