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Denzel McWhite: Post-AIM Interview

Denzel McWhite | July 13, 2024

Describe your initial impression of AIM in five words or less.

Challenging. Inspiring. Realistic. Fun.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about the Academy that you didn’t already know?

I found the dedication and support of the professors profound. It was clear the professors were there specifically to help us succeed. The small classes with direct feedback and interaction made class time feel sincere and genuine.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was tackling demanding tasks while feeling exhausted. After enduring long days of running, yelling, and physical training, simple tasks like cleaning up my room after a “search and rescue,” (cadre tossing up the room) were overwhelming. To push through these roadblocks, I would recall one of my dad’s favorite quotes: “Just find an excuse to win.”

Looking back, would you have done anything different to prepare yourself for AIM?

Looking back, I believe I was well prepared. Yet, the challenge of remembering a lot of information within such little time made me wish I had studied some of the Mission and Ethos beforehand.

Can you identify a noticeable difference in yourself after attending AIM? If so, what

Absolutely. I was on the fence before attending AIM, and I still wasn’t sure while going through it, but by the end of the week, I was certain the Academy was where I wanted to be. I now have a greater motivation and drive to pursue all my goals.

Would you recommend attending AIM? Why?

100%. AIM was the most difficult thing I’ve done in my entire life, and I’m so glad I did it. I’ve learned so much about myself, what I can accomplish, the friends I can make, and what my life could be. The fun times far outweighed the hard ones, and I will remember my AIM experience forever.

About Denzel

Hometown: Fairhope, AL
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering

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.