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What to Expect

The Coast Guard Academy is not your typical college experience, and AIM is not your typical summer program. During AIM you will live, learn and compete with those who:

  • Are looking for more than just a degree
  • Are physically fit and adventuresome
  • Enjoy science and math
  • Want to step out of their comfort zone

A Higher Standard

During AIM, you’ll be held to a higher standard. Coast Guard cadets and officers are called to a life of public service – a spirit of honor and duty that comes from putting the interests of others ahead of their own. While attending AIM, you will experience firsthand this spirit and the close bond shared by those who live it each day.

“During AIM, I saw how the cadre and admissions staff care about you. They want to help you make the right decision as to which university is right for you.” – Aliyah Brown, Williamsburg, VA

Non-Stop

From the moment your AIM battalion forms up, you will move non-stop. Your day starts with reveille and calisthenics at 0600 (6 a.m.) and ends with taps and “lights out” at 2200 (10 p.m.). In between, you will be in the classroom, on the athletic field, on the parade grounds, or on the water. You will experience military discipline, physical training, team building and leadership development. You will encounter safe but stressful situations, where you will learn to respond effectively, as required while performing Coast Guard missions.

  • 0600 – Reveille
  • 0610 – Calisthenics
  • 0700 – Morning meal
  • 0800 – Morning session
  • 1200 – Formation and noon meal
  • 1300 – Physical activity
  • 1545 – Sports
  • 1730 – Formation and evening meal
  • 1815 – Cadre time
  • 1900 – Evening session
  • 2200 – Taps, lights out

“Over the week I learned a lot, not just about the Coast Guard, but about myself. It gave me a taste of what my life would be like over Swab Summer, and it was a good test to see how I would do under pressure.” – Ajia Brown, Groton, CT

A Typical Week

  • DAY 1: Check in, uniform issue, opening ceremony
  • DAY 2: Engineering workshops, college planning workshop, drill practice, intercompany athletics, Physical Fitness Exam
  • DAY 3: Engineering workshops, sailing, campus tour, Admissions Officer introductions, college planning workshop, marching practice
  • DAY 4: Sailing, engineering workshops, cadre time
  • DAY 5: Indoctrination test, intercompany athletics, lunch with athletic coaches, asset tours, Admissions Officer time, Hopley Yeaton Ceremony
  • DAY 6: Family Day, engineering demonstration, group photo, graduation ceremony

“Even though I was not the most athletically inclined, AIMsters and cadre always motivated me to keep pushing. The gratitude I had after accomplishing all that I could was incredible.” – Bethany Tennyson Evansville, IN

Virtual AIM

When held, the virtual program will be hosted on MS Teams and run about six hours per day for two days, including breaks. Cadet-led and content-rich, you’ll explore majors with professors and cadets, meet coaches, and spend time getting to know your Admission Officer. Feel free to invite parents to watch with you!
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

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