PAY & BENEFITS

As an active-duty member of the Coast Guard, you'll be privy to a benefits package that is largely unheard of for most people just starting out. College tuition assistance, housing and meal allowance, free heath, dental and eye care, and 30 days paid vacation are just the beginning of the benefits offered to active-duty Coasties. 

Pay:

All full-time Enlisted Coasties entering the Coast Guard make a little over $15,000 for their first year of service, plus they are entitled to other allowances depending on their status. Other allowances include sea pay, housing allowances (if you don't use quarters which are provided), clothing allowance, family separation allowance and hazardous-duty pay. You can also depend on pay raises that are given out, based on growth in rank and length of service. For more information, download the most recent military pay scale.

Education:

Through the Montgomery GI Bill, we'll help you pay for college or vocational technical training. If you want to find out more about the GI Bill, go to http://www.gibill.va.gov.

 

Coast Guard members, both active-duty and Reserves, can also take advantage of the Tuition Assistance program to help pay for higher-level education. Find out more information at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/College_Funding_Assist/index.html.

Housing and Meals:

You'll receive additional tax-free money for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), if government housing is not available in the area you are stationed; Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), if government dining facilities are not available in the area you are stationed; and a uniform allowance (for enlisted personnel only) to help maintain your uniform. Tax Advantage: All existing allowances for food, housing, and clothing are not subject to Federal or state income taxes.

 

Free Health, Dental and Eye Care:

While on active-duty, you'll receive complete medical, dental, and eye insurance, at no cost.

 

Vacation:

You'll receive 2.5 days paid vacation per month, for a total of 30 days paid vacation a year.

 

Free Travel:

As a Coastie, you may get the opportunity to travel far and wide as part of your job. Not only will you get to see new places, you'll do it on our dime. Also, as a Coastie, you will have access to military Space Available flights. This is a unique privilege provided to service members, retirees, and their families. Under the Space-Available (Space A) program, eligible passengers can fill unused seats on DD-owned or controlled aircraft, once all the space-required (duty) passengers and cargo have been accommodated.

 

Training:

You choose your career path based on your aptitude, physical abilities, security clearance, motivation, and determination. Unlike other military services, the Coast Guard offers all specialties to both men and women equally - including combat roles.

 

Life Insurance:

As an active-duty member, you are covered for $400,000 in life insurance at a minimal cost. You may also elect to participate in the Family Life Insurance plan and have your dependents covered. For more information, visit http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/SGLI/SGLI.htm.

 

Other Benefits:

The benefits you'll receive as a full-time Coastie also include certain healthcare and other benefits for your family. Plus, we allow both men and women to take up to two years off (without pay) to stay home with a newborn. At the end of the two years, you can rejoin at the same rank as when you left. For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2Foverview.

 

You'll have shopping privileges at military bases and access to all kinds of recreational facilities.

And, looking into the future, we offer various retirement plans, including one option that lets you retire and start receiving your pension after serving just 20 years.