HOW TO PREPARE
FOR
COAST GUARD
BASIC TRAINING
Mental Preparation Module
Mental Preparation
Module
So you want to know how to prepare for
Coast Guard Basic Training from a mental standpoint?
Well you’ve come to the right place. Make no mistake, to be fully ready for Coast Guard Boot Camp, you need to master both the mental and physical aspects of preparation. I cover physical preparation here, but on this page and the subsequent lessons introduced here, you will dive into the preliminary knowledge you’ll need to show up ready on day ZERO ONE.
When you arrive at the Cape May Training Center, your brain will be on absolute overload. Apart from the intentional chaos and screaming you’l endure, you will also have to learn a lot of information. As I write elsewhere on this website – the more you learn now, the easier it will be for you when you get there.
Some of the things you should be familiar with
before you go to Coast Guard Boot Camp.
I’m not going to go over every single thing here because frankly there isn’t enough room for it all on a page, but some of the information you should be acquainted with prior to arrival include the following:
- Required knowledge items (11 General Orders, Rates and Ranks, Chain of Command)
- The proper way to speak and respond correctly (including all Cape May / Nautical Slang)
- How to say numbers properly
- What maintaining your military bearing entails
- Rack inspections and how to pass them
- Basic marching commands
- Standing watch duty and what it's like + your responsibilities during a shift
- What goes on in the galley (cafeteria)
- Sleep deprivation and how to minimize and cope with it
- Attention to detail and what it really means in USCG Basic Training
There is more than this of course but I would say that this is a solid foundation to show up prepared.
To give you an idea of where you stand with your current preparation, I’ve created a Knowledge Check Quiz. Scroll down this page to take it so you can see how prepared you are for Coast Guard Basic Training. After you submit it, you will immediately receive your result as well as the correct answers.
If you’re not confident enough to take the quiz yet, you can also use the menu below to read through the various mental preparation lessons I’ve put together to help you prepare for Coast Guard Basic Training.
Good luck and let me know if you need any further help.
“There is no better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew.”
— Larry Pardey
USCG BOOT CAMP TIP
This is a photo of me and my bunkmate. He was prior service in the Navy and it gave the two of us a big early advantage. He already knew how to make his bed properly and had a general sense of the rules and regulations of a squad bay. He wasted no time in showing me how to do everything in proper military fashion.
This meant that we were always one of the first beds that were finished and "inspection-ready".
I learned early on that you can get things done a lot faster if you do them with your bunkmate. So the tip here is - become besties with your bunkmate as soon as you get there and do your squad bay responsibilities as a unit whenever possible.
Are You Ready For Coast Guard Boot Camp?
Are You Ready For
Coast Guard Boot Camp?
Test Your Knowledge By Taking The Quiz Below
So You Want To Know
How To Prepare For
Coast Guard Basic Training
From A Mental Standpoint?
So You Want To Know
How To Prepare For
Coast Guard
Basic Training
From A
Mental Standpoint?
Well you’ve come to the right place. Make no mistake, to be fully ready for Coast Guard Boot Camp, you need to master both the mental and physical aspects of preparation. I cover physical preparation here, but on this page and the subsequent lessons introduced here, you will dive into the preliminary knowledge you’ll need to show up ready on day ZERO ONE.
When you arrive at the Cape May Training Center, your brain will be on absolute overload. Apart from the intentional chaos and screaming you’l endure, you will also have to learn a lot of information. As I write elsewhere on this website – the more you learn now, the easier it will be for you when you get there.
Some Of The Things You Should
Be Familiar With Before You
Go To
Coast Guard Boot Camp
Some Of The Things
You Should
Be Familiar With
Before You
Go To
Coast Guard Boot Camp
I’m not going to go over every single thing here because frankly there isn’t enough room for it all on a page, but some of the information you should be acquainted with prior to arrival include the following:
- Required knowledge items (11 General Orders, Rates and Ranks, Chain of Command)
- How to speak and respond correctly (including all Cape May / Nautical Slang)
- How to say numbers properly
- What maintaining your military bearing entails
- What goes on during a rack inspection and how to pass them
- Basic marching commands
- What standing watch duty is like and your responsibilities during a shift
- What goes on in the galley (cafeteria)
- How to minimize and cope with extreme sleep deprivation
- What ‘attention to detail’ means in USCG Basic Training
There is more than this of course but I would say that this is a solid foundation to show up prepared.
To give you an idea of where you stand with your current preparation, I’ve created a Knowledge Check Quiz. Scroll down this page to take it so you can see how prepared you are for Coast Guard Basic Training. After you submit it, you will immediately receive your result as well as the correct answers.
If you’re not confident enough to take the quiz yet, you can also use the menu below to read through the various mental preparation lessons I’ve put together to help you prepare for Coast Guard Basic Training.
Good luck and let me know if you need any further help.
USCG BOOT CAMP TIP
USCG
BOOT CAMP TIP
This is a photo of me and my bunkmate. He was prior service in the Navy and it gave the two of us a big early advantage. He already knew how to make his bed properly and had a general sense of the rules and regulations of a squad bay. He wasted no time in showing me how to do everything in proper military fashion.
This meant that we were always one of the first beds that were finished and "inspection-ready".
I learned early on that you can get things done a lot faster if you do them with your bunkmate. So the tip here is - become besties with your bunkmate as soon as you get there and do your squad bay responsibilities as a unit whenever possible.
“There is no better tool or equipment you can
have on board than a well-trained crew.”
— Larry Pardey
“There is no better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew.”
— Larry Pardey
Are You Ready For Coast Guard Boot Camp?
Are You Ready For
Coast Guard Boot Camp?
Test Your Knowledge By Taking The Quiz Below
Results
Nice job recruit!
It seems like you have a good handle on some of the topics you will have to know about in Coast Guard Boot Camp.
To continue your preparation, you should check out the Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide so that you can show up with as much knowledge as possible on day zero one.
Nice try recruit, but it looks like you need to study some more!
There is no room for mistakes when you get to Cape May. Every mistake will cost you and the currency is sweat and sleep.
To continue your preparation, you should check out the Coast Guard Boot Camp Survival Guide so that you can show up with as much knowledge as possible on day zero one.
#1. Whenever your Company Commander walks into your squad bay and crosses the threshold, everyone in your company will scream what?
#2. Which of these are true about Coast Guard Boot Camp (select all that apply)?
Select all that apply:
#3. You’re in marching formation and your CC gives the close order drill command “Company! Aaaaaabout Face!”. You will:
#4. If you make a mistake while responding or speaking you will immediately say what?
#5. Which of these shows a Chief Petty Officer?
#6. Spell “COAST GUARD” using the military phonetic alphabet.
#7. The duties of a company yeoman include which of the following?
#8. What is general order number 7?
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Show Up With The Knowledge
Of A Week 08 Recruit
Show Up
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