I'm 29 years old and married with a 2 year old daughter. I already have a decent job with a NYC government agency. However, I'm bored with my dead end job, the economy is slow and was thinking of a career change to the US coast guard.
My main concern is how long the average deployment at sea? and how often? In regard to family life, how often should my wife and daughter expect not to see me during the extent of my four year enlistment?
On military.com it was stated that 85% of boot camp graduates get assigned to a cutter, and that a cutter stays at sea for of 185 days which is approximately 6-7months. Does this mean a cutter is away from home port for a 185 consecutive days each year? Or does this mean a cutter spends an accumulated 185 days away from home port each years, but in short 3-4 week patrolling tours? How many consecutive days? and accumulated days? should my family expect not to see me each year? This is important because I don't want this decision to end my marriage in divorce, or me missing a majority of my daughters childhood....

hjpan