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Home / AIM / AIM BLOGS / Antonio Carmona - PRE-AIM INTERVIEW

Antonio Carmona: Post-AIM Interview

Antonio Carmona | July 20, 2024

Antonio Carmona

Describe your initial impression of AIM in five words or less.

Intense and nerve-racking.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about the Academy that you didn’t already know?

The most interesting thing I learned about the Academy was the many different opportunities to travel around the world. Whether it’s through international studies or the Eagle during Swab Summer, the Academy gives you multiple ways to experience life to the fullest and travel the world. AIM also taught me the discipline and intelligence it takes to make it through Swab Summer.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge during AIM was talking in the 3rd person. Whenever an AIMster wanted to ask a question, they would have to say “AIMster (last name) respectfully request to…” I overcame this challenge by thinking before I asked a question, taking my time helped a lot. I also struggled with keeping my eyes in the boat, which basically means to stare at one spot for long periods of time. I overcame this quickly by almost zoning out and squinting at whatever I was looking at.

Looking back, would you have done anything different to prepare yourself for AIM?

With what I know now I probably would’ve ran even more than I did in preparation for AIM. During AIM we did tons of marching and double-time, so my advice would be to build as much endurance as possible. Building that endurance would also help with the PFE, although I got an above average score on my PFE, I would’ve had an even higher score if I did better on my mile and a half run.

Can you identify a noticeable difference in yourself after attending AIM? If so, what?

Focus. After AIM I feel as if it’s easier to focus on things that take priority, I also feel like it’s easier to want to get out and workout.

Would you recommend attending AIM? Why?

I would 100% recommend attending AIM. AIM taught me things all the way from marching with my platoon to learning about all the different engineering majors the Academy offers. AIM improved me as a person giving me a higher sense of self-respect, higher expectations for myself, and the ability to listen to somebody and apply it in the real world. AIM is a great opportunity to get exposed to a military setting and you should take full advantage of it.

About Antonio

  • Hometown: Waterford, CT
  • Intended Major: Government
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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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