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Janet Uwamahoro

Rwanda Major: Operations Research & Data Analytics Sports/Clubs: Sandhurst team, international council, Catholic Campus Ministry

I heard about the Coast Guard Academy through the Rwandan government solicitation for slot candidates, along with 2016 USCGA alumnus Jackson Karama. Throughout my time here at the Academy I have leaned on other international cadets, friends I’ve made and my sponsor family for support through this 200-week journey. I am an ORDA major and love it because the techniques and expertise are very applicable and useful in optimizing systems of every field and sector.

If you’re thinking of applying to the Academy, get excited! Attending the Academy as an international cadet is an incredible opportunity, especially if you’re embarking on this journey as the first in your family to travel so far from home. You’ll be exposed to a wide range of enriching experiences—engaging in exciting activities, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, and sharing your own culture and upbringing, which others will be eager to learn about. You will have a chance to grow your existing talents, discover new passions, and even do things you never imagined. While immersing yourself in a completely different environment may feel overwhelming at first, that initial uncertainty doesn’t last long. The Academy community is designed to support you in every way, and current international cadets are always available to offer guidance on how they’ve successfully navigated their own paths. Academics can be challenging, but don’t hesitate to seek help. The instructors are incredibly supportive, and they are willing to spend hours outside class to ensure you understand the material. Stay confident and look forward to this life-changing experience. It will be transformative in ways you can’t yet imagine!

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.