Home / Come READY: The Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)

Come READY: The Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)

Stefanie Senkow | April 13, 2022

NEW LONDON, Conn – AIM is nearly three months away, but the preparation is here already. Second Class Cadet (2/c) Andrew Cruver is working hard to make this experience the best it can be for AIMsters.

“As Battalion AIM Officer, I coordinate alongside the Battalion AIM Logistics officer and the Battalion AIM Company Commander. Together, we develop a thorough summer program,” said Cruver.

There are three AIM sessions, each a week of academics, military and physical trials. Cruver develops, with other Academy departments, a detailed schedule for every minute of the day from the second the AIMsters arrive on Sunday to the end of graduation the following Friday.

“This is called the Plan of the Week,” said Cruver. “It’s the guide the cadre and Admissions staff follow to keep track of the AIMsters, whether they’re at waterfront sailing or in McAllister Hall for an engineering session.”

In addition to logistics planning, Cruver selects and prepares cadre for their roles in leading the AIMsters.

“After selections are made, we plan cadre prep week, which is something that happens the week before AIM starts,” said Cruver. “We rely on this handful of cadre to help us run the AIM program through the trust we place in them.”

Cruver volunteered for AIM prep because it holds a special place in his journey. His own AIM experience was a strong factor in him saying “yes” to the Academy. His hope is that each AIMster can decern whether the Academy is right for him/her and use the experience as a tool in moving forward with college decision making. He leaves AIMsters with this final piece of advice.

“Arrive READY. Be ready to be pushed physically and challenged emotionally. Know that your cadre are there to test and train you while prioritizing your safety and success. As Coast Guard men and women, we are called to be “Always Ready,” said Cruver.

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.