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Swab Summer/AIM Tips

Leah Balser

If you are reading this, you are either considering or taking part in Swab Summer or the Academy Introduction Mission (AIM). As someone who has done both, I will give you some tips to help you be successful during your time at the Academy. For starters, I would recommend drinking a lot of water. Summers […]

My 3/c Summer Experience

Kai Wismar

One of the best parts of CGA for me so far was going to CG units 3/c summer. My summer was interesting because I was originally supposed to go on Eagle, but that changed because of Covid; I went to Cape Disappointment in WA and, instead of Eagle, I had the Stratton (WMSL) in Alameda, […]

3/c Summer Experience

Emily Morin

Station New Haven: I loved my time at Station New Haven. There were 4 of us at the station and we stayed for 4 weeks at Sector Long Island Sound right next door. Each day, we would spend our time helping out the crew, going underway on vessel boardings/boat checks, and working on qualifications. I […]

Second Family

Noah Mesa - 2026

It’s hard to adjust to new places when you don’t know anyone. That’s usually how it is for most people that come to the Academy. However, one of the benefits of prep school helps that issue by giving you a year to make friends before you attend. Luckily, I met one of my closest friends: […]

Sailing Aboard Eagle on My Third Class Summer 

Genevieve Middleton

Last summer I was on first phase Eagle for five weeks. This was my second time on Eagle because we spent one week on Eagle over SWAB summer. We departed from New London CT a few days after the end of finals, so it was a very fast transition from the school year to the summer. We packed our sea bags full of […]

Two Cutters, One Summer 

Gustava Drew - 2025

The Coast Guard Academy is about the school semesters and the summer training periods. After two long semesters of assignments and homework, people are anxious to go off to their summer assignments. And for a good reason, I loved my third-class summer! It was the most motivational eleven weeks of my cadet experience. Over third-class […]

Puddle Pirates Takeover! Service Academy Exchange Part 2

Junna Castel

Back again with more stories from my semester exchanging at the Air Force Academy! Towards the midpoint of the semester the Air Force Academy hosted the Naval Academy in an Air Force versus Navy show down which Air Force dominated, ‘Go Falcs’! On the other hand, during the week leading up the football game, the […]

College in Connecticut

Daniel Unangst - 2024

When I applied to the Academy, I knew it was the place for me and would enthusiastically list off the many, many reasons I wanted to attend to anyone who would listen. But I always maintained one exception: New London, CT. Growing up and sailing around Annapolis, it never matched up against the allure of […]

Commonly Asked Questions (Part 2)

Cheyenne Waters

Hey, I thought of serval more questions that I often get asked. I also threw in some questions that I think people should ask. What makes the Coast Guard Academy different from other Academies?  This biggest thing that sets Coast Guard apart is that is really small. I know all the cadets in my class […]

The Wonders of Connecticut Weather

Claire Semerod - 2026

As a Colorado native, everyone could understand why I feared the Connecticut weather. The large increase in humidity and rain fall caused a lot of concern for me. While I feared the Connecticut weather, I have come to love it and here is why. Early morning humidity during swab summer was the most amazing experience, […]

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