Thanks for the reply. I have been in construction my entire life and grew up on a farm and currently have my own excavation company. I graduated with a civil engineering technology degree and after talking to the recruiter, I can get an interview for a DCO position as a reserve CEC officer as soon as I pass my Fundamentals of Engineering exam. ( I was told I need to pass this because my bachelors is not a standard Engineering degree) I've always wanted to serve my country and when I tried earlier in life, I got sidetracked and chose a different path in which I truly regret. I'm currently 33 and don't want to miss my chance to have some adventure and be in the service. The reason I'm trying to find answers is that my recruiter hasn't been able to get me in contact with a CEC reserve officer or answer too many of my more detailed questions. I already passed MEPS and did well on the ASBT test. I really want to do this and I'll do whatever it takes. Some of my concerns were do DCO's in regards to CEC officers do the same job as a regular active duty CEC officers? Are they still currently accepting new DCO's in the CEC field and what are my chances? I really want to deploy and see some action for this is the main reason I want to join. Will I have the ability to pick a unit and are there certain units I can apply for that have a better chances deployment? I have some more questions but don't want to overburden you guys who are patiently taking the time to answer these.
Thank you
There is a lot here so I'm going to break it down a bit.
I've always wanted to serve my country and when I tried earlier in life, I got sidetracked and chose a different path in which I truly regret. I'm currently 33 and don't want to miss my chance to have some adventure and be in the service.
You will find every RC CEC officer (and just about everyone in the reserves) has their own story that is some version of this. Many did serve on AD and found their way to the RC. I had a similar story of wanting to serve but getting sidetracked along the way. What matters is that you take the opportunities given to you, whether they be service or not, and make the most of them.
The reason I'm trying to find answers is that my recruiter hasn't been able to get me in contact with a CEC reserve officer or answer too many of my more detailed questions.
Congratulations! You are communicating with a qualified CEC DCO who is capable of answering questions or pointing you in the right direction. I know my limits.
Some of my concerns were do DCO's in regards to CEC officers do the same job as a regular active duty CEC officers?
Yes and no. There are MANY jobs (billets) for AD CEC officers that do not have a RC version. That said, if you are part of a Seabee unit, yes, you will be doing the same job as an AD CEC officer. You won't be doing it full time and there will obviously be differences based on geography and material availability, but yes. Same job just compressed into 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. For the jobs that don't translate, most of those are PW/NAVFAC jobs that are handled by civilians.
Are they still currently accepting new DCO's in the CEC field and what are my chances?
Yes and 42%.
Seriously, they never STOP taking applicants, they might not select as many but they have to keep the flow moving as people do leave after the initial commitment. I know the last board was in May.I believe 7-8 people were selected. I do not know the final total of applicants for it though.
Your chances are as good as anyone else. I can't speak to degree issues (ABET accredited degree?) but they do like advanced education (MS or higher) and the FE/PE or RA for architects. That said, it isn't a no-go. It all depends on the board and what they are wanting and the applicants they have available.
I really want to deploy and see some action for this is the main reason I want to join.
Don't join if this is the sole reason. Just don't. Join because you want to serve, join because you want the education benefits, join because you want the frakking military discount at Home Depot. Just don't join because you want to 'see action'. That isn't what this is about.
As a CEC officer you really are a Seabee. Seabees are NOT offensive forces. Seabees build...and fight. They do a damn good job at both but do NOT and I repeat do NOT take the fight to the bad guys. Seabees are the ones making it possible for the Army, AF, Marines, and Navy to do that.
Now that everything is drawing down, Seabees are far more often than not doing community relation deployments: building hospitals and schools, assisting in infrastructure on existing bases (think Japan). The odds of you seeing combat right now as a CEC officer are pretty low. If that is what you want, join the Marines, Army, anyone else. It is great that you are so amped at the thought of serving your country that you want to jump in to the fight. However, that isn't what the CEC does.
Will I have the ability to pick a unit and are there certain units I can apply for that have a better chances deployment?
Yes and no. Once you are commissioned and eligible, you would apply for billets in a program called JOApply. It lists all available billets that are open to you (based on location, time, rank, etc etc). You fill out a dreamsheet and submit it. At the end of the window, the sheets are reviewed (including comments on applicants by the CO of the unit) and people are placed in billets. As I said before, you will be with a Seabee unit first. NMCBs mobilize, CBMUs, not really. ACBs do but I think they are more rare than NMCB mobs.
There are a number of IA (individual augmentee) billets that come up. This would be you going and deploying to a base somewhere to fill a certain role without going with your entire unit. So yes, plenty of opportunity to 'pick' a mobilization. However, I again caution you that these are likely not going to have you in a combat situation. Obviously anything can happen, but these are going to be more admin type mobilizations to rougher parts of the world. (Bahrain, HOA, etc)
I have some more questions but don't want to overburden you guys who are patiently taking the time to answer these.
Ask away! The worst that would happen is that your post would go unanswered. The only bad question is the one not asked. So feel free to keep posting questions.
