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A Busy Fall Semester

Elizabeth Carter

Hello readers! Here we are, a little over a month into the Fall Semester. Let’s just say that 3/c year is a huge adjustment. Coming off of the summer, my classmates and I have all lived in the fleet, made new friends, and explored countless new places. Now we saunter through the halls, 4/c traditions of squaring and greeting behind us, as we begin a new journey of our own – that of leadership and self-awareness.

As a Government major, I have begun to really settle into my classes. I have chosen the Politics, Policy, and Law concentration, and I could not be happier. My favorite class at the moment is American Congress. It’s a small class, held in Library every Tuesday and Thursday. I find myself excited for those mornings – drinking my coffee and talking about the workings of our nation’s legislative branch. The class requires lots of reading, campaign speeches, and essays galore. In addition, we have had multiple guest speakers from Congressman Courtney and Senator Blumenthal’s offices. The class has given me such a great opportunity to really dive into my major, plan for possible future internships, and understand what I want to do with my career in the Coast Guard.

In addition to my wonderful classes, the cross country season is in full swing. I am beyond happy to be running in the beautiful New England weather, and as the leaves begin to change color, the temperature is beginning to drop as well. It is such a relaxing, therapeutic form of exercise, and I always enjoy my teammates’ company after a long day of school. Cross country occupies my sports period every day of the week, and I also sing for the Glee Club and Chorale as well. We begin our fun performances soon, from the Coast Guard Foundation Dinner in New York City to performances at Homecoming and Parents’ Weekend. I always look forward to the time spent with my teammates and singing friends.

As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions! My email is Elizabeth.R.Carter@uscgca.edu.

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.