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Be the Leader You’re Meant to Be.
Make the Difference You’re Meant to Make.

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Future Unlocked, Career Guaranteed

Upon graduation from the Coast Guard Academy, you will go directly to an exciting and rewarding career as a Coast Guard officer—making a difference for people, the environment, and our country.

At graduation you will earn a degree—and a commission. Your commission signifies the President of the United States’ “special trust and confidence” in your ability to act on behalf of all Americans. You are a leader of character, a servant of the nation, and an unwavering defender of the Constitution.

You are more than a college graduate. You are ready to serve as a military officer in one of America’s—and the world’s—most important organizations. From there, you will be ready to embark on a successful career in a range of professional opportunities.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

CAREERS AND OUTCOMES

You’ll begin your career as an Ensign. You’ll make a difference every day serving your country, humanity and those in need.

Roles and Missions of the U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard is unique among America’s military services. We are military – but we are also humanitarians. Built on a heritage of lifesaving, we protect those on the sea, we protect the nation against threats delivered by sea, and we protect the sea itself.

ADMIRAL LINDA FAGAN

HEARTBEAT OF THE SERVICE

“Tomorrow will look different – and so will we.”

Coast Guard News

USCG

Coast Guard medevacs 52-year-old from cruise ship offshore Galveston,Texas

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos cutter boat assists the passengers of a disabled makeshift vessel taking on water in Atlantic Ocean waters northeast of Samana, Dominican Republic, Monday night.

Coast Guard, Dominican Republic Navy rescue 20 migrants from sinking vessel in Atlantic Ocean

U.S. Coast Guard assists Kiribati with rescue of 2 people aboard damaged sailboat

U.S. Coast Guard assists Kiribati with rescue of 2 people aboard damaged sailboat

Coast Guard rescues 2 boaters near Horn Island, Mississippi

Coast Guard rescues 2 boaters near Horn Island, Mississippi

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.