U.S. Coast Guard · Operations and Communications

OS Operations Specialist

Coast Guard Operations Specialists (OS) staff command centers, monitor radio communications, manage search-and-rescue cases, and operate radar/CIC equipment aboard cutters and at sector command centers. The public COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table lists VE+AR = 105 for OS.

last verified 2026-07-03

OS (Operations Specialist) is in the Coast Guard and requires a minimum AFQT of 32 and VE+AR of at least 105. Last verified 2026-07-03 against U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3).

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
VE+AR minimum 105Enter VE+AR

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT32
  • Training~14 weeks
  • VE+AR line score≥ 105

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 COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) · last verified 2026-07-03.

Role brief

About OS — Operations Specialist.

Coast Guard Operations Specialists (OS) staff command centers, monitor radio communications, manage search-and-rescue cases, and operate radar/CIC equipment aboard cutters and at sector command centers. The public COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table lists VE+AR = 105 for OS.

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 OS candidates should check.

  • COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) lists VE+AR = 105 for OS, with normal color perception, security-clearance, and normal-hearing requirements.
  • The newer COMDTINST 1500.10D says the live rating-requirements listing is maintained on the Coast Guard PSC EPM-2 site. Because that listing is not public, confirm current waiver and assignment rules with a Coast Guard recruiter.

What ASVAB score does Coast Guard OS require?

The public Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C rating table lists VE+AR = 105 for OS Operations Specialist. Source verified 2026-07-03.

Which ASVAB subtests matter most for Coast Guard OS?

OS uses VE+AR in the public Coast Guard table, so Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Arithmetic Reasoning matter most for the listed score path.

What are the rating requirements for OS Operations Specialist?

The Coast Guard Operations Specialist rating (OS) requires a minimum AFQT of 32 and VE+AR of at least 105, with initial training of about 14 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 COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3), last verified 2026-07-03.

How long is OS Operations Specialist training?

OS initial training runs about 14 weeks. Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3), last verified 2026-07-03.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard COMDTINST M1500.10C Enclosure (3) · last verified 2026-07-03 · date retrieved 2026-07-03.

Nearby targets

Related Coast Guard score targets.

Related

Practice AFQT plus OS line-score subtests.

AFQT + VE+AR practice targets

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

Sources