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Getting Started

Unlike applications to other U.S. service academies, admission to the Coast Guard Academy is driven strictly by merit. Congressional nominations are not required or considered, so we are free to choose the absolute best applicants for our service.

And unlike traditional colleges, as part of your Coast Guard application, you’ll be required to complete both a Physical Fitness Exam as well as a thorough Medical Exam.

ADMISSIONS RESOURCES

GETTING STARTED

1.

Request Information
You’ll first want to create a login for your personalized student portal, the Bears Den, which will facilitate communication and access to information about the Academy experience.

CREATE A BEAR’S DEN ACCOUNT

2.

Check your Eligibility to Apply
An eligible applicant to the Academy is:
• A U.S. citizen or sponsored international, of sound moral character
• Unmarried with no dependents or financial debt
• A high school graduate, 17-22 years of age
• An individual who submitted standardized test scores taken without special accommodations

3.

Schedule a Visit
To make an informed decision as to whether this is the right college experience for you, plan to visit the Coast Guard Academy in person.

SCHEDULE A VISIT

4.

Contact Your Admissions Officer

Each member of our staff has unique experience as a member of the Coast Guard. Your Admissions Officer will help you put your best foot forward in the selection process.

5.

Try Us Out

Consider applying for the Academy Introduction Mission (AIM), a weeklong “test drive” of the Academy experience the summer before your senior year of high school.

6.

Apply

Application to the Coast Guard Academy is free and online.

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

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.