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The Cadet Experience Unparalleled

The Coast Guard Academy experience is like no other. It goes above and beyond to provide an elite education in an exclusive environment where expectations are high. Ours is an integrated academic, athletic, and military experience—unmatched at any other college, or at any other academy. Each cadet’s story is unique, but key aspects of life at the Academy are shared by all cadets throughout their four-year experience.

It is challenging.

All cadets study mathematics, science, nautical science, engineering, and liberal arts. There are no “easy” majors, and all cadets are expected to finish in four years. But when you’re finished, you’ll have an edge on other college graduates.

It is physical.

Unlike your typical college, all cadets are expected to participate in a sport. Physical fitness, teamwork, and competition are keys to success in the Coast Guard and in the real world. You’ll develop these attributes each day in our physical education courses and on our playing fields.

It is military.

This isn’t your parents’ college campus (unless they went to the Coast Guard Academy.) Ours is a residential military campus where cadets follow orders within a military chain of command. They start at the bottom and advance only if they earn the privilege. The experience is highly regimented and driven by shared commitments to honor, respect, and devotion to duty. That’s college exceeded.

CG Careers

Meet six junior officers serving at sea and in the air.

Cadet Blogs

See what cadets say about their experiences.

Academics

See what cadets and faculty say about their majors.

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.