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Break-ing Away on my Free Time

Greg Boland | December 9, 2022

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 close to Mystic, Stonington, Norwich, and Westerly. The best thing I have found is that I am able to break away from cadet life and feel as if I am at home while when spending time in these small towns. There are multiple coffee shops, diners, historical sites, and places to eat, up and down the waterfront. Additionally, throughout Connecticut there are beautiful state parks, nature preserves, and attractions which make for an amazing weekend trip. Lastly, there are many different places to go golfing, attend sporting event, and enjoy live music. I personally, have been up to Hartford to see multiple country music concerts as well as played multiple rounds of golf in the Stonington and Norwich areas. Since this year has been so hectic for me as a first-class, I have spent most of my time visiting and discovering new coffee shops and restaurants in the Mystic and Stonington areas. Through these events I have made new friends and connections I did not ever see myself making when I was a fourth class. My only regret during my time here as a cadet is that I did not explore more of Connecticut sooner.

About Greg

Hometown: Acworth, GA
Major: Civil Engineering
Email: Gregory.T.Boland@uscga.edu

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.