U.S. Coast Guard · Cyber and Communications

IT Information Systems Technician

Coast Guard Information Systems Technicians (IT) install, configure, and maintain Coast Guard communications and computer systems on cutters, aircraft, and shore stations. The Coast Guard's 2021 ASVAB policy update says the IT composite changed from MK+EI+GS 172 to 162 while the AR 52 subtest minimum and AFQT 65 alternate stayed the same.

last verified 2026-08-08

IT (Information Systems Technician) is in the Coast Guard and requires a minimum AFQT of 32 and MK+EI+GS of at least 162. Last verified 2026-08-08 against U.S. Coast Guard MyCG - ASVAB score requirements changing for A-schools.

Quick check

Can I qualify for this job?

Enter the scores you already know. Leave a box blank if you do not have that score yet.

AFQT minimum 32Enter AFQT
MK+EI+GS minimum 162Enter MK+EI+GS

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT32
  • Training~28 weeks
  • MK+EI+GS line score≥ 162

AFQT 32 is a percentile. The line score above is not — it is a Coast Guard composite, a weighted sum of your ASVAB subtest standard scores. Work yours out from your score sheet with the Coast Guard ASVAB line score calculator.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard MyCG - ASVAB score requirements changing for A-schools · last verified 2026-08-08.

Role brief

About IT — Information Systems Technician.

Coast Guard Information Systems Technicians (IT) install, configure, and maintain Coast Guard communications and computer systems on cutters, aircraft, and shore stations. The Coast Guard's 2021 ASVAB policy update says the IT composite changed from MK+EI+GS 172 to 162 while the AR 52 subtest minimum and AFQT 65 alternate stayed the same.

Initial training

How IT training works.

FormatRating A-school
LocationCoast Guard Training Center Petaluma, California
Length~28 weeks

The current Coast Guard recruiting career page describes a 28-week Information Systems Technician rating course in Petaluma covering server and workstation maintenance, copper and fiber cable installation, network management, telephone-system programming, system administration, and software and hardware installation. The older Petaluma school page describes 147 training days within a 31-week curriculum, so candidates should use their orders for the exact calendar rather than treating the two public schedule descriptions as interchangeable.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard — Information Systems Technician career page · last verified 2026-08-08 · date retrieved 2026-08-08.

Starting pay · 2026

What this job pays as a junior enlisted member.

Base pay is set by pay grade, not by job — every Coast Guard enlistee at the same grade earns the same monthly base pay. These are the 2026 active-duty rates (3.8% raise, effective 2026-01-01).

GradeRankMonthly base payService
E-1Seaman Recruit (SR)$2,407after 4 months of service
E-2Seaman Apprentice (SA)$2,698under 2 years
E-3Seaman (SN)$2,837under 2 years
E-4Petty Officer 3rd Class$3,142under 2 years
  • Plus food allowance (BAS)$460/moFlat enlisted rate, tax-free, paid on top of base pay.
  • Plus housing allowance (BAH)Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is paid on top of base pay and is tax-free, but it varies by duty-station ZIP code, pay grade, and whether you have dependents — there is no single nationwide figure. Use the official DoD BAH calculator for your assignment location.DoD BAH rate lookup →

Source: DFAS 2026 active-duty basic pay tables (3.8% raise, effective Jan 1 2026) · last verified 2026-05-23 · date retrieved 2026-05-23.

Eligibility notes

What IT candidates should check.

  • The Coast Guard's 2021 ASVAB policy update gives IT as its example: MK+EI+GS changed from 172 to 162, while the minimum AR subtest score of 52 and the AFQT 65 alternate did not change.
  • The public IT A-School page still displays the pre-update 172 figure. COMDTINST 1500.10D says the live rating-requirements listing is maintained on the Coast Guard PSC EPM-2 site, so confirm current waiver and assignment rules with a Coast Guard recruiter.
  • The current Coast Guard recruiting career page publishes a 28-week IT rating course at Training Center Petaluma. The older school page describes 147 training days within a 31-week curriculum; this page uses the current recruiting figure for the rounded headline and keeps the older schedule visible as a source-scoped caveat.

What ASVAB score does Coast Guard IT require?

The Coast Guard's 2021 ASVAB policy update says the IT composite changed from MK+EI+GS 172 to 162. The AR 52 subtest minimum and AFQT 65 alternate did not change. Source verified 2026-07-03.

Why do some Coast Guard IT pages still show 172?

COMDTINST M1500.10C and the public IT A-School page show the older MK+EI+GS 172 value. A later Coast Guard MyCG policy article explicitly says IT changed from 172 to 162, so this page uses 162 and tells candidates to confirm current assignment rules with a recruiter.

What are the rating requirements for IT Information Systems Technician?

The Coast Guard Information Systems Technician rating (IT) requires a minimum AFQT of 32 and MK+EI+GS of at least 162, with initial training of about 28 weeks. Those are the ASVAB-based entry requirements; a recruiter confirms the full enlistment picture (medical, background, and current openings). Source: U.S. Coast Guard MyCG - ASVAB score requirements changing for A-schools, last verified 2026-08-08.

How long is IT Information Systems Technician training?

IT initial training runs about 28 weeks — Coast Guard rating A-school at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, California. Source: U.S. Coast Guard — Information Systems Technician career page, last verified 2026-08-08.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard MyCG - ASVAB score requirements changing for A-schools · last verified 2026-08-08 · date retrieved 2026-08-08.

Nearby targets

Related Coast Guard score targets.

Related

Practice AFQT plus IT line-score subtests.

AFQT + MK+EI+GS practice targets

Independent test-prep — not affiliated with DoD or the ASVAB program. See officialasvab.com for the test program.

Sources