Lily Rivera: Pre-AIM Interview
What are your expectations going into AIM? A realistic program where I am fully immersed in life as a cadet. AIM has the reputation of either “blowing you into the Coast Guard life” or “blowing you out.” I expect to be pushed to my limit with new challenges. While at AIM, I hope to confirm […]
Commonly Asked Questions (Part 1)
How is the food? We have cadets from other Academies that stay at the Coast Guard Academy for a semester. We called them exchangers. I have heard from multiple exchangers that the Coast Guard’s food is the best! I personally really like dinner. There are a lot of choices. Lunch, however, is more limited than […]
What Happens After 1600
For most people, classes run from 0800 to around 1600, or 4:00 pm. After that, the rest of the day is yours. The sports period is from 1600 – 1800 (4:00 pm — 6:00 pm), and you’d see all the varsity athletes and other various athletic clubs practicing, as well as the band, orchestra, or […]
Finding My Balance
One thing I really enjoy when I am at the Academy is finding my balance to the daily academic and military obligations. During the work week I find myself hanging out with friends late at night, eating with them in the Wardroom, or going to sporting events. The sports here are so fun to watch […]
Why I Love Marine and Environmental Sciences
I am so happy to be a Marine and Environmental Sciences major at the Academy. The major is actually split into 3 different options (Environmental Science, Marine Science, and Environmental Monitoring) and I chose the Marine Science option. As someone interested in CG missions like Search and Rescue (SAR), Living Marine Resources, Marine Environmental Protection, […]
Sponsor Family Program
I am from Alaska so while deciding to come to the academy I was worried (and so was my mom) about moving so far away from home. The time difference makes traveling home challenging and I didn’t know anyone near New London that I could go to on weekends unlike the cadets that live only […]
Thankful for a Strong Community
One thing that I love about the Academy is the strong community that continues to grow with time. As I was thinking about this, I realized how awesome it is to be able to connect with my shipmates, teachers, and mentors in a real and genuine way. Just the other day as I was squaring around Chase, I randomly struck up a greeting […]
Guitars 4 Veterans
Cadets have the unique opportunity to join a veterans guitar jam session at the nearby Veterans Outreach Center in Norwich, Connecticut. It is one of the many ways in which a cadet can complete their required community service hours, but this event is special because getting to be a part of the Veterans jam session […]
Nankurunaisa
Nankurunaisa. In English, there is no word that sums up this Okinawan term which roughly translates to: “don’t worry- it’ll be alright.” “Nankurunaisa,” is what my Obachan, my grandma, whispered to me during the 2011 Japan earthquake. “Nankurunaisa,” is what I whispered to myself at 8 years old, it hit me: I could lose everything. I […]
Break-ing Away on my Free Time
As a fourth-class cadet I did not know much about what Connecticut had to offer. It was not until this semester, my fall, first-class semester, when I finally started to branch out and see what makes Connecticut so great. Since we are in New London, we are right on the Thames River while also being […]
