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Coast Guard Academy Scholars Program

The Coast Guard Academy recognizes that not every prospective cadet emerges from high school prepared for the academic, military and athletic demands of the Academy. The Scholars Program is designed to develop the necessary foundation for success as an Academy cadet.

A One-Year Preparation

The CGAS program sends students with high potential for one year of preparatory school to develop academically, physically and militarily. The program begins with a rigorous three-week orientation on the Academy’s campus, after which scholars are sent to Georgia Military College, the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island or the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

Most participants who successfully complete this year of focused preparation receive, and are expected to accept, a full appointment to the Academy as a member of the next entering class.

CGA Scholars appointees are selected from within the general applicant pool. There is not a separate admissions process for this program.

The Prep School Pay-Off

CGA Scholars attending Georgia Military College, and UMASS Boston earn college credit.
Program expenses, including uniforms, tuition, room and board, are covered by the Coast Guard. Some out of pocket expenses may be required of those attending UMASS Boston. Most Scholars graduate with savings.
CGA Scholars learn to live away from home and manage their time. They are recognized as leaders in their class, from the start of Swab Summer.

Glimpses of Orientation - Gallery

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FACTS AND FIGURES
CGA SCHOLARS

0 %

of applications to the Academy
are also reviewed for appointment to prep school.

0 -

50

Scholars enroll in the program each year.

$ 50

Average value of tuition, room, board and fees covered by the Coast Guard

0 %

Typically earn appointments to the Academy.

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.